Explosive technician vs explosive ordnance handler

The differences between explosive technicians and explosive ordnance handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an explosive technician and an explosive ordnance handler. Additionally, an explosive ordnance handler has an average salary of $43,778, which is higher than the $42,968 average annual salary of an explosive technician.

The top three skills for an explosive technician include CDL, hazardous materials and safety procedures. The most important skills for an explosive ordnance handler are hand trucks, hazardous materials, and law enforcement agencies.

Explosive technician vs explosive ordnance handler overview

	Explosive Technician	Explosive Ordnance Handler
Yearly salary	$42,968	$43,778
Hourly rate	$20.66	$21.05
Growth rate	1%	3%
Number of jobs	24,922	27,028
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 32%
Average age	28	28
Years of experience	4	4

Explosive technician vs explosive ordnance handler salary

Explosive technicians and explosive ordnance handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Explosive Technician	Explosive Ordnance Handler
Average salary	$42,968	$43,778
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $66,000	Between $24,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between explosive technician and explosive ordnance handler education

There are a few differences between an explosive technician and an explosive ordnance handler in terms of educational background:

	Explosive Technician	Explosive Ordnance Handler
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 32%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Explosive technician vs explosive ordnance handler demographics

Here are the differences between explosive technicians' and explosive ordnance handlers' demographics:

	Explosive Technician	Explosive Ordnance Handler
Average age	28	28
Gender ratio	Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5%	Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 24.9% Asian, 1.9% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, -0.2%	Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 1.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, -0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between explosive technician and explosive ordnance handler duties and responsibilities

Explosive technician example responsibilities.

Run the aluminum machines to supply the production with the right amount of aluminum to be send to its next step.
Fabricate explosive demolition charges, and dispose of hazardous explosives.
Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
Haul ammonium nitrate and explosives detonators to rock quarry.
Operate contaminate waste processor unit (CWP).
Operate monitoring systems for various demil and recycle equipment via remote cameras and computer data output.

Explosive ordnance handler example responsibilities.

Conduct foot patrol and/or vehicle patrol independently on premises.
Perform explosives testing using energetic materials following DoD safety procedures for ordinance disposal.
Respond to calls from military/combat personnel.

Explosive technician vs explosive ordnance handler skills

Common explosive technician skills

CDL, 27%
Hazardous Materials, 24%
Safety Procedures, 22%
ATF, 6%
DOT, 6%
EOD, 5%

Common explosive ordnance handler skills

Hand Trucks, 52%
Hazardous Materials, 14%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 10%
Ammunition, 8%
Incident Reports, 6%
CDL, 6%

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Explosive Technician vs Explosive Ordnance Handler

Updated January 8, 2025

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