Construction · SOC 47-5032
High-stakes explosive handling demands licensed human judgment; only recordkeeping and blast design face AI exposure.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Blast design software is AI-assisted today, but licensed hands-on handling and detonation accountability stays human indefinitely by regulatory requirement.
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$60,800 median pay
$49,850 median pay
$48,490 median pay
Construction
$62,740 median pay
$59,310 median pay
AI job-risk card
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters is 22/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
22 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Compiling and maintaining explosives records, Designing drill and blast pattern layouts, Verifying detonation by monitoring control panels. Harder to automate: Physical assessment of blast area safety conditions, Assembling and positioning charges at specified depths, Moving and securing explosive inventories safely, Transport and logistics of live explosive materials.
Lean into Explosives licensing and compliance, Blast design and modeling, Safety regulation management, Geological site assessment. Consider roles such as Blasting supervisor or Mining safety officer or Quarry operations manager.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.