Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in North Carolina
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in North Carolina earn a median of $85,630 a year ($41.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,280 for the top 10%. That is 39% higher than the national median of $61,390. North Carolina ranks 3rd of 32 states for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.03 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $85,330, close to the median.
Pay range for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,950 | $29.31 |
| 25th percentile | $78,310 | $37.65 |
| Median | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| 75th percentile | $95,420 | $45.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,280 | $50.14 |
| Average (mean) | $85,330 | $41.02 |
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 | $7,135.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,567.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,293.46 |
| Weekly | $1,646.73 |
| Hourly | $41.17 |
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 in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $86,900 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $100,520 |
| New York | $96,940 |
| North Carolina | $85,630 |
| Wyoming | $85,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,400 |
| California | $80,370 |
| New Mexico | $78,960 |
| Tennessee | $74,190 |
| Florida | $69,780 |
| Colorado | $69,640 |
See Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters pay in every state.
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $56,320 | $27.08 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $57,760 | $27.77 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Construction Laborer | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,270 | $36.19 |
| Electrician | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Carpenter | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $39,880 | $19.17 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $66,080 | $31.77 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in North Carolina is $85,630 a year, or $41.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in North Carolina earn at least $104,280 a year. The top 25% earn $95,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,950 a year, and a quarter of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $78,310 or less.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work in North Carolina?
About 160 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.