Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters vs Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: Salary, Job Outlook & Education | Career Matchup
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Career comparison

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters vs Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Compare the evidence side by side. Career Matchup shows the source data without declaring an overall winner.

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01 · Compensation

Pay and employment

Median annual wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$61,390
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,430
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

Mean annual wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$66,640
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$59,930
90% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

Hourly median wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$29.51
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$27.61
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

Hourly mean wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$32.04
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$28.81
90% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

10th percentile annual wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$40,480
97% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$41,600
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

25th percentile annual wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$49,630
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$47,890
96% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

75th percentile annual wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$80,370
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$65,730
82% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

90th percentile annual wage

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$99,360
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$82,400
83% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

National employment

2025

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters5,100
15% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining34,480
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 47-5022

02 · Outlook

Employment outlook

Bars compare the same metric across the two careers. They are not an overall score.

Projected employment change

2025-2035

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters0%
6% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining1%
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5022

Average annual openings

2025-2035

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters0.4k
17% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.4k
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5022

03 · Preparation

Education and training

Typical entry-level education

2025-2035

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5022

Related work experience

2025-2035

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersLess than 5 years

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningLess than 5 years

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5022

On-the-job training

2025-2035

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersLong-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5032

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 47-5022

04 · Context and fit

Work context

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Contact with others

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters4.4 raw · CX scale
85% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining4.4 raw · CX scale
85% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Time pressure

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters4.4 raw · CX scale
84% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining3.6 raw · CX scale
65% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Spend time standing

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters4.3 raw · CX scale
82% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.5 raw · CX scale
36% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Exposed to contaminants

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters4.4 raw · CX scale
85% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining4.4 raw · CX scale
85% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Exposed to disease or infections

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters1.2 raw · CX scale
4% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining1.2 raw · CX scale
5% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Exposed to hazardous equipment

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters4.1 raw · CX scale
78% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining4.1 raw · CX scale
77% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

04 · Context and fit

Skills

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Monitoring

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.6 raw · LV scale
52% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Reading comprehension

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.6 raw · LV scale
52% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Critical thinking

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.5 raw · LV scale
50% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Active listening

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.4 raw · LV scale
48% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Active learning

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Speaking

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Learning strategies

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Mathematics

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningNot available

Source metadata unavailable

Writing

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersNot available

Source metadata unavailable

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

04 · Context and fit

Work styles

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Dependability

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters2.9 raw · WI scale
99% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining2.4 raw · WI scale
91% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Attention to detail

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3 raw · WI scale
100% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining1.6 raw · WI scale
76% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Stress tolerance

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3 raw · WI scale
100% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining1.3 raw · WI scale
72% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Cooperation

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters0.9 raw · WI scale
65% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5032.00

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining0.4 raw · WI scale
56% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 47-5022.00

Explore your next step

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

  • Use the career comparison checklist

Sources

Each side retains the source release, reference period, occupation code, and file hash used for the comparison.

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 47-5032 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 47-5032 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 47-5032.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 47-5022 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 47-5022 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 47-5022.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Read the data in context

Career Matchup does not declare an overall winner. National estimates can hide local variation, and O*NET relative values describe the named construct rather than whether a career is better.

Career Matchup is an independent comparison tool.

Data sourcesData availabilityAboutFree guideContactPrivacyTermsData: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET® Database.