U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsPlace and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials. May perform specialized handling, storage, and accounting procedures. Includes seismograph shooters. Excludes "Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas" (47-5021) who may also work with explosives.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,210 | 4.1 % | $22.62 | $47,040 | 1.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $15.61 | $18.18 | $21.81 | $26.35 | $30.83 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $32,460 | $37,810 | $45,370 | $54,800 | $64,120 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 1,660 | 0.08 | $20.63 | $42,900 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 800 | 0.25 | $22.69 | $47,200 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 660 | 1.73 | $23.65 | $49,200 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 390 | 0.07 | $24.68 | $51,320 |
| Coal Mining | 330 | 0.40 | $24.84 | $51,660 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Ore Mining | 660 | 1.73 | $23.65 | $49,200 |
| Coal Mining | 330 | 0.40 | $24.84 | $51,660 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 300 | 0.33 | $19.59 | $40,750 |
| Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers | 320 | 0.26 | $23.89 | $49,690 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 800 | 0.25 | $22.69 | $47,200 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | (8) | (8) | $29.06 | $60,440 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | (8) | (8) | $27.59 | $57,390 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | (8) | (8) | $26.38 | $54,880 |
| Coal Mining | 330 | 0.40 | $24.84 | $51,660 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 390 | 0.07 | $24.68 | $51,320 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 480 | 0.28 | 6.85 | $20.16 | $41,930 |
| Oklahoma | 460 | 0.31 | 7.59 | $19.55 | $40,670 |
| Indiana | 400 | 0.15 | 3.60 | $20.27 | $42,170 |
| Montana | 370 | 0.86 | 21.18 | $24.06 | $50,040 |
| Arkansas | 290 | 0.26 | 6.35 | $17.14 | $35,650 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 370 | 0.86 | 21.18 | $24.06 | $50,040 |
| Wyoming | 190 | 0.71 | 17.49 | $26.25 | $54,600 |
| Oklahoma | 460 | 0.31 | 7.59 | $19.55 | $40,670 |
| Alaska | 90 | 0.30 | 7.44 | $28.86 | $60,040 |
| Kentucky | 480 | 0.28 | 6.85 | $20.16 | $41,930 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | (8) | (8) | (8) | $29.48 | $61,320 |
| Alaska | 90 | 0.30 | 7.44 | $28.86 | $60,040 |
| Illinois | 80 | 0.01 | 0.35 | $28.49 | $59,260 |
| Nevada | 270 | 0.25 | 6.08 | $27.90 | $58,030 |
| New Mexico | 80 | 0.10 | 2.56 | $27.31 | $56,810 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 150 | 0.06 | 1.60 | $26.57 | $55,270 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 110 | 0.22 | 5.52 | $21.18 | $44,050 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 90 | 0.15 | 3.70 | $22.87 | $47,570 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 60 | 0.07 | 1.84 | $25.84 | $53,740 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 50 | 0.05 | 1.26 | $20.54 | $42,720 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.01 | 0.24 | $39.04 | $81,190 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 110 | 0.22 | 5.52 | $21.18 | $44,050 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 90 | 0.15 | 3.70 | $22.87 | $47,570 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 60 | 0.07 | 1.84 | $25.84 | $53,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 150 | 0.06 | 1.60 | $26.57 | $55,270 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 50 | 0.05 | 1.26 | $20.54 | $42,720 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.01 | 0.24 | $39.04 | $81,190 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.01 | 0.24 | $39.04 | $81,190 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 150 | 0.06 | 1.60 | $26.57 | $55,270 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 60 | 0.07 | 1.84 | $25.84 | $53,740 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 90 | 0.15 | 3.70 | $22.87 | $47,570 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 110 | 0.22 | 5.52 | $21.18 | $44,050 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 50 | 0.05 | 1.26 | $20.54 | $42,720 |
| Charleston, WV | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.57 | $34,460 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 400 | 2.51 | 61.93 | $20.03 | $41,660 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 2.37 | 58.31 | $20.14 | $41,880 |
| Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 9.77 | 240.72 | $23.94 | $49,790 |
| Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 4.22 | 104.02 | $28.27 | $58,790 |
| West Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.45 | 35.73 | $20.11 | $41,820 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 9.77 | 240.72 | $23.94 | $49,790 |
| Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 4.22 | 104.02 | $28.27 | $58,790 |
| Northeastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 3.08 | 75.87 | $26.15 | $54,390 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 400 | 2.51 | 61.93 | $20.03 | $41,660 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 2.37 | 58.31 | $20.14 | $41,880 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 4.22 | 104.02 | $28.27 | $58,790 |
| Northeastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 3.08 | 75.87 | $26.15 | $54,390 |
| East Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.17 | 4.23 | $24.42 | $50,780 |
| Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 9.77 | 240.72 | $23.94 | $49,790 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.48 | 11.76 | $22.93 | $47,690 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012
