Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
SOC Code: 47-5032
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters carries a 43% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $59,110 and -0.9% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 5,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 43% AI exposure, Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters sits 6 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 76% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters has ai exposure of 43%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters (SOC 47-5032) carries an AI exposure score of 43%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 5,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -0.9% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $59,110, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus Less than 5 years of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
- 2. Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
- 3. 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.
- 4. 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.
- 5. 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.
- 6. Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
- 7. Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
- 8. Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
- 9. Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
- 10. Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge Areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters has an AI exposure score of 43%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters is projected to decline by 0.9% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 5,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
Key skills for Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters include Active Listening, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn?
The median annual wage for Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters is $59,110, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
The typical entry-level education for Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect Less than 5 years of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Long-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).