Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in California
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in California earn a median of $80,370 a year ($38.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,930 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $61,390. California ranks 6th of 32 states for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay. There are 0.01 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.37). The average (mean) salary is $75,140, close to the median.
Pay range for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median | $80,370 | $38.64 |
| 75th percentile | $102,170 | $49.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,930 | $60.55 |
| Average (mean) | $75,140 | $36.13 |
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 | $6,697.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,348.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,091.15 |
| Weekly | $1,545.58 |
| Hourly | $38.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,370 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $92,290 | 60 |
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 California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $66,910 | $32.17 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $65,520 | $31.50 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $61,620 | $29.63 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $55,480 | $26.67 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,680 | $46.96 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in California is $80,370 a year, or $38.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in California?
The top 10% of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in California earn at least $125,930 a year. The top 25% earn $102,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $34,320 or less.
How many explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters work in California?
About 220 explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.