Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary
In New Jersey, explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $100,520 at the median, or about $48.33 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $101,188 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $101K get you in New Jersey?
About explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters, local pay runs about 64% higher than the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $30K 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 New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 33.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,992/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 64% above the national median — $101K here vs. $61K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
New Jersey pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s +64%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in New Jersey?
The median is $100,520 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,200, and experienced explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters can clear $113,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,235/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 33.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $101,188 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.