Explosives engineers and technicians are constantly vigilant about worker safety.
There are generally two tracks of explosives engineers and technicians: The first is the explosives technicians who actually prime the charges, set the blasting caps and detonation cord, measure the explosive charge and then set the blast off. These are frequently skilled tradesmen who may or may not have a university education. The second are the mining and geological engineers and related engineering professionals who oversee demolition and explosive activity and direct policies and procedures regarding safety and the employment of explosives.
Where the Jobs Are
Nationwide, the federal government is the largest employer of explosives technicians, with estimated median wages of about $42,400 per year. The military represents the bulk of federal explosives technician employees. Metal ore mining, coal mining and natural gas round out the top four employers. Highway, railroad and tunnel contractors and demolition companies also hire explosive technicians.
Explosive Technicians
Explosive technicians frequently come from the ranks of the military, or from specialized trade schools that serve the mining and construction industries. Because the job is potentially extremely hazardous, these workers must undergo extensive training before they can work independently. They frequently work in the military, in mining, or for pyrotechnical companies such as fireworks companies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not list wages for Kansas, specifically, but wages in the neighboring states of Colorado and Missouri average $23.63 and $20 per hour, respectively. Entry level wages nationwide for this profession start around $14 to $15, with the top 10 percent earning upwards of $31.00 per hour. Those with additional specialized skills, such as underwater demolition, can make more.
Mining and Geological Engineers
Mining and geological engineers typically possess a broader education than explosives technicians, and are often charged with designing, implementing and supervising explosives handling and blasting procedures, among other mine safety programs. Their role is generally managerial in nature. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a mining and geological engineer in Kansas is $69,950 per year.
Where the Engineer-Level Jobs Are
The federal government employs far fewer engineer-level explosives experts than at the technician level. Instead, the top industries hiring explosives experts at this level of education include architecture and engineering firms, which often subcontract their engineering expertise to the government or private companies. Metal and coal mining come in second and third, respectively, in the number of mining and petroleum engineer employees. Not all of these engineers are routinely employed in demolitions and explosives, however.
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