SOC 47-5032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters — Tennessee
Tennessee
In Tennessee the median wage for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is $74,190 a year, which is 20.9% higher than the national figure of $61,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tennessee the median wage for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is $74,190 a year, which is 20.9% higher than the national figure of $61,390. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $44,720 and $81,870. The lowest tenth earn under $37,400, while the highest tenth earn more than $122,450.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Tennessee ranks number 8th out of 32 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 198th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,400 | −39.1% |
| 25th | $44,720 | −27.2% |
| Median (50th) | $74,190 | +20.9% |
| 75th | $81,870 | +33.4% |
| 90th | $122,450 | +99.5% |
| Mean | $72,550 | +18.2% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $74,190 goes as far as $80,729 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 31.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,729US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,190 a year, 20.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,400 to $122,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 32 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $74,190, or $35.67 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 Tennessee is 20.9% 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 Tennessee earns more than $122,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,400 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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