Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $14K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss land at $61,390 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blaster programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss is New Jersey ($100,520); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss or Construction Laborerss?
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss earn more nationally. The median is $61,390 for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $14K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters or Construction Laborers?
BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.
Which requires more education, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters or Construction Laborers?
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss get paid the most?
New Jersey is the top-paying state for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss at $100,520/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In New Jersey, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasterss earn $100,520 vs. $64,060 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.