Commercial Divers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for commercial diverss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$185,300
- New York$130,790
- Rhode Island$117,430
- California$98,740
- Hawaii$89,180
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Texas$48,860
- Florida$52,270
- South Carolina$54,770
- Michigan$58,050
- Maine$64,290
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $185,300 | $161,800 | $89 | +109.8% | — |
| 2 | New York | $130,790 | $157,800 | $63 | +48.1% | 170 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $117,430 | $126,320 | $56 | +33% | — |
| 4 | California | $98,740 | $101,540 | $47 | +11.8% | 310 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $89,180 | $95,750 | $43 | +1% | 70 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $89,120 | $86,920 | $43 | +0.9% | — |
| 7 | Vermont | $88,000 | $85,780 | $42 | -0.4% | 80 |
| 8 | Indiana | $84,410 | $83,510 | $41 | -4.4% | — |
| 9 | Arizona | $83,990 | $85,990 | $40 | -4.9% | — |
| 10 | Virginia | $67,250 | $62,340 | $32 | -23.9% | — |
| 11 | Missouri | $65,960 | $63,030 | $32 | -25.3% | — |
| 12 | Louisiana | $65,190 | $62,230 | $31 | -26.2% | 230 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $65,090 | $59,690 | $31 | -26.3% | 120 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $64,300 | $63,550 | $31 | -27.2% | — |
| 15 | Maine | $64,290 | $74,610 | $31 | -27.2% | — |
| 16 | Michigan | $58,050 | $54,620 | $28 | -34.3% | 80 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $54,770 | $49,260 | $26 | -38% | 30 |
| 18 | Florida | $52,270 | $49,640 | $25 | -40.8% | 370 |
| 19 | Texas | $48,860 | $46,490 | $23 | -44.7% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 11 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $126,320 | $118,070 | — |
| 2 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,550 | $95,770 | 60 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $95,750 | $92,570 | 50 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $89,130 | $104,120 | — |
| 5 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $84,200 | $98,000 | 50 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,820 | $70,330 | 90 |
| 7 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $59,690 | $62,620 | 70 |
| 8 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $55,440 | $56,880 | 90 |
| 9 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,920 | $52,390 | 100 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL | $49,640 | $52,190 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing commercial diverss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $105,250 | $100,120 | 40 |
| 2 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $105,250 | $100,120 | 40 |
| 3 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $105,250 | $100,120 | 40 |
| 4 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $104,980 | $109,010 | 940 |
| 5 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $96,970 | $105,610 | 1,010 |
| 6 | Sector 23 - Construction | $96,830 | $105,320 | 1,020 |
| 7 | Support Activities for Transportation | $95,750 | $94,410 | 70 |
| 8 | Support Activities for Water Transportation | $95,750 | $94,410 | 70 |
| 9 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $85,990 | $79,540 | 240 |
| 10 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $85,990 | $84,830 | — |
| 11 | Engineering Services | $85,990 | $84,830 | — |
| 12 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $85,990 | $79,540 | 240 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do commercial divers make in the U.S.?
The median commercial divers salary in the United States is $72,990 per year (mean $88,320), and about 80% earn between $43,330 and $157,790.
How much do commercial divers make per hour?
Roughly $42 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $88,320 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays commercial divers the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for commercial divers at $185,300 per year (median $161,800).
What is the job outlook for commercial divers?
Employment is projected to change +8.5% from 2024 to 2034 (Much faster than average), with about 400 openings per year.