What is an Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster?
Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster 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.
Life as an Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster: What Do They Do?
- Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
- Set up and operate short-wave radio or field telephone equipment to transmit and receive blast information.
- Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
- Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
- Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
- Cut specified lengths of primacord and attach primers to cord ends.
Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster Required Skills
When polled, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Related Job Titles
- Demolition Worker
- Nitro Worker
- Efficiency Miner, Blasting
- Sample Taker Operator
- Tier and Detonator
Are There Job Opportunities for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?
In the United States, there were 6,300 jobs for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in 2016.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 500 new jobs for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters by 2026. There will be an estimated 800 positions for Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster per year.
The states with the most job growth for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters are Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.
Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Washington, or Utah. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Make between $34,500 and $76,070 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $49,860.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
Wisconsin |
$76,390 |
|
New York |
$72,090 |
|
California |
$68,980 |
|
Nevada |
$65,860 |
|
Wyoming |
$65,800 |
|
Massachusetts |
$65,760 |
|
New Mexico |
$65,350 |
|
Maryland |
$65,020 |
|
Alaska |
$63,620 |
|
Montana |
$63,590 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$61,830 |
|
Hawaii |
$61,590 |
|
Illinois |
$61,180 |
|
Colorado |
$60,750 |
|
North Carolina |
$60,160 |
|
Arizona |
$55,880 |
|
Florida |
$55,470 |
|
Louisiana |
$52,610 |
|
Alabama |
$50,440 |
|
Kentucky |
$50,340 |
|
Indiana |
$50,220 |
|
Georgia |
$49,600 |
|
Utah |
$49,530 |
|
Missouri |
$48,770 |
|
Ohio |
$47,560 |
|
West Virginia |
$47,530 |
|
Tennessee |
$47,040 |
|
Oklahoma |
$43,260 |
|
Arkansas |
$41,400 |
|
Texas |
$41,050 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters:
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Office
Where Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Work
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters might also be interested in the following careers:
- Elevator Installers and Repairers
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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