Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in Tennessee
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Tennessee earn a median of $74,190 a year ($35.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,450 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $61,390. Tennessee ranks 8th of 32 states for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay. There are 0.02 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $72,550, close to the median.
Pay range for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Median | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| 75th percentile | $81,870 | $39.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,450 | $58.87 |
| Average (mean) | $72,550 | $34.88 |
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 | $6,182.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,091.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,853.46 |
| Weekly | $1,426.73 |
| Hourly | $35.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,000 | $21.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,470 | $35.81 |
| Electrician | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| Carpenter | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $47,910 | $23.04 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $43,230 | $20.78 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Tennessee is $74,190 a year, or $35.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Tennessee earn at least $122,450 a year. The top 25% earn $81,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,400 a year, and a quarter of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $44,720 or less.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work in Tennessee?
About 70 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.