Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
SOC Code: 47-5032 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morristown, TN | $75,733 | $95,971 | $116,189 | $136,427 |
| Knoxville, TN | $70,616 | $91,770 | $112,902 | $134,056 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $61,568 | $84,053 | $106,517 | $129,002 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $55,432 | $79,851 | $104,291 | $128,710 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $52,832 | $76,253 | $99,674 | $123,094 |
| Johnson City, TN | $53,581 | $76,128 | $98,675 | $121,222 |
| Cleveland, TN | $53,581 | $76,128 | $98,675 | $121,222 |
| Jackson, TN | $53,581 | $76,128 | $98,675 | $121,222 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,581 | $76,128 | $98,675 | $121,222 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $61,339 | $81,224 | $101,109 | $120,994 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Monitoring | 3.8 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.5 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 | |
| Time Management | 3.4 | |
| Speaking | 3.4 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.1 |
| Law and Government | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.7 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.3 |
| Administration and Management | 3.2 |
| Transportation | 3.2 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.2 |
| English Language | 3.1 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 62.5% |
| Some college | 20.8% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 8.3% |
| Less than high school | 4.2% |
| Associate's degree | 4.2% |
Typical Tasks
- 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.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Autodesk AutoCAD ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Blaster's Tool and Supply Company Blaster's Calculator Datavis DBS Designer DetNet ViewShot Global positioning system GPS software
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