UXO Technicians
UXO technicians will enjoy an exciting new career that will give them the opportunity of a lifetime. Technicians will have the opportunity to work either domestically or internationally. Every technician will have an in-depth understanding of the different types of explosive devices and the safety training necessary to help resolve these potential risks.
What do our graduates do?
A UXO Technician Iis part of a team of UXO technicians supported by UXOT II to the most senior UXO technician - SUXOS in the following tasks:
- The identification of all types of explosives and discarded military munitions, including fuses (type & condition).
- Locate and recover any buried UXO or discarded military munitions.
- Move and/or consolidate any UXO or discarded military munitions.
- Prepare firing systems for demilitarization operations.
- The operation of personal decontamination stations.
- Inspect material potentially presenting an explosive hazard.
- Transport demolition materials and/or UXO and discarded military munitions.
Career Possibilities
After graduating from the UT-RELYANT UXO Training Program, you will receive not only a UXO Technician I Certificate, but also a HAZWOPER certification and a Heavy Machinery certification. These certifications are essential to making you employable in this career. Upon entering in this field, you will already start at a commanding salary; however, there is plenty of room to exceed even further. The chart below lists the different career classifications.
Position Description |
Training Required (Notes 1, 2, & 3) |
Minimum Years of |
Special |
Senior UXO Supervisor |
1, 2, or 3 |
10 years |
Significant experience in all aspects of munitions response actions or range clearance activities, as appropriate for the contracted operation. Five years experience in supervisory positions. |
UXO Safety Officer |
1, 2, or 3 |
8 years |
Experience in all phases of munitions response actions or range clearance activities, as appropriate for the contracted operation, and applicable safety standards. |
UXO Quality Control Specialist |
1, 2, or 3 |
8 years |
Experience in all phases of munitions response actions or range clearance activities, as appropriate for the contracted operation, and the transportation, handling, and storage of munitions and commercial explosives. |
UXO Technician III |
1, 2, or 3 |
8 years |
Prior military EOD and/or commercial UXO experience in munitions response actions or range clearance activities, as appropriate for the contracted operation. |
UXO Technician II |
1 or 2
------or------ 3 |
N/A
-------or------ 3 years |
Prior military EOD experience. --------------------------or-------------------------- Experience in response munitions response actions or range clearance activities (as appropriate for the contracted operation) plus specific project/explosives safety training. |
UXO Technician I |
3 |
0 |
Successfully completed formal course of instruction appropriate to this skill level. |
UXO Sweep Personnel
|
Equipment and site specific training |
N/A |
Safety equipment and site specific training. (Experience at this position is not required for UXO Technician 1 certification.) |
UXO Technician’s Salary
UXO Tech I Annual Compensation: $40,000 - 65,000 per year
- The base pay for a UXO Technician I typically starts out between $24-28 per hour.
- The base pay for a Tech I is set on a per project basis, and there are several factors that go into setting base pay (location, hazard pay, local cost of living index). This does not include the daily per diem and lodging allowance, which can reach $130 per day. There is also an additional 8% increase for hazard compensation. A technician should expect to work more than a traditional 40-hour work week. Overtime pay starts after the initial 40 hours per week.
UXO Tech II Annual Compensation:
- The Technician II will receive a higher wage because of the increased responsibility and for their experience. A Technician II is required to have three additional years of experience.
UXO Tech III Annual Compensation:
- The Technician III has the highest pay grade. Eight years as a UXO Technician is required.
Job Possibilities
UXO technicians are in high demand around the world. Whether you prefer to work domestically or internationally, there is a job out there for you. Internationally, UXO are a significant threat in Germany, France, Belgium, Lebanon, United Kingdom, and Laos. There is also a significant threat domestically. According to the EPA there are 42 states that have active sites with UXO. The U.S. alone has over 16,000 former ranges where explosive ordnance was tested. These site cleanups are being contracted out to various private companies around the world, and these companies are constantly looking for technicians to employ.
Industry Links
International Mine Action Standards
Center for International Stabilization & Recovery