Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in the U.S.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in the U.S. earn a median of $61,390 a year ($29.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,360 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $66,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,480 | $19.46 |
| 25th percentile | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Median | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| 75th percentile | $80,370 | $38.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,360 | $47.77 |
| Average (mean) | $66,640 | $32.04 |
Half of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,115.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,557.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,361.15 |
| Weekly | $1,180.58 |
| Hourly | $29.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $100,520 | n/a |
| New York | $96,940 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $85,630 | 160 |
| Wyoming | $85,070 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,400 | n/a |
| California | $80,370 | 220 |
| New Mexico | $78,960 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $74,190 | 70 |
| Florida | $69,780 | 90 |
| Colorado | $69,640 | 140 |
| Utah | $67,910 | 50 |
| Hawaii | $64,560 | 110 |
| Missouri | $64,040 | 150 |
| Virginia | $63,920 | 80 |
| Georgia | $61,480 | 70 |
| Illinois | $60,520 | 110 |
| Nevada | $60,500 | 260 |
| Idaho | $60,360 | n/a |
| Alabama | $59,820 | 100 |
| Maryland | $59,720 | n/a |
| Indiana | $59,110 | 330 |
| South Dakota | $56,780 | n/a |
| Texas | $56,600 | 460 |
| Oklahoma | $55,180 | 330 |
| Arkansas | $53,120 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $52,400 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $50,360 | 380 |
| West Virginia | $49,630 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $47,060 | 40 |
| Ohio | $46,630 | 120 |
| Louisiana | $39,900 | 130 |
| Iowa | $39,520 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,520 | 120 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $97,910 | n/a |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $92,290 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $86,900 | 60 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $83,750 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $70,200 | 80 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $66,850 | 80 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $64,880 | 50 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,920 | n/a |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $62,610 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $62,140 | 30 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $62,070 | 50 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $55,830 | 180 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,180 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $27,400 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 180 | $55,830 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 120 | $100,520 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 90 | $45,180 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 80 | $70,200 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 80 | $66,850 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 60 | $92,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 60 | $86,900 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 60 | $27,400 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 50 | $62,070 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 50 | $83,750 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 50 | $64,880 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 50 | $62,610 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 30 | $62,140 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $70,130 | $33.72 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in the U.S.?
The median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in the U.S. is $61,390 a year, or $29.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in the U.S. earn at least $99,360 a year. The top 25% earn $80,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,480 a year, and a quarter of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $49,630 or less.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work in the U.S.?
About 5,100 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.