How much do Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters make?
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters earn a median annual salary of $61,390 in the United States, which works out to roughly $29.51 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $40,480 at the entry level and $99,360 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $49,630 and $80,370 a year.
That is $0 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary range by percentile
Half of all Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters earn between $49,630 and $80,370 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,480 | $19.46 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,630 | $23.86 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,390 | $29.51 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,370 | $38.64 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,360 | $47.77 |
Highest-paying states for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Jersey leads the country for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters pay at $100,520 a year, followed by New York ($96,940) and North Carolina ($85,630). At the other end, Iowa posts the lowest median at $39,520 — a gap of $61,000 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $100,520 | $48.33 | +64% |
| 2 | New York | $96,940 | $46.61 | +58% |
| 3 | North Carolina | $85,630 | $41.17 | +39% |
| 4 | Wyoming | $85,070 | $40.90 | +39% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $84,400 | $40.58 | +37% |
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 32 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 5,000 people work as Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $66,640 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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