Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Career, Salary and Skills
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $61,390 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 5,100. Wage data is published for 47 locations.
Occupation description
Place and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials. May perform specialized handling, storage, and accounting procedures.
O*NET code
47-5032.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$61,390
Hourly median
$29.51
Employment
5,100
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$40,480
10th
$49,630
25th
$61,390
Median
$80,370
75th
$99,360
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Operation and Control | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Speaking | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Blaster's Tool and Supply Company Blaster's Calculator
- Datavis DBS Designer
- DetNet ViewShot
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in TXMedian $56,600 · Employment 460
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in KYMedian $50,360 · Employment 380
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in INMedian $59,110 · Employment 330
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in OKMedian $55,180 · Employment 330
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in NVMedian $60,500 · Employment 260
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in CAMedian $80,370 · Employment 220
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in Houston, TXMedian $55,830 · Employment 180
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in NCMedian $85,630 · Employment 160
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in MOMedian $64,040 · Employment 150
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in COMedian $69,640 · Employment 140
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in LAMedian $39,900 · Employment 130
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in New York, NYMedian $100,520 · Employment 120
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.