Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary
The median explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary in the United States is $61,390 per year ($29.51/hour). Salaries range from $40,480 at the entry level to $99,360+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 5,100 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 0.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$61,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.51
per hour
Employment
5,100
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$40,480
25th percentile
$49,630
Median
$61,390
75th percentile
$80,370
90th percentile
$99,360
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-0.9%
Decline
Annual Openings
500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
Training Needed
Long-term on-the-job training
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$40K$101K■ No data
Top Paying States
New Jersey
$101K
+64%
New York
$97K
+58%
North Carolina
$86K
+39%
Wyoming
$85K
+39%
Pennsylvania
$84K
+37%
California
$80K
+31%
New Mexico
$79K
+29%
Tennessee
$74K
+21%
Florida
$70K
+14%
Colorado
$70K
+13%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $100,520 | +63.7% |
| New York | $96,940 | +57.9% |
| North Carolina | $85,630 | +39.5% |
| Wyoming | $85,070 | +38.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $84,400 | +37.5% |
| California | $80,370 | +30.9% |
| New Mexico | $78,960 | +28.6% |
| Tennessee | $74,190 | +20.9% |
| Florida | $69,780 | +13.7% |
| Colorado | $69,640 | +13.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 32
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,520 | +63.7% |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $97,910 | +59.5% |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $92,290 | +50.3% |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $86,900 | +41.6% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $83,750 | +36.4% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $70,200 | +14.4% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $66,850 | +8.9% |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $64,880 | +5.7% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,920 | +4.1% |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $62,610 | +2.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 15
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earning $61,390/year would need 971 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1043 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary trend (2011–2024) →