Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary
In North Carolina, explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $85,630 at the median, or about $41.17 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $92,413 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in North Carolina?
About explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
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What this looks like in North Carolina
North Carolina sits well above the national pay line for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters, local pay runs about 39% higher than the U.S. median of $61K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Carolina offers a genuinely strong financial position for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasterss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters salary by metro in North Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $87K | +1% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,657/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay is 39% above the national median — $86K here vs. $61K nationally.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
North Carolina pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s +39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in North Carolina?
The median is $85,630 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,950, and experienced explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters can clear $104,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,398/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 23.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $92,413 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.