SOC 47-5032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 1 metro areas compared
At $84,400 a year, the median wage for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Pennsylvania sits 37.5% above the national figure of $61,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $84,400 a year, the median wage for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Pennsylvania sits 37.5% above the national figure of $61,390. Half of workers earn between $68,760 and $97,910. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $58,070 and the ninetieth at $102,730.
Among the 32 states with published data for this occupation, Pennsylvania ranks 5th by median wage. Allentown leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $97,910. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 168th of 778 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,070 | −5.4% |
| 25th | $68,760 | +12.0% |
| Median (50th) | $84,400 | +37.5% |
| 75th | $97,910 | +59.5% |
| 90th | $102,730 | +67.3% |
| Mean | $83,060 | +35.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown | $97,910 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $84,400 goes as far as $86,475 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 40.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$86,475US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,400 a year, 37.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,070 to $102,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 5th of 32 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Allentown, at $97,910.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $84,400, or $40.58 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $61,390, so pay in Pennsylvania is 37.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Pennsylvania earns more than $102,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Allentown, at $97,910 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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