Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,480 | $19.46 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Mean (average) | $66,640 | $32.04 |
| 90th percentile | $99,360 | $47.77 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 32 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $59,820 | $51,700 | $87,560 | 100 | 1.4 |
| Arkansas | $53,120 | $42,080 | $66,270 | 90 | 2.2 |
| California | $80,370 | $34,320 | $125,930 | 220 | 0.37 |
| Colorado | $69,640 | $54,870 | $91,550 | 140 | 1.44 |
| Florida | $69,780 | $50,120 | $143,260 | 90 | 0.27 |
| Georgia | $61,480 | $45,430 | $99,040 | 70 | 0.45 |
| Hawaii | $64,560 | $58,850 | $96,720 | 110 | 5.12 |
| Idaho | $60,360 | $56,110 | $124,090 | ||
| Illinois | $60,520 | $52,420 | $93,180 | 110 | 0.56 |
| Indiana | $59,110 | $48,510 | $72,510 | 330 | 3.18 |
| Iowa | $39,520 | $37,170 | $55,190 | 90 | 1.78 |
| Kentucky | $50,360 | $24,640 | $75,270 | 380 | 5.83 |
| Louisiana | $39,900 | $35,030 | $51,680 | 130 | 2.01 |
| Maryland | $59,720 | $45,810 | $106,890 | ||
| Mississippi | $47,060 | $37,480 | $66,190 | 40 | 1.16 |
| Missouri | $64,040 | $52,040 | $82,140 | 150 | 1.53 |
| Nevada | $60,500 | $50,740 | $90,520 | 260 | 5.19 |
| New Jersey | $100,520 | $83,200 | $113,070 | ||
| New Mexico | $78,960 | $37,300 | $87,360 | 80 | 2.97 |
| New York | $96,940 | $72,650 | $123,160 | ||
| North Carolina | $85,630 | $60,950 | $104,280 | 160 | 0.96 |
| Ohio | $46,630 | $42,700 | $77,320 | 120 | 0.67 |
| Oklahoma | $55,180 | $44,300 | $69,280 | 330 | 5.98 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,400 | $58,070 | $102,730 | ||
| South Dakota | $56,780 | $52,870 | $87,060 | ||
| Tennessee | $74,190 | $37,400 | $122,450 | 70 | 0.65 |
| Texas | $56,600 | $36,620 | $83,690 | 460 | 0.99 |
| Utah | $67,910 | $47,570 | $99,340 | 50 | 0.96 |
| Virginia | $63,920 | $51,900 | $80,260 | 80 | 0.58 |
| West Virginia | $49,630 | $46,370 | $65,630 | 50 | 2.31 |
| Wisconsin | $52,400 | $43,690 | $82,190 | 60 | 0.65 |
| Wyoming | $85,070 | $59,790 | $88,000 | 60 | 6.27 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Well Drilling/Driller CIP 46.0504
- Blasting/Blaster CIP 46.0505
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation CIP 49.0202
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
- Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
- Place safety cones around blast areas to alert other workers of danger zones, and signal workers as necessary to ensure that they clear blast sites prior to explosions.
- Place explosive charges in holes or other spots; then detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.
- Insert, pack, and pour explosives, such as dynamite, ammonium nitrate, black powder, or slurries into blast holes; then shovel drill cuttings, admit water into boreholes, and tamp material to compact charges.
- Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
- Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
- Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Blaster's Tool and Supply Company Blaster's Calculator
- Datavis DBS Designer
- DetNet ViewShot
- Global positioning system GPS software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Coordination.
Common job titles: Blast Hole Driller, Blaster, Explosive Technician, Powderman, Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make?
The national median annual wage for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters was $61,390 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,480 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $99,360. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters to change 0.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($100,520), New York ($96,940), North Carolina ($85,630). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.