47
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is a notable career in the 47 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 47-5032 |
| title | Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters |
| onet code | 47-5032.00 |
| description | Place and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials. May perform specialized handling, storage, and accounting procedures. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 47 |
| tot emp | 5,680 |
| a mean | 66,840 |
| a median | 59,110 |
| a pct10 | 45,160 |
| a pct25 | 49,860 |
| a pct75 | 80,050 |
| a pct90 | 104,210 |
| h mean | 32 |
| h median | 28 |
The day-to-day work of a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters typically centers on examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Monitoring, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.51 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (62.5%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in New York at $104,320 and lowest in Michigan at $41,450 — a 2.5× spread. The top five states (New York, Tennessee, Connecticut, Maryland, California) average $97,612. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $104,320 | $108,230 | $84,310 | $127,850 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $102,060 | $98,890 | $40,940 | $140,570 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $101,020 | $98,320 | $79,460 | $117,110 | — |
| Maryland | $93,550 | $79,260 | $48,090 | $104,210 | 770 |
| California | $87,110 | $87,710 | $52,900 | $122,780 | 180 |
| Wyoming | $86,740 | $85,820 | $76,440 | $90,160 | 30 |
| Florida | $84,520 | $96,840 | $48,960 | $150,620 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $84,050 | $82,780 | $68,420 | $94,130 | 80 |
| Illinois | $82,710 | $73,700 | $49,860 | $90,790 | 130 |
| Hawaii | $77,460 | $78,940 | $61,190 | $96,370 | 70 |
| Washington | $77,210 | $74,920 | $41,600 | $100,300 | — |
| North Carolina | $76,900 | $76,050 | $54,350 | $105,720 | 80 |
| Colorado | $69,740 | $76,000 | $54,350 | $111,470 | 90 |
| Montana | $69,330 | $67,870 | $53,460 | $88,330 | 60 |
| Ohio | $66,440 | $69,780 | $52,880 | $87,690 | 80 |
| Alabama | $65,190 | $71,970 | $54,430 | $86,730 | 80 |
| South Dakota | $63,470 | $68,020 | $63,040 | $85,860 | — |
| Arizona | $63,010 | $54,940 | $38,460 | $69,410 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,670 | $64,220 | $48,810 | $89,750 | 90 |
| Missouri | $62,500 | $65,250 | $49,300 | $86,250 | 240 |
| Virginia | $59,840 | $62,560 | $47,620 | $87,810 | 150 |
| Idaho | $58,180 | $63,510 | $52,330 | $90,340 | — |
| Nevada | $58,160 | $65,930 | $49,470 | $89,850 | 340 |
| West Virginia | $57,350 | $56,740 | $45,870 | $68,750 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $56,440 | $62,910 | $47,250 | $89,970 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $56,180 | $55,340 | $43,410 | $67,890 | 340 |
| Indiana | $55,660 | $60,750 | $45,660 | $78,950 | 420 |
| Kentucky | $54,200 | $56,770 | $48,380 | $66,310 | 200 |
| Arkansas | $52,120 | $55,720 | $41,100 | $67,890 | 110 |
| Texas | $50,930 | $54,960 | $44,720 | $63,070 | — |
| Georgia | $46,830 | $56,890 | $46,380 | $93,060 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $45,900 | $45,780 | $36,050 | $54,080 | 110 |
| Iowa | $41,930 | $45,240 | $35,850 | $62,140 | 100 |
| Michigan | $41,450 | $44,650 | $39,620 | $55,660 | 60 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Aircraft Ordnance Technician or Ammunition and Explosives Handler frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters compares to others in the 47 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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