Ed Huntress fired this volley in
:

There's no presumption there. It's a serious question. It's not a
field that I know anything about, but "amateur pyrotechnician"
implies, to me, someone who's working with the explosives and
propellants themselves. Is that a fair distinction?

I'm not answering for Richard, but you should know that the craft
attracts many professionals from highly technical trades, because it can
be as technical as one wishes. Physicians, engineers, research chemists,
and lawyers are just as commonly found arm-deep in star compositions as
are less technically-inclined folks.

LLoyd