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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

47-5032 Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

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.


National estimates for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Industry profile for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Geographic profile for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

National estimates for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
4,610 4.5 % $ 31.54 $ 65,600 1.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 20.51 $ 23.90 $ 29.61 $ 38.26 $ 42.98
Annual Wage (2) $ 42,670 $ 49,710 $ 61,590 $ 79,580 $ 89,400


Industry profile for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,280 0.06 $ 26.95 $ 56,050
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) 700 0.18 $ 31.86 $ 66,280
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 410 0.05 $ 39.74 $ 82,660
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 210 0.22 $ 32.44 $ 67,480
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 180 0.05 $ 40.88 $ 85,030

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Metal Ore Mining 170 0.41 $ 36.52 $ 75,970
Coal Mining 120 0.28 $ 36.40 $ 75,700
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 210 0.22 $ 32.44 $ 67,480
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) 700 0.18 $ 31.86 $ 66,280
Support Activities for Rail Transportation 60 0.16 $ 23.49 $ 48,860

Top paying industries for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 100 0.01 $ 41.24 $ 85,770
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 180 0.05 $ 40.88 $ 85,030
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 410 0.05 $ 39.74 $ 82,660
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 30 (7) $ 36.99 $ 76,940
Metal Ore Mining 170 0.41 $ 36.52 $ 75,970


Geographic profile for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Indiana 430 0.14 4.46 $ 32.04 $ 66,640
Oklahoma 380 0.23 7.52 $ 24.94 $ 51,880
Texas 260 0.02 0.63 $ 30.02 $ 62,440
Kentucky 230 0.12 3.91 $ 24.71 $ 51,390
Missouri 230 0.08 2.67 $ 28.26 $ 58,770


Map of location quotient of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Virginia 200 0.29 9.40 $ 26.74 $ 55,620
Wyoming 60 0.23 7.59 $ 36.89 $ 76,740
Oklahoma 380 0.23 7.52 $ 24.94 $ 51,880
Hawaii 130 0.21 6.76 $ 35.76 $ 74,370
Indiana 430 0.14 4.46 $ 32.04 $ 66,640


Map of annual mean wages of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada 130 0.09 2.81 $ 41.31 $ 85,910
Tennessee 160 0.05 1.68 $ 41.21 $ 85,720
Massachusetts (8) (8) (8) $ 40.67 $ 84,590
Illinois (8) (8) (8) $ 39.41 $ 81,980
New Mexico 90 0.11 3.47 $ 38.59 $ 80,270



Map of employment of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Urban Honolulu, HI 120 0.27 8.84 $ 35.68 $ 74,210
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 80 0.03 0.90 $ 35.23 $ 73,280
St. Louis, MO-IL 80 0.06 1.95 $ 26.29 $ 54,680
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 80 0.05 1.61 $ 32.25 $ 67,080
Kansas City, MO-KS 70 0.06 2.06 $ 28.63 $ 59,540
Bakersfield, CA 60 0.17 5.58 $ 39.28 $ 81,710
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 50 0.05 1.53 $ 28.95 $ 60,210
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 50 0.05 1.50 $ 46.93 $ 97,620
Salt Lake City, UT 50 0.06 1.93 $ 28.22 $ 58,700


Map of location quotient of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Urban Honolulu, HI 120 0.27 8.84 $ 35.68 $ 74,210
Bakersfield, CA 60 0.17 5.58 $ 39.28 $ 81,710
Kansas City, MO-KS 70 0.06 2.06 $ 28.63 $ 59,540
St. Louis, MO-IL 80 0.06 1.95 $ 26.29 $ 54,680
Salt Lake City, UT 50 0.06 1.93 $ 28.22 $ 58,700
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 80 0.05 1.61 $ 32.25 $ 67,080
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 50 0.05 1.53 $ 28.95 $ 60,210
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 50 0.05 1.50 $ 46.93 $ 97,620
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 80 0.03 0.90 $ 35.23 $ 73,280


Map of annual mean wages of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 50 0.05 1.50 $ 46.93 $ 97,620
Bakersfield, CA 60 0.17 5.58 $ 39.28 $ 81,710
Urban Honolulu, HI 120 0.27 8.84 $ 35.68 $ 74,210
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 80 0.03 0.90 $ 35.23 $ 73,280
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 80 0.05 1.61 $ 32.25 $ 67,080
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 50 0.05 1.53 $ 28.95 $ 60,210
Kansas City, MO-KS 70 0.06 2.06 $ 28.63 $ 59,540
Salt Lake City, UT 50 0.06 1.93 $ 28.22 $ 58,700
St. Louis, MO-IL 80 0.06 1.95 $ 26.29 $ 54,680

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.11 36.55 $ 25.55 $ 53,140
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 180 0.98 32.20 $ 25.28 $ 52,580
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 100 0.95 31.45 $ 41.48 $ 86,280
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 50 0.58 19.09 $ 36.38 $ 75,680
Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area 40 0.24 7.98 $ 30.24 $ 62,900

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.11 36.55 $ 25.55 $ 53,140
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 180 0.98 32.20 $ 25.28 $ 52,580
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 100 0.95 31.45 $ 41.48 $ 86,280
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 50 0.58 19.09 $ 36.38 $ 75,680
Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area 40 0.24 7.98 $ 30.24 $ 62,900

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 100 0.95 31.45 $ 41.48 $ 86,280
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 50 0.58 19.09 $ 36.38 $ 75,680
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 30 0.13 4.34 $ 32.20 $ 66,970
Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area 40 0.24 7.98 $ 30.24 $ 62,900
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.11 36.55 $ 25.55 $ 53,140


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024