Designs, sets up and fires fireworks and stage pyrotechnics for concerts, sports events, theme parks and public displays. BLS does not publish separate figures for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters; it counts them within explosives worker, ordnance handling expert, and blaster (SOC 47-5032), whose median pay is $61,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-5032
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Pyrotechnician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,390a year, or $29.51/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $99K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- 0.0%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career0%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career 0% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4005,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20255.2K
- Projected 20355.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 5.2K Projected 2035 5.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school4.2%
- High school62.5%
- Certificate20.8%
- Some college8.3%
- Associate's4.2%
Highest education held by explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters Segment Value Less than high school 4.2% High school 62.5% Certificate 20.8% Some college 8.3% Associate's 4.2%
Also advertised as: Pyrotechnic Operator, Proximate Pyrotechnic Operator, Fireworks Display Operator, Special Effects Pyrotechnician.
Pay
How much do Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters make?
Every pyrotechnician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,390
Middle half earn $49,630 to $80,370
- 10th
- $40,480
- 25th
- $49,630
- 75th
- $80,370
- 90th
- $99,360
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,480 |
| 25th | $49,630 |
| Median | $61,390 |
| 75th | $80,370 |
| 90th | $99,360 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,390
- Median hourly wage
- $29.51/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,640
- People employed
- 5,100
Versus all US occupations
At $61,390, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters earn 20% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,410 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
The median is typical for the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $99,360 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,480, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 34% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $100,520, and still leads at $92,385 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $100,520 | $92,385 | N/A |
| 2New York | $96,940 | $89,825 | N/A |
| 3North Carolina | $85,630 | $90,781 | 160 |
| 4Wyoming | $85,070 | $91,778 | 60 |
| 5Pennsylvania | $84,400 | $86,500 | N/A |
| 6California | $80,370 | $72,589 | 220 |
| 7New Mexico | $78,960 | $85,629 | 80 |
| 8Tennessee | $74,190 | $80,755 | 70 |
| 9Florida | $69,780 | $67,476 | 90 |
| 10Colorado | $69,640 | $67,578 | 140 |
Job outlook
Is Pyrotechnician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. 0.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | 0% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters to change 0.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 400 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 5,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Pyrotechnician
Licensing is set by states, and many require a display operator license with a minimum age, documented experience as an assistant and a written exam. North Carolina, for example, issues separate licenses for display operators, proximate audience display operators and assistants. Federal explosives rules from ATF govern storage and handling, and work follows NFPA 1123 for fireworks displays and NFPA 1126 for pyrotechnics before a proximate audience.
Most people start as crew members for a fireworks or special effects company, assisting on shows until they qualify. Display operator training courses recognized by fire officials, such as those from the Pyrotechnics Guild International and the American Pyrotechnics Association, are common steps.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)62.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate20.8%
- Some College Courses8.3%
- Less than a High School Diploma4.2%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 62.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 20.8% |
| Some College Courses | 8.3% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.2% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Pyrotechnician do?
Pyrotechnicians handle explosive effects for audiences. Some shoot outdoor fireworks displays for holidays and festivals, loading mortars and firing shows from electronic control systems. Others specialize in proximate pyrotechnics, the flame jets, gerbs, concussions and confetti blasts used close to performers and crowds at concerts, arenas and televised events.
The job is mostly planning and safety. Pyrotechnicians design effect placements, calculate safe distances, get permits from fire authorities, store and transport explosives under strict rules, and perform test firings. During shows they arm and fire effects on cue, then clear misfires and clean up after the audience leaves.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design effect placement and firing sequences for shows
- Apply for permits and meet with fire marshals
- Transport and store explosives under federal and state rules
- Set up mortars, racks, flame units and firing systems
- Calculate and mark safe audience and performer distances
- Fire effects on cue during live performances
- Inspect sites after shows and safely dispose of misfires
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Work happens outdoors at display sites and indoors at arenas and studios, with busy seasons around national holidays and touring seasons. Days involve heavy setup and lifting, often in heat or bad weather, followed by night shows. Strict safety discipline is constant.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Monitoring3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Speaking3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.0
- Writing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Operations Monitoring3.5
- Operation and Control3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Time Management3.4
- Coordination3.1
- Instructing3.0
- Management of Personnel Resources3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Operation and Control | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Mobile location based services software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Pyrotechnician?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RCE) built on O*NET's Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, and Blaster profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Pyrotechnician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.9
- Conventional4.8
- Investigative3.8
- Enterprising3.0
- Social1.3
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Pyrotechnician
O*NET related occupations
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Most earn $40K to $99K
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More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Pyrotechnician$61,390
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Pyrotechnician | $61,390 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Pyrotechnician appears on
Questions
Pyrotechnician: frequently asked questions
How much do Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters. It counts them within explosives worker, ordnance handling expert, and blaster, whose median pay is $61,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $49,630 and $80,370, and the top 10% earn $99,360 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Pyrotechnician?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.5% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Pyrotechnician a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.0% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Pyrotechnician do?
Pyrotechnicians handle explosive effects for audiences. A typical task: design effect placement and firing sequences for shows. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software, Geographic information system.
Which states pay Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters the most?
The highest state medians for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters are New Jersey ($100,520), New York ($96,940), North Carolina ($85,630) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Pyrotechnician?
O*NET scores Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.