Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

Definition

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. Includes seismograph shooters. Excludes earth drillers, except oil and gas who may also work with explosives.

source: OOH; about this section

Significant Points

2004 employment: 5,500
Projected 2004-14 employment change: More slowly than average
Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

source: OOH; about this section

More Additional Information

Also see:

Blasters, Career Prospects in Virginia

Quick Stats

Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

2004 employment: 5,000
2014 projected employment: 6,000
Change — numeric: 0; percent: 2.2%
2004 median annual earnings: $35,700; earnings group: high
2004 self-employed: 0.0%
2004 part-time employment: very low
2004 unemployment: high
Typical education and training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Educational attainment — high school: 76.9%; some college: 16.6%; bachelor's degree: 6.5%

source: Employment Matrix; about this section

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
— National
U.S.:	$40,210
— by State
AL:	$40,570
AZ:	$38,070
AR:	$37,790
CA:	$41,380
CO:	$42,920
CT:	$50,700
FL:	$46,370
GA:	$30,910
ID:	$49,840
IL:	$39,160
IN:	$37,680
KS:	$35,440
KY:	$35,450
ME:	$37,580
MN:	$44,880
MO:	$42,590
MT:	$45,560
NV:	$45,670
NH:	$41,510
NM:	$46,910
NY:	$41,810
NC:	$38,130
OH:	$37,190
OK:	$34,290
OR:	$41,110
PA:	$35,260
TN:	$41,010
TX:	$37,260
UT:	$42,200
VA:	$41,180
WV:	$38,620
WI:	$45,680
WY:	$47,410
PR:	$35,440
— by NAICS Industry Sector
21	$38,900
23	$44,860
31-33	$41,550
42	$41,480
56	$46,960
92	$37,570
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Census Statistics

1999 employment and earnings distribution, year-round full-time workers

Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

	Percentile earnings distribution
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
All workers employment: 6,830 average earnings: $37,000	$18,000	$25,000	$34,000	$45,000	$57,000
Men employment: 6,270 average earnings: $37,000	$18,000	$25,000	$34,000	$45,000	$56,000
Women employment: 560 average earnings: $34,000	$14,000	$21,000	$30,000	$40,000	$65,000

source: Bureau of the Census; about this section

Also see Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in the 2004-05 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook
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