Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

Place 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.

AI Resistance Index 77 of 99

More resilient than most: more resilient than 77% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by 0.0% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and physical dexterity.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $61,390
Job growth to 2035: 0.0%
Openings a year: 400
People doing it (2025): 5,200
Usual route in: High school diploma, then long on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
Purchase goods or services
Operate communications equipment or systems

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Prepare industrial materials for processing or use
Position tools or equipment
Operate construction or excavation equipment

What the work looks like

Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
Place safety cones around blast areas to alert other workers of danger zones, and signal workers as necessary to ensure that they clear blast sites prior to explosions.
Place explosive charges in holes or other spots; then detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.
Insert, pack, and pour explosives, such as dynamite, ammonium nitrate, black powder, or slurries into blast holes; then shovel drill cuttings, admit water into boreholes, and tamp material to compact charges.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as automation of some blasting activities increases the productivity of explosives workers in mining operations.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Rotary drill operators, oil and gasHuman edge, steady, Index 81, +0.8%
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHuman edge, growing, Index 97, +5.7%
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +4.6%
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +10.3%

Also known as: Blast Hole Driller, Blaster, Explosive Technician, Powderman, Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.