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What You Need to Know About Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster

Job Description & Duties 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?

Connect gun chambers to electric detonating devices, and operate controls at panelboards, in order to detonate charges in guns or to ignite chemical charges.
Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.
Set up and operate equipment such as hoists, jackhammers, or drills, in order to bore charge holes.
Insert waterproof sealers, bullets, and/or powder charges into guns, and screw gun ports back into place.
Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.

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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster?

These are the skills Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters say are the most useful in their careers:

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.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Types of Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster Jobs

Ordnance Keeper
Gun Perforator
Muck Miner, Blasting
Silver Miner, Blasting
Aircraft Ordnance Technician

Are There Job Opportunities for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?

In the United States, there were 6,300 jobs for Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 500 new jobs for Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster 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 Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster are Tennessee, Wyoming, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Washington, or Utah. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster Salary

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters make between $34,500 and $76,070 a year.

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters who work in Nevada, New York, or New Mexico, make the highest salaries.

How much do Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$50,440
Alaska	$63,620
Arizona	$55,880
Arkansas	$41,400
California	$68,980
Colorado	$60,750
Florida	$55,470
Georgia	$49,600
Hawaii	$61,590
Illinois	$61,180
Indiana	$50,220
Kentucky	$50,340
Louisiana	$52,610
Maryland	$65,020
Massachusetts	$65,760
Missouri	$48,770
Montana	$63,590
Nevada	$65,860
New Mexico	$65,350
New York	$72,090
North Carolina	$60,160
Ohio	$47,560
Oklahoma	$43,260
Pennsylvania	$61,830
Tennessee	$47,040
Texas	$41,050
Utah	$49,530
West Virginia	$47,530
Wisconsin	$76,390
Wyoming	$65,800

Tools & Technologies Used by Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters may use on a daily basis:

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Office
Microsoft PowerPoint
Autodesk AutoCAD
Global Positioning System GPS software
ESRI ArcGIS software

How do I Become an Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster?

Individuals working as an Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming an Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Tomwsulcer via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

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