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Bomb technicians are highly specialized, trained police officers equipped with the skills and ability to locate and deactivate bombs. Bomb technicians typically work with local law enforcement agencies, federal agencies like the F.B.I., or are employed by the U.S. military. Read on if you're interested in finding out more about how to join a bomb squad.
What does a Bomb Squad Technician Do?
Bomb technicians work for federal and local agencies responding to bomb threats. When on call, bomb squad members either locate and deactivate bombs, or investigate and establish that there is no danger. Bomb techs are typically either police officers with five or more years of field experience who have completed a bomb technician training program or are retired military personnel with prior military ordnance training. Many positions also require the completion of an associate's or bachelor's degree program.
| Required Education | Bomb technician training program for police officers with at least 5 years of experience or military ordinance training for military personnel; some positions may require an associate's or bachelor's degree |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | 5% for all police and detectives* |
| Average Salary | $52,864 for bomb technicians** |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; **Comparably.com
Bomb Technician Education Requirements
A bomb squad technician is a highly specialized law enforcement officer, who is given the opportunity to enroll in bomb tech training based on competency as an officer. Graduation from high school or an equivalent degree is required to become a police officer. Five years of employment as a police officer is required to become a bomb tech at the federal level. The completion of either an associate's or bachelor's degree program is often required for advancement into a career as a bomb technician.
Once accepted to a training program in a bomb tech school, individuals complete a program at a specialized facility, lasting two weeks or more. Longer programs may take up to eight months to complete. The curriculum includes explosives storage laws and regulations, counterterrorism strategies, bomb disposal, and protective equipment. Bomb technicians learn how to engage in effective communication, analytical thinking, teamwork, and individual work while under stress and in dangerous conditions.
Civilian bomb technicians may also be retired military personnel who were trained as explosive ordnance disposal specialists by the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force. The military provides each bomb squad technician with 38-60 weeks of individual training, depending on the branch of service, covering improvised explosive devices, safety procedures, and munitions identification.
Career Info
Versed in safety protocols, bomb technicians are trained to stay calm, aid civilian evacuation of unsafe areas, and locate, identify, deactivate, and dispose of bombs in a timely manner. Location of bombs is sometimes performed with the help of specially trained dogs, and technicians may deactivate bombs by hand or with the use of robotics. Bomb technicians work both on-call for state and local agencies as well as on assignment. On call, they respond to bomb threats; on assignment they perform surveillance and are ready to respond to possible bomb threats. They may work within the United States for local law enforcement agencies or for federal agencies like the F.B.I. Bomb techs may also be employed by the military throughout the world.
Salary and Job Outlook
How much does the bomb squad get paid? Comparably.com reports that bomb technicians make an average of $52,864 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects 5% job growth for police and detectives, a group that includes bomb technicians, over the 2019-2029 decade, slightly less than the national average. Explosive ordnance disposal specialists in the military are paid according to their pay-grade (rank), with additional incentives and combat duty pay.
A bomb technician must be able to work effectively under potentially stressful situations. They often work on-call for state or government agencies and will typically require previous experience as a police officer or military personnel. A bachelor's or associate's degree, as well as special exams may also be a requirement for prospective bomb technicians.
