Skip to main content

Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

47-5032 Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters



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.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Minnesota 4015$37.46/hr$33.11/hr$35.32/hr$37.09/hr$39.30/hr$41.85/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and MiningN/AN/A
ManufacturingN/AN/A
Public AdministrationN/AN/A
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Central Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN N/AN/AN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Minnesota 10$37.08/hrN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA 10$37.08/hrN/A
Minnesota 40$37.09/hr5.8%


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 420$34.18/hr5.1%
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas N/AN/AN/A
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 1,420$23.81/hr-1.0%


  • Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
  • Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
  • 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.
  • Insert waterproof sealers, bullets, and/or powder charges into guns, and screw gun ports back into place.
  • Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
  • Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
  • Maintain inventory levels, ordering new supplies as necessary.
  • Maintain inventory levels, ordering new supplies as necessary.
  • 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.
  • Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.