Commercial Divers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,370 or more. The middle half of commercial divers in San Diego earn between $38,370 and $131,370.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $102KMedian
- $131K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,770 | $7,981 | $46.04 |
| Median | $101,550 | $8,462 | $48.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,370 | $3,198 | $18.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,370 | $10,948 | $63.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial Divers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Commercial divers in San Diego earn 3% less than the California average ($98,740) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($88,320). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $72,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $95,770 | $101,550 | $38,370 | $131,370 | 60 |
| California | $98,740 | $101,540 | $39,980 | $152,760 | 310 |
| United States | $88,320 | $72,990 | $43,330 | $157,790 | 3,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial Divers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $95,770, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $71,390 a year, or $5,949 a month and $2,746 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for commercial divers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $95,770 buys what about $85,595 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Divers salary in nearby metro areas
- Houston, TX$52,390
- Jacksonville, FL$52,190
- Miami, FL$56,880
- Virginia Beach, VA$70,330
- Philadelphia, PA$98,000
- New York, NY$104,120
Highest-paying cities for commercial divers
Providence, RI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,070).
- Providence, RI$118,070
- New York, NY$104,120
- Philadelphia, PA$98,000
- San Diego, CA$95,770
- Honolulu, HI$92,570
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Commercial Divers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do commercial divers make an hour in San Diego?
$46.04 an hour on average, and $48.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level commercial divers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial divers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $71,390 a year ($5,949 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,770. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do commercial divers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($88,320).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 49-9092; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 21.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.83, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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