Jobs Similar to Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Also called: Explosives Workers and Blasters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Hazardous Materials Removal Workers, Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Locomotive Engineers.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters: $61,390 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
79% similar · $49,450 (−19%) · High school
- 2Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $43,960 (−28%) · High school
- 3Locomotive Engineers
78% similar · $81,410 (+33%) · High school
- 4Foundry Mold and Coremakers
76% similar · $48,110 (−22%) · High school
- 5Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
76% similar · $68,840 (+12%) · High school
- 6Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
76% similar · $60,600 (−1%) · High school
- 7Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
75% similar · $51,330 (−16%) · High school
- 8Aircraft Service Attendants
75% similar · $40,450 (−34%) · High school
- 9Structural Iron and Steel Workers
75% similar · $62,780 (+2%) · High school
- 10Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
75% similar · $96,710 (+58%) · High school
- 11Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
75% similar · $58,970 (−4%) · High school
- 12Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
75% similar · $67,890 (+11%) · High school · Same group
- 13Tire Builders
75% similar · $57,390 (−7%) · High school
- 14Insulation Workers, Mechanical
75% similar · $58,340 (−5%) · High school
- 15Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
75% similar · $57,430 (−6%) · High school · Same group
- 16Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
75% similar · $49,120 (−20%) · High school
- 17Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
75% similar · $47,920 (−22%) · High school
- 18Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
74% similar · $46,170 (−25%) · High school
- 19Stonemasons
74% similar · $57,390 (−7%) · High school
- 20Recycling and Reclamation Workers
74% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers75% similar · $96,710 (+58%)
- Locomotive Engineers78% similar · $81,410 (+33%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers76% similar · $68,840 (+12%)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas75% similar · $67,890 (+11%)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers75% similar · $62,780 (+2%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (86)
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (79)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (76)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (75)
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (75)
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical (75)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (75)
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers (75)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (75)
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (74)
Questions about jobs like explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
What jobs are most similar to explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (79% similar), Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (79% similar), Locomotive Engineers (78% similar), Foundry Mold and Coremakers (76% similar) and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (76% similar).
Which jobs like explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +58%; usually a high school diploma), Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +33%; usually a high school diploma) and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers ($68,840, +12%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters ($61,390). Without more preparation than explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.