Shotfirer
Key facts
Shotfirers set up and safely detonate explosives at a site in order to blast and break up in situ material.
Shotfirers play a crucial role in industries that require the controlled use of explosives. Your day involves meticulously planning blasting operations, ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols, and accurately detonating explosives to break up rock, ore, or other materials. This requires a strong understanding of explosives, geological conditions, and relevant regulations. The work is physically demanding and requires constant vigilance.
- • Calculating blast patterns and charge quantities based on geological surveys and project requirements.
- • Drilling holes and placing explosives according to established plans, ensuring proper placement and stability.
- • Conducting pre-blast safety checks, including hazard identification and risk mitigation.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Food processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers — 115 jobs including this one.
Every place assessed reports a surplus.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $61,390 2025-05 | −0.9% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +7.9% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
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Future Outlook for shotfirer
The outlook for shotfirer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could shotfirer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- work ergonomically
- follow health and safety procedures in construction
- safely detonate explosives
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- examine prospective blast area
- examine area after blast
- insert charges into drill holes
Tasks most exposed to automation
- report misfires
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Construction
A typical day as a shotfirer
09 09:00 · Morning connect blasting circuit
10 10:30 · Mid-morning examine area after blast
12 12:00 · Midday check borehole depth
14 14:00 · Afternoon insert charges into drill holes
15 15:30 · Late afternoon examine prospective blast area
17 17:00 · Wrap-up handle explosives
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
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follow health and safety procedures in construction
Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
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safely detonate explosives
Follow procedures in safely detonating explosives for mining purposes.
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insert charges into drill holes
Transport explosives and safely load explosives into drill holes.
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handle explosives
Handle explosives in accordance with explosives law, including tracking and control of the magazine.
-
troubleshoot
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
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report misfires
Report misfires to relevant parties, such as the mine shift coordinator, legal inspection personnel, and the explosives manufacturer.
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check borehole depth
Check the depth of boreholes; make sure that they are clean.
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make independent operating decisions
Make immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best for a particular situation.
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examine prospective blast area
Examine explosion areas to determine the appropriate amount of explosives required. Ensure compliance to safety regulations.
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connect blasting circuit
Connect, inspect and test the blasting circuit.
-
examine area after blast
Control blast area to check whether all explosives were safely detonated; declare blast area safe.
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signal for explosion
Set safety perimeter and safety signalisation around blast area; ensure that blast site is clear and safe before explosions.
explosives
Behaviour of explosives, pyrotechnics and blasting techniques. Associated risks and legal requirements.
marksmanship
The techniques and application of sharpshooting, taking into consideration environmental factors such as distance, movement and wind speed.
impact of geological factors on mining operations
Be aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.
- electricity
- health and safety hazards underground
Path to become a shotfirer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Upper secondary education
Regulated in 6 countries on record. Minimum EQF 3–4, depending on the country.
Reflects the EU regulated-professions database. Not legal advice — confirm requirements with the relevant national authority before relying on this for a career or immigration decision.
33 programmes in 11 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 15 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) · New Zealand
Explosives and Energetic Materials Engineering
Türkiye
These are 6 of 48.
Sources
- 1. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
- 2. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 3. Source: YÖK Atlas, Council of Higher Education (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
- 4. Contains information from MySkillsFuture Course Run accessed on 2026-09-28 from data.gov.sg which is made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0 (https://data.gov.sg/open-data-licence)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does shotfirer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of training or qualifications are needed to become a shotfirer?
What safety precautions are most important in this role?
Are shotfirers typically employed directly or work as contractors?
How much does Shotfirer pay in the United States?
Is Shotfirer a regulated profession?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data