Is this a competitive Commercial Divers salary in Florida in 2026?
Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS August 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.
$Competitive · ~P50
P10$39K
P25$43K
P50$50K
P75$60K
P90$70K
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Demand: ACTIVE. Demand is active -- manufacturing openings are at 4.0% (JOLTS, August 2026). A balanced market where the median is a solid, competitive anchor.
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Merit budget: Wages in manufacturing are rising about 3.3% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 2.9-3.4% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Our read
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $49,629 to $60,091 (market median to the 75th percentile). The median-to-P75 range keeps offers competitive.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.
How Commercial Divers pay is moving in 2026
Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI
Pay trend
BLS's May 2025 median estimate for this role is 19.4% above its May 2024 estimate. A swing that large usually reflects survey sampling or classification changes between OEWS vintages rather than actual pay changes, so lean on the sector wage-growth benchmark (3.3% per year, BLS ECI) for planning.
Hiring demand · MODERATE
Manufacturing is running a 4.0% job-openings rate with quits at 1.6% (BLS JOLTS). The openings rate has held near 4.0% over the past quarter.
Pay spread
Top earners (P90) make about 3.6 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is wider than typical, so expect large pay differences by experience, employer size, and geography; build generous ranges and differentiate strongly.
What changed recently
Sep 29, 2026JOLTS August 2026: sector openings eased to 4.0% (down 54K) after July's durable-goods jump, which held at 4.4% on revision. Quits rose to 1.6%, led by nondurable goods.
Sep 1, 2026JOLTS July 2026: sector openings jumped to 4.4% (up 79K), all of it in durable goods, the biggest sector move this release. Quits eased to 1.4%.
Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings eased to 3.7%, with nondurable goods driving the pullback. Quits steady at 1.5%.
Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS August 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The median salary for Commercial Divers in Florida is $49,629 per year ($23.86/hr). This is 32% lower than the national median of $72,987.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life.
Wage Percentiles: Florida
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$18.85
$39,208
-9.5%
P25
$20.83
$43,326
-20.9%
P50MEDIAN
$23.86
$49,629
-32.0%
P75
$28.89
$60,091
-40.8%
P90Top earners
$33.71
$70,117
-55.6%
How Florida compares for Commercial Divers
Computed from this state's own BLS distribution against national
Pay for Commercial Divers in Florida sits below the national range at every level: -9.5% at entry, -32.0% at the median and -55.6% at the top. The gap is larger at entry than at the top.
An offer at the national median of $72,987 would sit at about the 92nd percentile in Florida, an estimate beyond the published BLS range.
The top of the range earns 1.79 times the bottom here against 3.64 times nationally, so pay for this role is more compressed between entry and senior levels in Florida.
Florida employs 370 people in this role, 10.7% of the national total.
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P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Commercial Divers
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+8.5%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
400
per year, on avg
Workforce today
4K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
10% from new growth90% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Other Support Services
NAICS 561900
2K
$76,350
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
NAICS 237900
940
$104,980
Wage range across top 5 industries: $76,350 to $104,980 (37% spread)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median commercial divers salary in Florida?
The median (P50) annual salary for Commercial Divers in Florida is approximately $49,629, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 32% lower than the national median of $72,987. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.
