Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary
In Arkansas, explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $53,120 at the median, or about $25.54 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $60,612 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 29.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in Arkansas?
About explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Arkansas runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,525/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blaster a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $53K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
Arkansas pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in Arkansas?
The median is $53,120 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,080, and experienced explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters can clear $66,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,568/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 28.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary is worth about $60,612 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.