How to hire an explosive ordnance specialist

How to hire an explosive ordnance specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step explosive ordnance specialist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an explosive ordnance specialist, 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

   An explosive ordnance specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, explosive ordnance specialists 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.

   Here's a comparison of explosive ordnance specialist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Explosive Ordnance Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Explosive Ordnance Specialist		$11-38
   Blaster	Their duties may require them to process improvement techniques in yield, efficiency, and quality, provide technical expertise in internal and external manufacturing, manage external vendors, and arrange equipment purchases.	$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

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Government Agencies
   • Federal Agencies
   • Explosive Ordnance
   • Improvised Explosive Devices
   • EOD
   • VIP
   • Explosive Devices
   • Secret Service
   • Demolition
   • Combat
   • Safety Training
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Security Clearance
   • Emergency Response

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Prepare and maintain EOD tools, equipment, and vehicles.
   • Identify various ordnance and ammunition items.
   • Formulate plans to safely and effectively destroy ammunition for emergency detonation.
   • Develop and implement training procedures and strategies for radiological protection, detection, and decontamination.
   • Respond to calls from military/combat personnel.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your explosive ordnance specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An explosive ordnance specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, explosive ordnance specialists' average salary in wyoming is 45% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level explosive ordnance specialists 72% less than senior-level explosive ordnance specialists.
   • Certifications. An explosive ordnance specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an explosive ordnance specialist's salary.

   Average explosive ordnance specialist salary

   $44,028yearly

   $21.17 hourly rate

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   Entry-level explosive ordnance specialist salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

4. Writing an explosive ordnance specialist job description

   A job description for an explosive ordnance specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an explosive ordnance specialist job description:

   Explosive ordnance specialist job description example

   Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists are the tactical and technical explosive experts of the Army National Guard. EODs are trained, equipped, and integrated to attack, defeat, and exploit unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices, chemical, biological, and nuclear ordnance, and weapons of mass destruction.
   
   Specific duties of the EOD Specialist include: locating, identifying, disarming, and disposing of all explosive ordnance; intelligence gathering operations; and supporting very important persons (VIP) missions for the U.S. Secret Service, State Department, and other federal agencies. Additional responsibilities include researching and identifying ordnance; disposal of hazardous ordnance; preparation and maintenance of EOD tools, equipment, and vehicles; use of advanced robotics; and training Soldiers in IED awareness.
   Some of the Skills You'll Learn
   Basic electronics/electricity fundamentals
   Hazards and identification of United States and foreign munitions
   
   Helpful Skills
   Interest in algebra, chemistry, physics, geometry, and trigonometry
   Ability to communicate effectively
   Aptitude for planning and organizing
   Ability to work calmly under stress
   Effectively use computers
   
   Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with government agencies and private industries performing ordnance research and development, and the development, implementation, and enforcement of explosive safety and security measures, as well as civil law enforcement. You might also consider a future as a bomb disposal expert, gunsmith, or munitions handler.
   
   Earn While You Learn
   Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.
   
   Job training for an EOD Specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills. Advanced Individual Training is conducted in two phases. Phase 1 is approximately 11 weeks at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Phase 2 is approximately 29 weeks at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
   
   Benefits/Requirements
   
   Benefits
   Paid training A monthly paycheck Montgomery GI Bill Federal and State tuition assistance Retirement benefits for part-time service Low-cost life insurance (up to $400,000 in coverage) 401(k)-type savings plan Student Loan Repayment Program (up to $50,000, for existing loans) Health care benefits available VA home loans Bonuses, if applicable Most non-prior service candidates will earn between $200 and $250 per drill weekend, subject to change
   Requirements Military enlistment in the Army National Guard Must be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 Must be able to pass a physical exam and meet legal and moral standards Must meet citizenship requirements (see NATIONALGUARD.com for details)
   
   Requires military enlistment. Programs and benefits are subject to change. Ask your Army National Guard recruiter for the most up-to-date information. Actual MOS assignment may depend on MOS availability.
   
   Other Job Information
   
   Job Category: Munitions
   Age Requirements: Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 bomb squad munitions expert ordnance specialist

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right explosive ordnance specialist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your explosive ordnance specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit explosive ordnance specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with explosive ordnance specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 explosive ordnance specialist

   Once you've found the explosive ordnance specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them 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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