Explosive Detection Dog Handler Salary in the United States

How much does an Explosive Detection Dog Handler make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for an Explosive Detection Dog Handler in the United States is $33,265 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

However, an Explosive Detection Dog Handler's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $37,229
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $29,586 to $35,340
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,237
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View as table View as graph 25% $29,586 10% $26,237 90% $37,229 75% $35,340 $33,265 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Explosive Detection Dog Handler Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $35,340 $2,945 $680 $17
Average $33,265 $2,772 $640 $16
25th Percentile $29,586 $2,466 $569 $14
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Key Factors That Influence Explosive Detection Dog Handler Salaries

An Explosive Detection Dog Handler's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Explosive Detection Dog Handler Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Explosive Detection Dog Handlers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $36,831.
  • California: $36,691.
  • Massachusetts: $36,202.

Top Paying Cities for Explosive Detection Dog Handlers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $41,957
  • San Francisco: $41,545
  • Oakland: $40,623

What Skills Can Increase an Explosive Detection Dog Handler's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.53% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Long Term Care (Mentioned in 4.69% Job Postings): Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.
  • Home Care (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): Homecare is health care or supportive care provided by a professional caregiver in the individual home where the patient or client is living, as opposed to care provided in group accommodations like clinics or nursing home.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.53%
Long Term Care 4.69%
Home Care 2.18%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Explosive Detection Dog Handler's salary.
  • Dialysis: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dialysis
$37,922
14%
Attention to Detail
$35,261
6%
Initiative
$34,928
5%
Collaboration
$34,928
5%
Cardiac
$34,595
4%
Organizational Skills
$34,595
4%
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How Education impacts an Explosive Detection Dog Handler's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Explosive Detection Dog Handlers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Explosive Detection Dog Handler with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $35,160 and $37,049).

Explosive Detection Dog Handler Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Explosive Detection Dog Handler
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.7%
High School 78.7%
Associates 11.4%
Bachelors 7.6%
Masters 0.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Explosive Detection Dog Handler Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Explosive Detection Dog Handler's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on February 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Explosive Detection Dog Handler

Salaries for an Explosive Detection Dog Handler can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $49,134 in 2023 to around $49,746 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Explosive Detection Dog Handler salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Explosive Detection Dog Handler Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$49,134
2024
$49,913
2025
$49,746
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $49,134
2024 $49,913
2025 $49,746
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Explosive Detection Dog Handler

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Explosive Detection Dog Handler

Here are companies hiring for Explosive Detection Dog Handler and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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