Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
In St. Louis, MO-IL, explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters earn $64,110 at the median — $30.82 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.09), that's roughly $67,420 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,218/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $64K get you in St. Louis?
About explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Louis, MO-IL
Entry-level explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K.Top earners bring in $84K or more - a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $104K | +76% | 60 |
| Tennessee | $102K | +73% | 120 |
| Connecticut | $101K | +71% | N/A |
| Maryland | $94K | +58% | 770 |
| California | $87K | +47% | 180 |
| Wyoming | $87K | +47% | 30 |
| Florida | $85K | +43% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $84K | +42% | 80 |
| Illinois | $83K | +40% | 130 |
| Hawaii | $77K | +31% | 70 |
| Washington | $77K | +31% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $77K | +30% | 80 |
| Montana | $69K | +17% | 60 |
| Ohio | $66K | +12% | 80 |
| Alabama | $65K | +10% | 80 |
Track explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when St. Louis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median is $64,110 a year - that works out to about $30.82 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,300, and experienced explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters can clear $84,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in St. Louis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,269/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,218/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 28.5% 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 St. Louis?
St. Louis has a Regional Price Parity of 95.09 (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 $67,420 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.