Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Construction and Extraction
Walks a blast site to judge how much explosive is needed and where charges should sit, then packs dynamite, ammonium nitrate, or slurry into holes and ties delaying fuses so blasts fire in sequence. Before detonation they cone off the danger zone, signal other workers to clear out, and measure hole depths with a weighted tape. They also mark drill patterns and keep legal records of guns and explosives. The work takes place at demolition sites and in earth or rock that has to be loosened or moved. It suits people who like precise placement work, timed sequences, and careful record-keeping.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$61'390
Median Wage Market Position
$61'390
What you might do
- Place and set off charges in rock or structures
- Judge charge type and size at the blast site
- Pack explosives into holes and tamp them tight
- Mark hole spots and depths for the drillers
- Clear workers from the area before a blast
- Log explosives on hand to meet legal rules
Skills that matter
- Charge needs judged from the blast area
- Delay fuses tied into timed patterns
- Crews told to clear the site
- Blast holes measured with weighted tape
- Required explosives records kept
- Charges packed and tamped in the holes
AI & the future of this role
Blast design, magazine rules, and liability leave little room for unsupervised automation. Software might aid charge calculations, yet licensed handling, site assessment, and controlled detonation still tend to require accountable human experts.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details