Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in America 2012-2022
What Are the Most Dangerous and Deadly Jobs in America?
America is home to many jobs considered dangerous. However, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers the most dangerous occupations in the United States also to be the deadliest. This means that the deadliest jobs have the highest rates of deaths per 100,000 people employed in those occupations compared to other jobs.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 to 2022, many people believed that healthcare occupations became the deadliest in the nation. Some of these jobs did become deadly according to OSHA, but not as deadly as the top 10 on its list for 2021. Some of these jobs did become deadly according to OSHA, but not as deadly as the leading 10 on its list below for 2022.
Whether you're a daredevil looking to combine business with pleasure or merely trying to avoid getting killed on the clock, you will find the following statistics and details about the top 10 most dangerous jobs most useful.
The Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in America are all high-risk but are generally higher-paying jobs as well.
— Fed. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census, 2010 - 2022
1. Fishing and Hunting Workers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 132.1 per 100,000 workers.
These workers are involved with wildlife of all kinds and sizes. The wild animals can be dangerous, but the employees also work with heavy machinery and even in commercial fishing situations, which can cause drowning.
Wild animal handling in zoos, parks, and research facilities around the world involves many unsafe conditions. For example, look at this job description for a wild animal handler/crocodile keeper at Australia zoo:
Wildlife Handler, Crocodiles Depart. Reports to Head Keeper, Australia Zoo.
Position Description: As a crocodile keeper, you will undertake a structural training program to gain the knowledge and experience to work with and around crocodilians. This traineeship is competency-based and generally take three to four years to complete. All Keepers have a responsibility for the care and wellbeing of animals under your attendance. They must be understanding and sensitive to the needs of the animals under their care. Keepers are responsible for the animal exhibits, involved with their maintenance and landscaping and presenting at daily demonstrations. Duties within this position:
- Undertake cleaning and maintenance of animal enclosures.
- Assist with the planning, development and construction of animal enclosures.
- Attend meetings as requested by Supervisor.
- Conduct animal health checks.
- Prepare food and conduct feeding of animals in accordance with diet requirements feeding schedules and procedures.
- Maintain records of observations and reports on animal behaviour and breeding.
- Conduct environment and enclosure safety checks.
- Undertake hands on care of animals.
- Undertake animal enrichment programs.
- Conducting water testing.
- Maintaining water treatment equipment.
- Conducting systematic equipment checks.
- Dispensing pool chemicals.
- Undertake public speaking and/or delivering demonstrations.
- Work within the guidelines of health and safety procedures to ensure both animal and personal, and visitor security.
Changes in Commercial Fishing Rank
Commercial fishing has a deadly history for workers, being the topmost deadly occupational cluster from 2007 through the 2010s and some of the early 2021s. It fell to the number two slot from 2002 through 2006 and fell off the top ten list after 2020 as a category of its own but appeared in slot number one again when combined with commercial hunters in 2022.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- The fishing industry suffered extremely high occupational death rates in the 1990s but fell to number three on the Top 10 list in 2006. It rose to number one in 2007 and remained in there until a reduction in the death rate occurred in 2013 through 2015, and then climbed back to the number one slot until 2021. It then dropped out of the top 10 leaders in death rate, possibly because of the Covid-19 Pandemic and its temporary curtailing of business in several fields.
A Cable TV reality show, Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Network, shows real crab fishers in the Bering Sea, working many hours a day, 7 days a week, often in the dark. They toil without a break for long stretches of time, because they must make the catch within the window of opportunity or lose their income for the year.
New crew people, male and female, sometimes cannot take the pressure, extreme hard work, and long hours required. Reruns of Deadliest Catch may be available on broadcast network TV in your local area, and the website offers online video archive viewing.
Deadliest Catch–Mike Fourtner "Goes Postal"
Sucked Into a Buzz Saw
One of my patients was sucked into such a saw and survived.
2. Loggers, Lumberjacks, and Helpers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 91.7 per 100,000 workers.
Loggers work outdoors in rough terrain and use heavy machinery to cut trees for raw materials to make cardboard and paper in addition to lumber. Trees can fall on workers, who are also subject to injury by large vehicles, chippers, handsaws, sawmill saws, and other implements.
Loggers, Lumberjacks, and Helpers as a group rose to number one in danger (death rate) in OSHA and BLS findings 2008 with 16/100,000 deaths and have remained in the number two slot in 2022, even with a decrease in death rate to 91.3/100,000 workers in 2014. The 2022 death rate is slightly higher, as seen above.
One of my pain-management patients a few years ago was a timber cutter that had fallen and been sucked into a running buzz saw. He suffered a cut diagonally through the upper body from shoulder to hip and survived, in great pain and living on disability income. Others are hurt and killed by such falls, trees falling on them, vehicular accidents, and other mishaps.
Logging; Lumberjack
morgueFile
3. Roofers and Helpers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 47 per 100,000 workers.
Falling off high ladders or even a roof can kill roofers. Some of these jobs require the use of hot tar, which can burn workers, sometimes to death.
At the start of 2012 during the Barack Obama Administration, this category of workers was in the number 5 slot of dangerous jobs with a death rate: 32/100,000. This rate has increased significantly into 2022.
Roofers and construction workers.
PIXNIO; PD
4. Construction Workers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 43.3 per 100,000 workers.
Construction jobs involve many deadly activities. Employees can suffer falls or have equipment fall onto them. Ladders and heavy machinery often are the causes of deaths.
Dreamliner commercial cabin crew and pilots.
Jetstar Airways (jetstar.com), CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
5. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 34.3 per 100,000 workers.
Aircraft fatalities increased significantly in 2006 during the George W. Bush Administration, raising these employees to the number two spot with 82.2/100,000 deaths. By early 2012, we saw a decrease to 57.0/100,000 and a reduction in status to slot number three. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers comprised the number two most dangerous job in 2018 but dropped to slot five for 2022.This may be partially owing to the shutdown of commercial flights in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The most dangerous aspects of this job involve private rather than commercial aircraft and helicopters.
6. Refuse Waste and Recyclable Material Collectors
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 33.1 per 100,000 workers.
Waste working and recycling require difficult, intense labor and can lead to worker death. Heavy machinery accidents cause deaths, but workers like trash collectors are sometimes killed as they walk beside their trucks and local traffic hits them.
Refuse, Garbage and Sanitation Workers and Recyclers rose to the number five danger (death) spot with 37/100,000 workers killed in 2011. The rate increased to 41.2/100,000 in 2012 and the number four slot but decreased in death rate and fell to number six in 2022. Increased numbers of people are employed in this category in the 2010s and 2020s in aid of conservation and the fight against climate change, so death has been given increased opportunities to occur in the 2020s.
7. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 32.5 per 100,000 workers.
These employees often suffer slip-and-fall injuries. They climb into the heights of multi-story building infrastructures on steel girders after using tall ladders, but they also use heavy machinery. In addition, they lift and carry heavy materials and must load and unload large quantities of heavy steel.
8. Delivery and Truck Drivers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 25.8 per 100,000 workers.
America loses 300,000 truck drivers per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of them quitting. However, these workers face many hazards, including motor vehicle accidents that can kill. In fact, these accidents are the leading cause of death among this employee group.
This category of employment has remained in the number eight slot since early 2012.
America has suffered a shortage of truck drivers in recent years, made worse by the temporary and even permanent closures of businesses and related activities during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
9. Underground Mining Machine Operators
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 21.6 per 100,000 workers.
Mining is dangerous work for many reasons and can be deadly, like the Millfield Mining Disaster in Southeastern Ohio. Associated heavy machinery and other equipment can malfunction or get out of control, and cave-ins still occur in the 2020s.
According to the BLS, the category "Mining Machine Operators" in slot number 5 in 2010 decreased in death rate during 2011 but descended to slot number 9 in 2022.
Miners' Tribute Statue in Shawnee, Southeastern Ohio
This worker is positioned to pick coal ore from the low ceiling of a coal mine tunnel.
10. Farmers, Agricultural Workers, and Ranchers
Fatality/Mortality Rate: 20.9 per 100,000 workers.
These employees use heavy machinery quite often in preparing ground for planting, and in harvesting. Tractor accidents cause many injuries and deaths each year.
This work category was in slot number seen of the most dangerous occupations in early 2012 with a death rate of 25.3/100,000. By 2022, the rate had decreased to 20.9/100,000 and the category fell into the number ten slot.
What do you think?
Sources
- Commonly Used Statistics of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Dangerous jobs - Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010 through 2022
- The 10 Most Deadly Jobs for 2022 (Money Talk News)
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
© 2007 Patty Inglish MS
Comments, Experiences, and Thoughts
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 26, 2016:
QS - We join you in hopes for his safety! It's a well-paying job that I hope he likes. Cheers~!
QD on November 26, 2016:
My son (Alex O) just got a as a linesman. He was a tree trimmer so he is now somewhat safer but I pray for him almost everyday
Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 07, 2015:
Yikes Patty! I wouldn't want that job either. LOL
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 07, 2015:
I remember some of Mike Lowe's episodes and Ice Road Truckers make me glad I don't do that job! I remember someone breaking down on the Ice Road and having to wait a long time for help.
Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 07, 2015:
Hi Patty. Did you watch Mike Lowe's Dangerous Jobs when it was on TV?. I know they're airing reruns now. Wow. How about ice truckers on the History channel? I agree with you, Patty.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 07, 2015:
Hi Kristen - I watched "Dangerous Catch" and "Highway through Hell" (Canadian towing of large trucks in British Columbia) over the weekend and saw the dangers again close-up. Those jobs are big challenges!
Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 05, 2015:
Patty, wow. This was an interesting fact-filled list of the dangerous jobs up until now. This made me think and became in awe of how it changed throughout the years. Voted up!
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on October 28, 2013:
Thanks for that reminder, Charlie!
Charlie on October 28, 2013:
Too bad we cannot get this much attention when it comes to VOTING !
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 05, 2012:
Iron-working is a demanding job. Best wishes for your continued safety. I;m sorry you've seen others' deaths.
d.g. on May 05, 2012:
i have been a structural ironworker/welder for 26 yrs & lost count of close calls & near misses .lost a few friens along the way.still have a hard time watching"big blue"as my fellow workers catapult from observation basket.sometimes even best laid plans run into unforeseen mechanical failure.ironworkers prayer to all who did their best to make a better world for their own families & generations to come.
Stevegking on April 23, 2012:
Great hub! Lots of info, and very informative
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on April 02, 2012:
The official government list does not include military positions that I can find! Thanks for the question.
Chris on April 01, 2012:
So how about a Navy SEAL, that would have to be quite a dangerous job and I think it would be high up on the list.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on March 24, 2012:
Very scary for this men, and now women, that become fishermen. Some are swept overboard as well.
louromano on March 24, 2012:
I've heard of fishing being one of the most dangerous occupations, not only with the waves and conditions but it's the steel cables snapping if the weight of the catch is too much. One TV show I saw said that if the cable snapped then there was a good chance someone could lose an arm or head! Scary stuff!
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 12, 2012:
Thanks for posting from Mexico!
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 23, 2012:
Not if they don't suffer a significant number of deaths per 100,000. The stats are only about deaths per 100,000.
Ewen Cameron on January 23, 2012:
An interesting selection, I would have thought deep sea divers working on oil rigs would have also been on there.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 13, 2012:
Droll and interesting.
kxdorey from Beverly Hills, California, USA on January 13, 2012:
Terrorist still seems like a pretty dangerous one these days if you consider it a job. :)
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 23, 2011:
Yes, that's tough, alright. And different than government statistics' definition. Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, rob.
rob on November 23, 2011:
"What makes a job a danger" in my opinion,,,is lack of training,, and taking chances we know we should"nt at the work place,, and home.. I have almost 30 yrs in as a power lineman..I have lost friends,,and been burnt myself.. follow rules and dont take chance"s,, remember there are folks waiting at home for you..
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 09, 2011:
I knew a commercial roofer that fell and his bare arms covered in hot tar from write to elbow. By the time the EMTs got him to the ER and he was in an evaluation cubicle, the tar had cooled. Tar had to be removed and he refused pain relievers and anesthetic. It was horrible pain. The chronic pain lasted all his life until he died, he became permanently disabled after another roof fall, and pain medications did not work.
JasonHunt from South Florida on November 08, 2011:
I was kind of surprised to see roofers being #6 on the list. Nice hub!
Arthur on October 30, 2011:
Damn, I want to do that Commerical Fishing. I need more adrenaline...
wyo barney from Wyoming on October 09, 2011:
35 years ago I worked my first "top 10" job, underground coal miner, for a little longer then a year. Most of that as a roof bolter,working in the "face" of the mine,the most dangerous place to work, a short time after that, I spent a year as a derickhand on a drilling rig. I then spent the next 10 years as an ironworker, I've hung iron on a good share of highrises.(I guess you could say i've been hundreds of feet below, to hundreds of feet above the ground). For the last 22 years i've spent as a thru freight conductor for a railroad. At one time that occupation was right up there on the top 10 list. 12,000+ tons moving at 70 mph. is pretty unforegiving. I,for one,firmly believe in government regulations! Purhaps,with a little luck also, I can watch my grandchildren grow.
Dr Rockpile from USA on October 02, 2011:
The top 10 jobs I will not be applying for. ;)
Mitesh on September 27, 2011:
I will never have a dangerous job my mai send....
mysteriousmaven from The Internet on September 26, 2011:
Never would have thought that commercial fishing was at the top. :O
Though taxi driver surprised me a bit too. :)
gamercameo on September 16, 2011:
High risk, high return. I feel lucky that I do not have to do that jobs.
slkimble91 on September 10, 2011:
ice road truckers is probably number 4 or so....
zanybug on September 09, 2011:
never knew we are in top 10 of worlds most dangerous professions.
merchant mariner
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on September 06, 2011:
You just don't die as often! That's why you are not on the list. It's a numbers gamer. But it is indeed dangerous work.
dockbuilder LU 1456 NY on September 06, 2011:
what about commercial divers for my union we should definitly be up there oil rig diving,commercial marine construction diving i mean come on now
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on August 29, 2011:
This question comes up every year and I believe that the answer is that the US Govt does not include the military in their "most dangerous/most killed per 100,000 employed" list (but I will check again). Now I need to look up the number of military people killed per 100,000 for each branch and do a Hub on that. Thanks for the question!
johnny on August 29, 2011:
Just would like to say most of these deserve to be listed, but where are the US soldiers on this list ????
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on August 29, 2011:
And it sounds like it's quite a job, too! Thanks, tloker.
tloker on August 29, 2011:
I think you need to put Marriage up somewhere on this list. There are times I am sure it is killing me:)!
Ahsan on July 28, 2011:
In my country Journalist Job is perhaps most dangerous.
stephen kalu from Nigeria on July 27, 2011:
wow, that's a deadly way of making a living. Nice hub
giselenmendez from Berlin, Germany on July 19, 2011:
Well... Now I am even more glad to be a freelancer who works from home.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on July 15, 2011:
Sounds very dangerous, but exciting.
cold on July 12, 2011:
the scariest job i ever had is in siberia to hunt and tag wolfs... when you loose sigth of it you grab for you're gun if not you migth not make it back.
dusy7969 from San Diego, California on May 14, 2011:
Great hub.Very interesting.I get a lot of information from this hub about the dangerous job.So thanks a lot patty for sharing this informative and useful information.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on April 22, 2011:
REPEAT for those who missed it above: The USA official "most dangerous jobs" are figured ONLY on "NUMBER OF DEATHS PER 100,000 PEOPLE" in each specific job group. The highest numbers make the list.
Thanks.
Jacob Jolleys on April 22, 2011:
Considering that you have a 1 in 8 chance of dying on a tour of Afghanistan in a Bomb Disposal Squad, surely this is one of the most dangerous occupations!
AllSuretyBonds on March 16, 2011:
Great Hub. Very interesting. I give all of these workers that do this type of work and risking their lives everyday. I have watched the show Ice Road Truckers and it amazes me how dangerous some of these jobs really are.
Mrs. J. B. from Southern California on February 10, 2011:
THANKS for the great advice. I am from Manchester By The Sea, MA.. My Mom grew up in Gloucester and all my relatives still there. Acacia Street, Cherry Street, Gardner Terrace etc.. Anyway, I loved this article. I remember every year during the winter months just how one or two fishing boats would go down. St. Peter's Fiesta although fun was still somber. I think by listing these jobs it will make think before saying YES even in these strained times
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 31, 2011:
billy bob jr. - You must be one of those imaginary friends on Nickelodean (sp?). Very entertaining.
Radioguy - Many teachers would agree! In fact, I was SHOT AT once in my educational facility while teaching, but it turned out to be a starter pistol and no wound, thank God.
Radioguy from Maine on January 31, 2011:
Great Hub! I thought teaching school might top the list!
billy bob jr. on January 27, 2011:
hi. i like cheese.
azeem on December 01, 2010:
Azeem,
Actually the oil and gas industry is booming in Australia and field related to oil and gas industry are by far the most highly pais for example if you are a production or plant manager or if you are doing petroleum engineering you will be getting 2000AUD per week at the start and this will increase with your experience, if you work on an oil rig you get 100,000AUS per annum this is your starting salary and your work schedule is 14 days on and 23 days off, the reason why I am quoting this is because I am actually studying Marine and offshore Engineering at Australian Maritime College which is the best Maritime institution in the world and I also have been working for Shell as a Marine Engineer.
azeem_mariner@hotmail.com
gagner de l'argent on October 29, 2010:
Maybe they have their responsibility for their death. Lack of training? lack of experience? in any case is tragic, I do not want anyone to die at work ..
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on October 12, 2010:
Thanks, Aakarshan - I was saddened by that news when I heard it. He was well respected and admired.
Trinsick - That's a good idea.
Trinsick from Cali on October 12, 2010:
They should take one of these and make another "deadliest catch" type show. Lets send them a link of the hub here :).
Dmm on September 30, 2010:
Suicide bomber i am convinced is the most dangerous work: if you do not deliver you die!if you deliver you still die
Aakarshan on September 20, 2010:
I think commercial fishing is still the most dangerous profession in America. We lost a great one in Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie on the Bering Sea this year. The sixth season of the Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel starts next Tuesday April 13th. He will be sadly missed and his life will be celebrated during the summer and winter crabbing season.