Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Virginia
Want to work as an Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Virginia? Here’s what the data says. 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.
What do Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Make in Virginia?
The explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters working in Virginia, the typical annual salary is $59,840 per year (or about $28.77/hour).Earnings range from $47,620 at the 10th percentile to $87,810 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| 25th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 |
| Median (50th) | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| 75th percentile | $62,290 | $29.95 |
| 90th percentile | $87,810 | $42.22 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia nationwide is 0.99.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn a median of $44,277 per year ($21.29/hour), exceeding the Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 731,332 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters nationwide. In Virginia alone, about 150 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 100 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters.
Top States for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Employment
View the states that employ the most explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 770 |
| Indiana | 420 |
| Nevada | 340 |
| Oklahoma | 340 |
| Missouri | 240 |
| Kentucky | 200 |
| California | 180 |
| Georgia | 180 |
| Virginia | 150 |
| Illinois | 130 |
| Tennessee | 120 |
| Arkansas | 110 |
| Louisiana | 110 |
| West Virginia | 110 |
| Iowa | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | 90 |
| Colorado | 90 |
| Florida | 90 |
| Ohio | 80 |
| Alabama | 80 |
Highest-Paying States for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
These states pay the most for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $104,320 |
| Tennessee | $102,060 |
| Connecticut | $101,020 |
| Maryland | $93,550 |
| California | $87,110 |
| Wyoming | $86,740 |
| Florida | $84,520 |
| New Mexico | $84,050 |
| Illinois | $82,710 |
| Hawaii | $77,460 |
Skills
Key explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters typically:
- 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.
- Place explosive charges in holes or other spots; then detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.
- Insert, pack, and pour explosives, such as dynamite, ammonium nitrate, black powder, or slurries into blast holes; then shovel drill cuttings, admit water into boreholes, and tamp material to compact charges.
- Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
- Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
- Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
- Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
- Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.
- Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
- Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Getting Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Training and Teaching Others
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Ground Transportation
- Plumbing & Water Supply
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Related Careers
Other careers like explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters include:
- Construction Laborers
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Also Known As
Aircraft Ordnance Technician, Ammunition and Explosives Handler, Blast Driller, Blast Hole Driller, Blast Setter, Blast Technician, Blaster, Blasting Clay Miner, Blasting Coal Miner, Blasting Contract Man, Blasting Contract Miner, Blasting Entry Specialist, Blasting Entryman, Blasting Gang Miner, Blasting Miner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-5032.00
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