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Shotfirer

Also called blaster, shot firer, shot-firer

Shotfirers set up and safely detonate explosives at a site in order to blast and break up in situ material.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects15 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Shotfirers and blasters · ILO

What you'd do

Shotfirers and blasters · ILO
  • Ensuring workplace safety and explosives handling, storage and transport procedures and regulations are followed
  • Planning and giving instructions for the layout, depth and diameter of blast holes
  • Checking depth and cleanliness of blast holes
  • Determining quantity and type of explosives to be used
  • Loading explosives into blast holes
  • Assembling, or directing other workers to assemble, primer charges using detonators and explosive cartridges, and attaching electrical wires, fuses and detonating cords to primers
  • Connecting wires, fuses and detonator cords into series, testing electrical circuits and repairing malfunctions, and connecting series to blasting machines
  • Covering charges, filling blast holes with rock dust, sand and other materials, and tamping material to compact charges
  • Ensuring all explosives are detonated, and reporting and attending to misfires
  • Declaring blast areas safe before and after detonation of explosives
  • Compiling and maintaining records about usage of explosives in compliance with laws and regulations
Examine prospective blast areaInsert charges into drill holesHandle explosivesConnect blasting circuitExamine area after blast+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers in the EU
4.07m3.96m3.58m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
910,000 replacing leavers 332,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers15
All jobs29
Right now
0 of 27 countries report a shortage of shotfirers and blasters, 4 a surplus.
Shotfirers and blasters · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in military and defence is the usual route.

Highest qualification of food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 11%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 26%
Fields that teach it
Military and defence · Mechanics and metal trades · Chemistry
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.12 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 11 tasks
Compiling and maintaining records about usage of explosives in compliance with laws and regulations0.24
Planning and giving instructions for the layout, depth and diameter of blast holes0.14
Checking depth and cleanliness of blast holes0.14
Connecting wires, fuses and detonator cords into series, testing electrical circuits and repairing malfunctions, and connecting series to blasting machines0.13
Determining quantity and type of explosives to be used0.12
Ensuring all explosives are detonated, and reporting and attending to misfires0.11
Loading explosives into blast holes0.11
Declaring blast areas safe before and after detonation of explosives0.10
Assembling, or directing other workers to assemble, primer charges using detonators and explosive cartridges, and attaching electrical wires, fuses and detonating cords to primers0.10
Covering charges, filling blast holes with rock dust, sand and other materials, and tamping material to compact charges0.08
Ensuring workplace safety and explosives handling, storage and transport procedures and regulations are followed0.05

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for shotfirers and blasters. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).