Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $61,390/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -0.9% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?
The median pay for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is $61,390 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?
Employment for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is projected to change -0.9% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?
About 500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.