Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters earn a median $61,390 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
U.S. median
$61,390
$29.51 per hour
Range
$40,480 – $99,360
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
5,100
across the U.S.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$51,507
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$4,292Monthly
$2,146Twice a month
$1,981Every 2 weeks
$24.76Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,187
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,806
- Medicare (1.45%)$890
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,507
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,480 | $19.46 | $34,706 |
| 25th percentile | $49,630 | $23.86 | $42,058 |
| Median (50th) | $61,390 | $29.51 | $51,507 |
| 75th percentile | $80,370 | $38.64 | $65,370 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,360 | $47.77 | $78,730 |
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $100,520 | $75,333 | $83,200 – $113,070 | — |
| New York | $96,940 | $72,348 | $72,650 – $123,160 | — |
| North Carolina | $85,630 | $66,163 | $60,950 – $104,280 | 160 |
| Wyoming | $85,070 | $68,677 | $59,790 – $88,000 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,400 | $65,614 | $58,070 – $102,730 | — |
| California | $80,370 | $61,081 | $34,320 – $125,930 | 220 |
| New Mexico | $78,960 | $61,833 | $37,300 – $87,360 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $74,190 | $61,023 | $37,400 – $122,450 | 70 |
| Florida | $69,780 | $57,920 | $50,120 – $143,260 | 90 |
| Colorado | $69,640 | $55,466 | $54,870 – $91,550 | 140 |
| Utah | $67,910 | $54,515 | $47,570 – $99,340 | 50 |
| Hawaii | $64,560 | $50,678 | $58,850 – $96,720 | 110 |
| Missouri | $64,040 | $51,564 | $52,040 – $82,140 | 150 |
| Virginia | $63,920 | $50,678 | $51,900 – $80,260 | 80 |
| Georgia | $61,480 | $49,011 | $45,430 – $99,040 | 70 |
| Illinois | $60,520 | $47,957 | $52,420 – $93,180 | 110 |
| Nevada | $60,500 | $50,792 | $50,740 – $90,520 | 260 |
| Idaho | $60,360 | $48,588 | $56,110 – $124,090 | — |
| Alabama | $59,820 | $47,519 | $51,700 – $87,560 | 100 |
| Maryland | $59,720 | $47,692 | $45,810 – $106,890 | — |
| Indiana | $59,110 | $47,961 | $48,510 – $72,510 | 330 |
| South Dakota | $56,780 | $47,803 | $52,870 – $87,060 | — |
| Texas | $56,600 | $47,658 | $36,620 – $83,690 | 460 |
| Oklahoma | $55,180 | $44,580 | $44,300 – $69,280 | 330 |
| Arkansas | $53,120 | $43,003 | $42,080 – $66,270 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $52,400 | $42,759 | $43,690 – $82,190 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $50,360 | $40,999 | $24,640 – $75,270 | 380 |
| West Virginia | $49,630 | $40,553 | $46,370 – $65,630 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $47,060 | $38,842 | $37,480 – $66,190 | 40 |
| Ohio | $46,630 | $39,147 | $42,700 – $77,320 | 120 |
| Louisiana | $39,900 | $33,429 | $35,030 – $51,680 | 130 |
| Iowa | $39,520 | $33,084 | $37,170 – $55,190 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make?
The national median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters is $61,390 a year ($29.51 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,480 and the top 10% earn over $99,360. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters the most?
New Jersey has the highest median pay at $100,520.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are there in the U.S.?
About 5,100 people work as explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters nationwide.