Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in Virginia
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Virginia earn a median of $63,920 a year ($30.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,260 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $61,390. Virginia ranks 14th 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 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $67,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,900 | $24.95 |
| 25th percentile | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Median | $63,920 | $30.73 |
| 75th percentile | $76,280 | $36.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,260 | $38.59 |
| Average (mean) | $67,710 | $32.55 |
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 | $5,326.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,663.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,458.46 |
| Weekly | $1,229.23 |
| Hourly | $30.73 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,920 | n/a |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,470 | $26.67 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $63,480 | $30.52 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $76,900 | $36.97 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,260 | $37.62 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $50,350 | $24.21 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Electrician | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Carpenter | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,470 | $29.07 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $57,160 | $27.48 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Virginia is $63,920 a year, or $30.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in Virginia?
The top 10% of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Virginia earn at least $80,260 a year. The top 25% earn $76,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,900 a year, and a quarter of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $61,410 or less.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work in Virginia?
About 80 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.