Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Armed forces or Security or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Armed forces or Security or go back to all job sectors
Bomb disposal technicians identify, defuse and destroy explosive devices.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
0.2% fewer Bomb disposal technician jobs in 2027.
You'll identify, make safe or dispose of different kinds of explosive devices, including:
Your duties may include:
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
You could work be based overseas, at a training centre, in a warzone, underwater or in a civilian area.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
You could do an ordnance, munitions and explosives professional degree apprenticeship. One of the options is disposal work. You might do this with a defence equipment manufacturing company, demolition contractor or through the armed forces.
You'll usually need:
You could start by joining one of the armed forces. You would complete your basic military training then apply to specialise in bomb disposal.
For example, you could join the army's Royal Logistics Corps as an infantry soldier. After the initial training, you could move on to do further training as an ammunition technician.
In the Royal Air Force, you could apply to become a weapons technician after successfully completing your aircrew or officer initial training. In the Royal Navy, you could train to be a mine warfare specialist, disposing of explosive devices using remote control submarines, or working as a mine clearance diver.
Whichever route you choose, you're likely to need a minimum of GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English, maths and a science, or equivalent qualifications. You would also have to pass selection and fitness tests to join.
You'll need to:
You can join the Institute of Explosives Engineers for professional development training.
You can get more details about working in bomb disposal through:Army Careers; Royal Air Force Careers; Royal Navy Careers; Institute of Explosives Engineers
With experience, you could move up the ranks in the armed forces.
On leaving active service, you could work as a private consultant for governments, environmental companies, non-governmental agencies, or organisations like the United Nations Mine Action Service, for example, on mine clearance programmes in ex-war zones.
You'll need: