How to hire a blaster

How to hire a blaster, step by step

Here's a step-by-step blaster hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a blaster job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new blaster
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a blaster do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a blaster, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A blaster's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, blasters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of blasters.

   Type of Blaster	Description	Hourly rate
   Blaster		$12-32
   Explosive Ordnance Technician	An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician is an expert that handles unexploded ammunition and secures the proper disposal of explosives and weaponry. They must be able to find, gather, and safely dispose of explosive devices... Show more	$11-35
   Blaster/Painter	A blaster/painter specializes in applying paint and coating on different surfaces through a manual application or spraying system. They are responsible for understanding project requirements, preparing tools and surfaces, mixing paint, sealing cracks, filling dents, and operating blasting equipment and spray guns according to protocols and regulations... Show more	$11-33

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Hand Tools
   • ATF
   • Fall Protection
   • Blast Equipment
   • Grit
   • Safety Regulations
   • Industrial Cleaning
   • OSHA
   • DOT
   • Safety Laws
   • Respirators
   • MSHA
   • Hydro Blasting

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Blast rail freight cars with steel grit to achieve require blast profile per paint specifications or customer's request.
   • Blast paint off of aluminum wheels in cabinet.
   • Lead foreman - run pipe sandblasting crew on site at oil field refineries.
   • Operate bobcat, emulsion, truck, and other equipment necessary to blasting.
   • Transport sand and run a three man crew to keep things on a tight schedule.
   • Mentore and train international employees on policies and regulations regarding ammunition and explosives resulting in expanding foreign networking.

   More blaster duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your blaster job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A blaster salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, blasters' average salary in colorado is 31% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level blasters earn 63% less than senior-level blasters.
   • Certifications. A blaster with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a blaster's salary.

   Average blaster salary

   $41,789yearly

   $20.09 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level blaster salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average blaster salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$46,156	$22
   2	Pennsylvania	$44,954	$22
   3	Wisconsin	$44,880	$22
   4	Indiana	$42,990	$21
   5	California	$38,710	$19
   6	Texas	$38,174	$18
   7	Ohio	$37,814	$18
   8	Iowa	$36,644	$18
   9	Florida	$36,068	$17
   10	Louisiana	$35,623	$17
   11	Tennessee	$34,598	$17
   12	Georgia	$34,568	$17
   13	Oklahoma	$34,037	$16
   14	Alabama	$33,991	$16

   Average blaster salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Siemens	$70,922	$34.10
   2	Precision Castparts	$46,072	$22.15
   3	Calgon Carbon	$43,375	$20.85
   4	Regal Beloit	$43,089	$20.72
   5	Vulcan Materials	$42,584	$20.47	1
   6	Koch Industries	$41,959	$20.17
   7	Maine Drilling & Blasting	$41,628	$20.01	4
   8	Dyno Nobel	$41,096	$19.76	3
   9	Arcosa	$40,403	$19.42	1
   10	Colonna's Shipyard	$40,316	$19.38
   11	Danaher	$40,142	$19.30
   12	HKA Enterprises	$39,801	$19.14
   13	United Rentals	$39,799	$19.13
   14	Westerman	$39,785	$19.13
   15	Orica Limited	$39,699	$19.09	1
   16	Bodycote USA Inc	$39,697	$19.09
   17	Grp Inc	$39,697	$19.09
   18	Rotating Machinery Services	$39,576	$19.03
   19	Quality Paint and Coatings	$39,473	$18.98
   20	Tradesmen International	$39,470	$18.98

4. Writing a blaster job description

   A good blaster job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a blaster job description:

   Blaster job description example

   Westerman is a multiple site manufacturer of production and storage equipment within the oil, gas, and nuclear industries. Our equipment helps optimize well pad design, improve separation efficiency and lower overall equipment spend through high-performance surface separation and processing technology. Our equipment is setting new standards for performance and economics nationwide.
   
   The Blaster role prepares the product for painting by washing, masking, sanding and caulking product per
   
   instructions. The position is responsible for moving the product to the paint booth. The Blaster will also remove
   
   all tape and paper after the product is completely dry and maintains a clean and safe area. A successful
   
   candidate is a self-motivated multi-tasker that utilizes a strong work ethic to ensure all painting quality levels are
   met.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   * Washes product assuring all oil and dirt is removed.
   * Marks and masks off areas of product using tape and masking paper to protect it while surrounding areas are painted.
   * Removes and disposes of tape and masking paper after the paint is dry.
   * Caulks cracks when necessary using pneumatic and hand-pump caulking guns.
   * Moves product into the paint booth by pulling product on the conveyor line or by pulling loaded parts racks.
   * Sands or otherwise prepares surface for painting.
   * Handles paint, paint related materials and hazardous wastes properly.
   * Performs necessary quality assurance measures and appropriate paperwork as required.
   * Properly disposes of paint, thinner, rags, and masking paper as needed.
   * Performs the duties mentioned above to run successive colors on the same product as required.
   * Other duties as assigned.
   
   Desired Experience
   
   * Ability carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions
   * Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations
   * Ability to read and comprehend instructions and short correspondence
   * Intermediate mathematical skills
   * Must be able to stand for extended period of time and exert moderate to heavy physical effort with Minimum lifting requirement of 50 pounds
   * Must be willing to travel as needed via most efficient means
   * Must be physically able to access all areas of the plant and grounds
   
   Westerman, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability or veterans status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find blasters for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find blaster candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as constructionjobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit blasters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new blaster

   Once you've selected the best blaster candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a blaster?