How dangerous are jobs in the United States today? It goes without saying that, by their very nature, some jobs are more dangerous than others. But which professions are the most dangerous jobs in America when it comes to reporting workplace fatalities? How often does violence happen on the job? Has COVID and other infectious diseases made working in the public sphere more dangerous?
See the top 10 most dangerous professions and vital statistics workers must know to stay safe on the job below.
How Common Are Workplace Fatalities in the US?
Death on the job is a real issue, and not just during the recent pandemic years. There were 5,486 work fatalities in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Unfortunately, this shows a 5.7% increase in fatal work injuries over the previous year. In addition, there were 2.8 million reported workplace injuries and illnesses that same year, up 7.5% from the year before.
Not only are some professions dangerous by nature, but statistics now show that workplace violence is on the rise. This includes both of the following rising trends:
- Internal violence (i.e., patients or customers attacking workers)
- External violence (such as domestic attacks carried out at a place of employment against an employee or the business itself)
While jobs in general are much safer today compared to the past because accidental deaths are rare, intentional violence on the job – and the resulting injury or death – is growing. What’s more, women are most often the victims of this on-the-job violence. In fact, “almost all the past decade’s increase in hitting, kicking, beating and shoving in the workplace has been targeted at women.”
10 Most Dangerous Jobs in America
The 10 deadliest jobs in America all have a few things in common:
- They are physically demanding in some way, putting stress and strain on workers’ bodies daily.
- Each one requires workers to place themselves in dangerous conditions or positions to complete their required job tasks.
In 2022, the four most dangerous industries according to recent BLS data were as follows:
- Construction
- Education and health services
- Transportation and warehousing
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
Let’s break those industries down into individual professions using the latest reported statistics on injuries and workplace deaths.
Agricultural Workers
The dangers of working in agriculture range from heavy machinery accidents to exposure to pesticides, heat, and other weather-related conditions. The work is physically demanding, which can put undue stress on the human body. Perhaps worst of all, agricultural workers often work in unregulated conditions.
The CDC says that the fatality rate for agricultural workers is about 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Truck Drivers
Truck drivers operate large vehicles on busy roads and often face unexpected injuries from transportation incidents, road hazards, and exhaustion. It’s also not uncommon for truckers to experience sleep deprivation, which leads to impaired driving and motor vehicle accidents.
Statistics show the estimated fatality rate for truck drivers is currently at 22.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Fishing and Hunting Workers
Inherent risks in fishing and hunting jobs don’t just come from handling weapons and other equipment to catch or kill fish and game. It’s also dangerous to travel to remote mountain ranges and other isolated areas to hunt wild game or catch fish. Large animals don’t often attack humans, but people may not realize the dangers associated with commercial fishing.
Fishing and hunting workers experience one of the highest fatality rates at 75 per 100,000 workers. Commercial fishing as an industry caused 114 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers from 2007-2017, according to the CDC.
Construction Laborers
Some statistics show that construction is the most dangerous job in America because job sites are rife with potential hazards. Take roofers, for example, who usually perform their jobs at great heights using building materials like asphalt, shingles, and metal. Slips, trips, and falls are especially dangerous for construction workers because of the height at which they work.
Construction industry workers comprised at least 1 in 5 fatal work injuries since 2018, according to the BLS.
Logging Workers
Some studies show logging is the most dangerous job, with an estimated 100.7 deaths per 100,000 workers. This is due to a combination of environmental factors and the complicated, heavy equipment they use to process felled logs.
Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers are most at risk when flying private planes and helicopters, not commercial aircraft. These small aircraft have fewer safety measures and piloting equipment. Additionally, all pilots can suffer from exhaustion due to erratic schedules and long hours. Bad weather and equipment failure can also contribute to the dangerous nature of this profession.
Estimates show 58.4 deaths per 100,000 workers reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in recent years.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Iron and steel workers build bridges, roads, and buildings, often at great heights and without adequate fall protection. They might also work in demolition and rehabilitation as part of the construction industry. The leading cause of fatal occupational injuries for iron and steel workers is the height from which they often work. This often leads to deadly falls from large structures.
Studies show a national average of 41.5 deaths reported per 100,000 structural iron and steel workers.
Trash and Recyclable Material Collectors
Yes, the municipal workers who collect your trash and recyclables are at an increased risk for death on the job. This is mostly because they spend so much time on the road, often riding on the back of a garbage truck.
Statistics show a fatal injury rate of 28 in every 100,000 trash and recyclable material collectors.
Underground Mining Machine Operators
Mining is the extraction of natural raw materials from the Earth, such as coal and ore. Mining requires the use of large machinery in frequently dangerous conditions. This is why the reported fatality rate for mining jobs in recent years is 27 out of 100,000 workers.
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repair Techs
These workers install, maintain, and repair power lines so we can have electricity. Conditions can be quite hazardous, however. This is especially true if they work in areas affected by natural disasters or must travel to conduct those repairs. An average of 22 out of 100,000 workers experience fatal injuries while working on power lines annually.
Protecting Employees in the Most Dangerous Jobs from Workplace Violence and Other Potential Hazards
Just because you don’t see your own profession listed above doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. In recent years workplace violence increased, making service-based jobs like teaching, mental health, and healthcare providers especially at risk for injury or death at work. One of the most common causes of fatal injuries in sales and transportation in the past few years is homicide. Further, those in the service industry and healthcare are most likely to file a work-related injury claim.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as “any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening or disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.”
OSHA requires that employers maintain a safe working environment for employees. The agency also stipulates that employers must:
- Develop a workplace violence prevention plan
- Investigate all incidents and threats that happen on job sites
- Monitor trends and violence
- Take corrective action
- Train employees on the plan before implementation
Learn more about how to file an OSHA workplace safety complaint here.
What Benefits are Available to Families and Survivors After a Workplace Death?
Families and survivors of those killed while on the job can be eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits, which can pay for the funeral and burial. The same death benefits can also compensate families and survivors for lost wages associated with those workplace deaths.
Most Dangerous Jobs for Infectious Disease Exposure
COVID-19 was the leading cause of work-related illness that led to days missed from work in both 2021 and 2022. The BLS classifies infectious diseases like COVID-19 under “exposure to harmful substances or environments,” which ranked sixth in previous years.
Occupational illness claims in industries that traditionally employ more women, like healthcare, teaching, and grocery store workers.
Those specific industries also filed the most workers’ comp claims from 2020-2022 for the most missed days of work.
How to Get All the Money You’re Owed for Serious or Fatal Work Injuries
You don’t have to work in one of the most dangerous jobs to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
However, it’s much easier to get the medical care and lost wages your employer may owe you with an attorney.
Let us connect you with a nearby lawyer today for a free workers’ comp evaluation to review all your options. If an attorney can’t help you get workers’ compensation benefits, then you owe $0 in legal fees. And if your case succeeds, then you only owe one small fee afterwards. In most states, workers’ comp attorneys charge no more than 15% of your final award, on average.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits quiz now:
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Lisa Allen is a writer and editor who lives in suburban Kansas City. She holds MFAs in Creative Nonfiction and Poetry, both from the Solstice Low-Residency Program in Creative Writing at Pine Manor College. Prior to becoming a writer, Lisa worked as a paralegal, where she specialized in real estate in and around Chicago.
