Top 15 cities for this job by average salary
| New York, NY | $103,540 |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $95,680 |
| Allentown, PA | $91,320 |
| Charlotte, NC | $87,690 |
| Louisville, KY | $78,840 |
| Honolulu, HI | $73,490 |
| Washington, DC | $73,060 |
| Denver, CO | $70,310 |
| San Antonio, TX | $70,110 |
| Kansas City, MO | $66,270 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $63,740 |
| Anniston, AL | $61,440 |
| Houston, TX | $59,490 |
| Dallas, TX | $54,350 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $38,160 |
Map: Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary by metro area
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Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary by state
New York pays explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters the most statewide, $99,420 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $99,420 | $96,940 | n/a | 1 | $103,540 | $103,540 |
| New Jersey | $98,880 | $100,520 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $85,330 | $85,630 | 160 | 1 | $87,690 | $87,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,060 | $84,400 | n/a | 1 | $91,320 | $91,320 |
| Florida | $82,930 | $69,780 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wyoming | $81,720 | $85,070 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $75,140 | $80,370 | 220 | 1 | $95,680 | $95,680 |
| Idaho | $74,000 | $60,360 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $73,060 | $73,060 |
| Hawaii | $72,750 | $64,560 | 110 | 1 | $73,490 | $73,490 |
| Tennessee | $72,550 | $74,190 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $71,080 | $60,520 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $70,670 | $69,640 | 140 | 1 | $70,310 | $70,310 |
| Maryland | $70,420 | $59,720 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Utah | $69,450 | $67,910 | 50 | 1 | $63,740 | $63,740 |
| Georgia | $69,000 | $61,480 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | $68,700 | $78,960 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nevada | $68,160 | $60,500 | 260 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $67,710 | $63,920 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $66,140 | $64,040 | 150 | 1 | $66,270 | $66,270 |
| Alabama | $63,980 | $59,820 | 100 | 1 | $61,440 | $61,440 |
| South Dakota | $63,670 | $56,780 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana | $59,670 | $59,110 | 330 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Texas | $58,910 | $56,600 | 460 | 3 | $70,110 | $54,350 |
| Wisconsin | $58,040 | $52,400 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $57,890 | $46,630 | 120 | 1 | $38,160 | $38,160 |
| Arkansas | $56,390 | $53,120 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $56,020 | $55,180 | 330 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| West Virginia | $53,890 | $49,630 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $50,570 | $50,360 | 380 | 1 | $78,840 | $78,840 |
| Mississippi | $49,970 | $47,060 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Louisiana | $43,530 | $39,900 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $43,280 | $39,520 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $103,540 | $100,520 | $49.78 | 120 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $95,680 | $92,290 | $46.00 | 60 |
| Allentown, PA | $91,320 | $97,910 | $43.90 | n/a |
| Charlotte, NC | $87,690 | $86,900 | $42.16 | 60 |
| Louisville, KY | $78,840 | $83,750 | $37.91 | 50 |
| Honolulu, HI | $73,490 | $66,850 | $35.33 | 80 |
| Washington, DC | $73,060 | $63,920 | $35.13 | n/a |
| Denver, CO | $70,310 | $70,200 | $33.80 | 80 |
| San Antonio, TX | $70,110 | $62,610 | $33.71 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO | $66,270 | $62,140 | $31.86 | 30 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $63,740 | $64,880 | $30.65 | 50 |
| Anniston, AL | $61,440 | $62,070 | $29.54 | 50 |
| Houston, TX | $59,490 | $55,830 | $28.60 | 180 |
| Dallas, TX | $54,350 | $45,180 | $26.13 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $38,160 | $27,400 | $18.35 | 60 |
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Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary: questions
Where do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make the most money?
In New York, NY, with an average of $103,540 a year, among the 15 metro areas we cover.
What is the average explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary in the U.S.?
$66,640 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $61,390, so half of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn more than that and half less.
What salary should explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters nationwide earn between $49,630 (25th percentile) and $80,370 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters the most?
New York, with a statewide average of $99,420 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay the lowest?
Cincinnati, OH, at $38,160 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-5032.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.