Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in Arkansas
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Arkansas earn a median of $53,120 a year ($25.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,270 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $61,390. Arkansas ranks 25th of 32 states for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay. There are 0.07 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,080 | $20.23 |
| 25th percentile | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Median | $53,120 | $25.54 |
| 75th percentile | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,270 | $31.86 |
| Average (mean) | $56,390 | $27.11 |
Half of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,426.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,213.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,043.08 |
| Weekly | $1,021.54 |
| Hourly | $25.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $53,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $100,520 |
| New York | $96,940 |
| North Carolina | $85,630 |
| Wyoming | $85,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,400 |
| California | $80,370 |
| New Mexico | $78,960 |
| Tennessee | $74,190 |
| Florida | $69,780 |
| Colorado | $69,640 |
See Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters pay in every state.
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $47,890 | $23.03 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| Construction Laborer | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Electrician | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $61,230 | $29.44 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $44,520 | $21.41 |
| Carpenter | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $48,660 | $23.39 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Arkansas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in Arkansas?
The median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Arkansas is $53,120 a year, or $25.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Arkansas earn at least $66,270 a year. The top 25% earn $63,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,080 a year, and a quarter of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $46,920 or less.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work in Arkansas?
About 90 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.