You might think that America’s most dangerous job would come with hazard pay. Often that’s wrong.
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Common sense would tell you that dangerous jobs like climbing on roofs or protecting your skull with a helmet should bring higher wages. The term “hazard pay” comes to mind.
But some of America’s most dangerous jobs don’t pay very well. These are the conclusions of the report from the resume writing service “Resume Now.”
Nearly 1,000 truck drivers will die in 2023, making truck driving one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation. But the median annual salary for tractor-trailer and heavy-duty truck drivers was just $57,440 in 2024, Resume Now reported in a Sept. 22 analysis.
“I think a lot of people think that high risk should lead to high reward,” says Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. New analysis suggests “absolutely not,” he said.
Take a look at some of the most dangerous low-wage jobs and dangerous high-wage jobs compiled by Resume Now.
This is the most dangerous job in America
But first, here is a list of the most dangerous jobs, regardless of pay. This is calculated based on the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 fatal workplace injury rate per 100,000 workers.
- Logging workers: 99 deaths per 100,000 workers
- Fishing and hunting workers, 87 deaths per 100,000 people
- Roofing contractor: 52 people killed
- Trash/recycling collectors: 41 dead
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: 31 killed
- Construction industry helpers: 27.4 people died
- Drivers, sales staff and truck drivers: 26.8 deaths
- Ground maintenance workers: 20.5 people died
- Other agricultural workers: 20.2 deaths
- Steel structure workers: 19.8 deaths
For your information: The overall death rate for all occupations is 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that logging is extremely dangerous. And sadly, logging is not very profitable. The median wage in 2024 was $49,540, according to the Labor Department.
According to Resume Now’s analysis, truck driving is the most dangerous job ever in terms of total deaths.
“I didn’t expect truck drivers to be at the top of the list,” Spencer said. “But that’s not surprising given how common road traffic fatalities are.”
Resume I have created two lists. One table shows the most dangerous jobs that make less than $60,000 a year, and the other shows the highest-paying jobs that are also dangerous.
These are the most dangerous low-wage jobs
Here are the most dangerous jobs in America that pay less than $60,000, ranked by total deaths in 2023.
- Driver/Salesperson and Truck Drivers, 984 deaths, median salary $57,440
- Construction workers, 318 deaths, median salary $46,050
- Grounds maintenance worker, 226 fatalities, median salary $38,470
- Farm workers, 146 deaths, median salary $35,980
- Workers and truckers, 114 deaths, median salary $37,680
- Roofers, 113 deaths, median salary $50,970
- Guards, 79 deaths, median salary $38,390
- Logging workers, 52 deaths, median salary $49,540
- Trash and recycling collectors, 41 deaths, median salary $47,810
Other professions, such as the aviation industry, balance occupational risks with financial rewards. Here are some of the highest paying jobs, albeit dangerous ones.
“As someone who is sensitive about air travel, I don’t want airline pilots to be on this list,” Spencer said.
These are the highest paying and dangerous jobs
- Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural operators, 171 deaths, median salary $87,980
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers, 62 fatalities, median salary $198,100
- First-line supervisor of mechanics, installers, and repairers, 47 deaths, median salary $75,820
- Power line installer and repairer, 27 deaths, median salary $92,560
- Construction Manager, 21 deaths, median salary $106,980
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager, 9 deaths, median salary $102,010
- Mining and geological engineer, 8 deaths, median salary $101,020
- Water vessel captains, navigators, pilots, 5 deaths, median salary $85,540
- Industrial Production Manager, 5 deaths, median salary $121,440
Looking for a more secure job? Here’s our database.
Want to read more? Back in 2023, USA TODAY published an exhaustive database of the nation’s deadliest occupations, based on 2021 fatality data.
This report includes a list of the 25 most dangerous jobs, some of which are not listed above.
There are five below.
- Tree pruners and pruners with a fatality rate 21 times higher than the national average
- farm and ranch animal workers
- Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- crane and tower operators
