Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, & Blasters

Also Called: Blast Hole Driller, Blaster, Explosive Technician, Powderman

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$42,670

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, & Blasters do

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.

  • Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
  • Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
  • Place safety cones around blast areas to alert other workers of danger zones, and signal workers as necessary to ensure that they clear blast sites prior to explosions.
Industry Areas:

Transportation

Training Program Areas:

Heavy Equipment Operations • OCT-Only Transportation • Roustabout

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
  • Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety

Tools

  • Detonators
  • Cargo trucks
  • Voltage or current meters
  • Remote reading thermometers
  • Core drills

Technology

Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Analytical or scientific software
Blaster's Tool and Supply Company Blaster's Calculator
DetNet ViewShot

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Operation and Control

Knowledge

Safety and Government
public safety and security
law and government
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Engineering and Technology
product and service development
mechanical
Business
customer service

Education

  • 63% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 21% Post-secondary certificate
  • 8% Some college, no degree

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, & Blasters Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Civil Engineering Technologists & Technicians

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, & Groundskeeping Workers

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Industrial Production Managers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Alcorn State University

    Alcorn State, MS

  • Arizona Western College

    Yuma, AZ

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

The Military offers exciting career opportunities that align with your interests. Click here to explore military careers and find a recruiter near you.

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Support
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Verbal
  • Attention

This is what Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, & Blasters across the country typically make.

$20.51 / hour
$42,670 /year

Entry Level

$29.61 / hour
$61,590 /year

Median Level

$42.98 / hour
$89,400 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

Search Jobs