What are the main factors that influence a Blaster's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Blaster's salary?

A Blaster's salary grows with experience: a Heavy Equipment Operator I (0-1 years)earns $45,241, a Heavy Equipment Operator II (1-3 years)earns $51,043, a Heavy Equipment Operator III (3-5 years)earns $58,381, a Blaster (5-7 years)earns $77,352,

What are the highest paying states for a Blaster?

Blaster salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Blaster roles are District of Columbia $86,580, California $86,252, Massachusetts $85,102. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Blaster roles make?

Salaries for Blaster level roles vary by specialization: Rock Driller Blaster: $80,381; Abrasive Blaster/Coating Applicator: $72,640; Sand Blaster: $56,330; Structural Painter and Blaster: $51,645; Marine Painter Blaster: $51,640.

How do different companies affect a Blaster's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Blaster roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Blaster Salary in the United States

How much does a Blaster make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Blaster in the United States is $78,198 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Blaster's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,172
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,057 to $89,700
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,645

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Blaster Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,700	$7,475	$1,725	$43
Average	$78,198	$6,516	$1,504	$38
25th Percentile	$70,057	$5,838	$1,347	$34

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Key Factors That Influence Blaster Salaries

A Blaster'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 Blaster 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 Blasters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $86,580.
California: $86,252.
Massachusetts: $85,102.

District of Columbia $86,580 California $86,252 Massachusetts $85,102 Washington $84,790 New Jersey $84,758 Alaska $84,649 Connecticut $83,570 New York $83,132

Hawaii $81,732 Rhode Island $81,075 Maryland $80,630 Minnesota $80,020 Colorado $79,785 Illinois $79,707 Oregon $79,410 Delaware $79,191

New Hampshire $79,053 Virginia $78,745 Pennsylvania $77,846 Nevada $77,392 North Dakota $77,244 Michigan $77,009 Wisconsin $76,923 Vermont $76,751

Texas $76,274 Maine $76,243 Arizona $76,196 Ohio $76,141 Georgia $75,422 Indiana $75,062 Wyoming $74,991 Utah $74,882

Iowa $74,835 Kansas $74,460 Louisiana $74,350 North Carolina $74,311 Missouri $74,296 Florida $73,991 Montana $73,826 Nebraska $73,670

Kentucky $73,584 South Carolina $73,271 Tennessee $73,076 Idaho $72,997 New Mexico $72,427 Oklahoma $72,302 Alabama $71,840 South Dakota $71,066

Arkansas $70,644 West Virginia $70,417 Mississippi $69,737

Top Paying Cities for Blasters

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: $98,631
San Francisco: $97,661
Oakland: $95,495

San Jose, CA $98,631

San Francisco, CA $97,661

Oakland, CA $95,495

New York, NY $90,623

Queens Village, NY $90,037

Paramus, NJ $89,411

Passaic, NJ $89,333

Bergenfield, NJ $89,255

Stamford, CT $89,137

Huntington, NY $89,059

Newark, NJ $88,551

Bridgeport, CT $88,395

New Brunswick, NJ $88,137

Vallejo, CA $87,972

Middlesex, NJ $87,925

Somerset, NJ $87,855

Petaluma, CA $87,675

Santa Cruz, CA $87,370

Boston, MA $87,214

Monterey, CA $86,823

Fairbanks, AK $86,768

Los Angeles, CA $86,619

Washington, DC $86,580

Seattle, WA $86,440

Santa Rosa, CA $86,424

Juneau, AK $86,197

Orange, CA $85,939

Anchorage, AK $85,798

Anaheim, CA $85,744

Santa Ana, CA $85,626

Nassau, NY $85,579

Long Beach, CA $85,548

Danbury, CT $85,525

Santa Maria, CA $85,259

Everett, WA $85,243

Bremerton, WA $84,860

Trenton, NJ $84,711

Sacramento, CA $84,680

San Diego, CA $84,641

Brockton, MA $84,610

Tacoma, WA $84,579

Santa Barbara, CA $84,469

Lowell, MA $84,156

New Suffolk, NY $84,125

Nashua, NH $84,031

Lompoc, CA $83,906

Ventura, CA $83,828

Stockton, CA $83,804

New Haven, CT $83,648

Atlantic City, NJ $83,445

Hartford, CT $83,273

Modesto, CA $83,234

Poughkeepsie, NY $83,061

New Britain, CT $83,022

Olympia, WA $82,913

Kennewick, WA $82,913

New London, CT $82,897

Norwich, CT $82,874

Lawrence, MA $82,835

Bakersfield, CA $82,616

Riverside, CA $82,506

New Bedford, MA $82,506

Richland, WA $82,428

Portsmouth, NH $82,366

Vineland, NJ $82,350

San Bernardino, CA $82,287

Boulder, CO $82,068

Worcester, MA $82,006

Portland, OR $81,935

Saint Paul, MN $81,842

Minneapolis, MN $81,842

Philadelphia, PA $81,732

Honolulu, HI $81,318

Springfield, MA $81,044

Providence, RI $81,036

Chicago, IL $80,809

Bellingham, WA $80,716

Baltimore, MD $80,630

Chico, CA $80,434

Wilmington, DE $80,301

Pittsfield, MA $80,223

Manchester, NH $80,074

Spokane, WA $79,730

Denver, CO $79,722

Albany, NY $79,355

Troy, NY $79,324

Schenectady, NY $79,159

Burlington, VT $78,987

Portland, ME $78,714

Salem, OR $78,651

Yakima, WA $78,636

Ann Arbor, MI $78,612

Rochester, MN $78,393

Fresno, CA $78,354

Reno, NV $78,354

Milwaukee, WI $78,284

Detroit, MI $78,205

Allentown, PA $78,182

Carson City, NV $78,174

Houston, TX $78,057

Colorado Springs, CO $78,049

Syracuse, NY $78,010

Eugene, OR $77,861

Bismarck, ND $77,768

Gary, IN $77,768

Galveston, TX $77,768

Springfield, OR $77,705

Medford, OR $77,517

Fort Collins, CO $77,486

Austin, TX $77,423

Mesa, AZ $77,259

Phoenix, AZ $77,244

Dallas, TX $77,220

Reading, PA $77,173

Saint Cloud, MN $77,142

Concord, NH $77,072

Madison, WI $77,040

Utica, NY $76,829

Raleigh, NC $76,767

Las Vegas, NV $76,759

Rochester, NY $76,704

Des Moines, IA $76,696

Atlanta, GA $76,571

Battle Creek, MI $76,548

Salt Lake City, UT $76,524

Lancaster, PA $76,407

Champaign, IL $76,391

Harrisburg, PA $76,297

Durham, NC $76,227

Kansas City, MO $76,219

Kansas City, KS $76,204

Fort Worth, TX $76,196

Boca Raton, FL $76,164

Cleveland, OH $76,157

Columbus, OH $76,141

Pittsburgh, PA $76,133

Richmond, VA $76,102

Indianapolis, IN $76,086

Cincinnati, OH $75,985

Petersburg, VA $75,867

Billings, MT $75,695

Lansing, MI $75,695

Huntsville, AL $75,695

Lebanon, PA $75,687

Dayton, OH $75,680

Pueblo, CO $75,680

Appleton, WI $75,656

Buffalo, NY $75,625

Racine, WI $75,586

Charlotte, NC $75,578

Saint Louis, MO $75,555

Springfield, IL $75,523

Elkhart, IN $75,508

York, PA $75,508

Gastonia, NC $75,500

Benton Harbor, MI $75,500

Beaumont, TX $75,453

Lorain, OH $75,437

Toledo, OH $75,406

Binghamton, NY $75,367

Rock Hill, SC $75,359

Rockford, IL $75,320

Fargo, ND $75,281

Elyria, OH $75,281

Flagstaff, AZ $75,226

Fort Lauderdale, FL $75,179

Miami, FL $75,132

Duluth, MN $75,007

Bangor, ME $74,905

Cedar Rapids, IA $74,819

Louisville, KY $74,780

Grand Rapids, MI $74,765

Hialeah, FL $74,757

Casper, WY $74,647

Scranton, PA $74,554

New Orleans, LA $74,530

Virginia Beach, VA $74,522

Akron, OH $74,483

Peoria, IL $74,382

Sarasota, FL $74,366

Green Bay, WI $74,311

Baton Rouge, LA $74,272

Charleston, SC $74,256

Nashville, TN $74,233

Jamestown, NY $74,217

Davenport, IA $74,217

Tucson, AZ $74,178

Cheyenne, WY $74,155

Saint Petersburg, FL $74,131

Tampa, FL $74,116

Omaha, NE $74,100

Port Arthur, TX $74,069

Evansville, IN $74,069

Bradenton, FL $74,037

Santa Fe, NM $73,897

Orlando, FL $73,819

Clearwater, FL $73,733

Canton, OH $73,568

La Crosse, WI $73,568

Grand Forks, ND $73,545

Albuquerque, NM $73,521

Tulsa, OK $73,521

Newport News, VA $73,514

High Point, NC $73,490

Ogden, UT $73,459

Corpus Christi, TX $73,396

Laramie, WY $73,349

Norfolk, VA $73,349

Rock Island, IL $73,302

Saginaw, MI $73,287

Jacksonville, FL $73,279

Salisbury, NC $73,263

Memphis, TN $73,248

Moline, IL $73,209

Fort Myers, FL $73,185

Waterloo, IA $73,083

Spartanburg, SC $73,005

Lincoln, NE $72,966

Fort Wayne, IN $72,951

Birmingham, AL $72,865

Cedar Falls, IA $72,849

Provo, UT $72,841

Springfield, OH $72,833

San Antonio, TX $72,818

Greensboro, NC $72,786

South Bend, IN $72,779

Winston Salem, NC $72,771

Boise, ID $72,747

Savannah, GA $72,692

Muskegon, MI $72,552

Lima, OH $72,458

Lake Charles, LA $72,427

Anderson, IN $72,411

Lexington, KY $72,388

Augusta, GA $72,364

Greenville, SC $72,364

Wichita, KS $72,294

Tuscaloosa, AL $72,294

Columbia, SC $72,223

Bloomington, IN $72,028

Roanoke, VA $71,981

Asheville, NC $71,879

Knoxville, TN $71,746

Shreveport, LA $71,738

Wilmington, NC $71,637

Frankfort, KY $71,488

Oklahoma City, OK $71,434

Chillicothe, OH $71,402

Longview, TX $71,394

Topeka, KS $71,371

Mobile, AL $71,254

Terre Haute, IN $71,222

Erie, PA $71,215

Altoona, PA $71,175

Melbourne, FL $71,152

Amarillo, TX $71,121

Killeen, TX $71,097

Fayetteville, AR $71,035

Sioux Falls, SD $70,980

Chattanooga, TN $70,933

Idaho Falls, ID $70,925

Gainesville, FL $70,761

Portsmouth, OH $70,722

Little Rock, AR $70,706

Lynchburg, VA $70,706

Lafayette, LA $70,675

Youngstown, OH $70,675

Temple, TX $70,644

Daytona Beach, FL $70,628

Clarksville, TN $70,620

Pensacola, FL $70,612

Hopkinsville, KY $70,378

Charleston, WV $70,370

Florence, SC $70,331

Sioux City, IA $70,284

Macon, GA $70,057

Tallahassee, FL $70,049

Fayetteville, NC $70,034

Waco, TX $70,018

Wichita Falls, TX $70,018

Pine Bluff, AR $69,987

Vincennes, IN $69,838

Lubbock, TX $69,807

Great Falls, MT $69,760

Alamogordo, NM $69,752

Abilene, TX $69,690

Rapid City, SD $69,588

Monroe, LA $69,588

Albany, GA $69,541

Huntington, WV $69,533

Jackson, MS $69,525

Greenville, MS $69,518

Parkersburg, WV $69,439

Montgomery, AL $69,424

Johnstown, PA $69,408

Springfield, MO $69,346

Biloxi, MS $69,307

Sumter, SC $69,142

Columbus, GA $69,134

Twin Falls, ID $69,088

Pascagoula, MS $68,986

Kingsport, TN $68,783

Gulfport, MS $68,759

Alexandria, LA $68,501

Fort Smith, AR $68,306

El Paso, TX $68,094

Helena, MT $67,993

Las Cruces, NM $67,743

Harlingen, TX $67,524

Pocatello, ID $67,453

Florence, AL $67,430

Brownsville, TX $67,414

Dothan, AL $67,289

Mcallen, TX $67,250

Columbus, MS $66,671

Altus, OK $66,312

Lawton, OK $66,163

Pierre, SD $65,881

What Skills Can Increase a Blaster's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 5.21% 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.
Equipment Operation (Mentioned in 3.69% Job Postings): This is skilled and unskilled work in the operation of mechanical tools and light to heavy equipment used in maintenance and construction or on the grounds of state properties or facilities and routine maintenance of that equipment.
Public Works (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): Public works are a broad category of infrastructure projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	5.21%
Equipment Operation	3.69%
Public Works	2.37%

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 a Blaster's salary.

Waste Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Waste Management	$82,107	5%
Time Management	$82,107	5%
Written Communication	$80,544	3%
Analysis	$80,544	3%
Coordination	$79,762	2%
Standard Operating Procedures	$79,762	2%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Blaster's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Blasters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Blaster with a No Diploma is between $69,226 and $76,768).

Blaster Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Blaster

No Diploma 3.8%

High School 81.7%

Associates 8.4%

Bachelors 4.6%

Masters 1.1%

Doctorate 0.4%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	3.8%
High School	81.7%
Associates	8.4%
Bachelors	4.6%
Masters	1.1%
Doctorate	0.4%

view as graph

Blaster Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Blaster'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 April 01, 2026

$70,057

Average $78,198/year

$89,700

$5,838

Average $6,516/month

$7,475

$1,347

Average $1,504/week

$1,725

$34

Average $38/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,700	$7,475	$1,725	$43
Average	$78,198	$6,516	$1,504	$38
25th Percentile	$70,057	$5,838	$1,347	$34

Salaries of jobs related to Blaster

Salary Trends for Blaster

Salaries for a Blaster can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $64,931 in 2023 to around $64,750 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Blaster salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Blaster Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$64,931

2024

$65,332

2025

$64,750

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$64,931
2024	$65,332
2025	$64,750
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Blaster

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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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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