Unfortunately, many jobs in the United States pose inherent dangers to workers. However, certain jobs are naturally more dangerous than others.
Here are ten of the most dangerous careers in the United States:
#1 - Logging
Fatal injury rate: 111 per 100,000 loggers
Total deaths in 2018: 56
Average salary: $41,230
Most common fatalities: Contact with objects and machinery
Logging is the most dangerous occupation in the United States. Loggers tend to have a fatal accident rate that is 33 times higher than the average job.
#2 - Pilots and Flight Engineers
Fatal injury rate: 53 per 100,000 workers
Total deaths in 2018: 70
Average salary: $121,430
Most common fatalities: Transportation accidents
Most aircraft pilot deaths are the result of crashes of privately owned planes and helicopters rather than on regularly scheduled commercial jet aircraft.
#3 - Derrick Operators in Oil, Gas, and Mining
Fatal injury rate: 46 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 20
Average salary: $51,390
Most common fatalities: Transportation accidents, contact with objects and machinery
There are endless injury opportunities in this industry because of the heavy machinery used to extract oil and gas and mine for materials.
#4 - Roofers
Fatal injury rate: 41 per 100,000 roofers
Total deaths in 2018: 96
Average salary: $42,100
Most common fatalities: Falls, slips, and trips
There are always inherent risks when working from surfaces that are high off the ground. Most roofers are injured as a result of falling off roofs or ladders.
#5 - Garbage Collectors
Fatal injury rate: 34 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 37
Average salary: $42,100
Most common fatalities: Transportation accidents
Garbage collectors most often sustain fatal injuries as a result of being struck by a garbage truck or other vehicle.
#6 - Ironworkers
Fatal injury rate: 29 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 15
Average salary: $53,650
Most common fatalities: Falls, slips, trips
Ironworkers install iron and steel on buildings, bridges, and roads, which typically consists of climbing up on large structures, unloading materials, and signaling to crane operators. The most common accident leading to fatalities in this line of work is falling.
#7 - Delivery Drivers
Fatal injury rate: 27 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 966
Average salary: $29,610
Most common fatalities: Transportation accidents
Traffic collisions are the primary cause of death on the job for delivery and truck drivers.
#8 - Farmers
Fatal injury rate: 26 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 257
Average salary: $71,160
Most common fatalities: Transportation accidents
Collisions, including tractor accidents, are typically the most common fatal injury for farmworkers.
#9 - Firefighting Supervisors
Fatal injury rate: 20 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 14
Average salary: $82,010
Most common fatalities: Transportation accidents
While fires are inherently dangerous, most firefighting supervisors who lose their lives experience fatal injuries as a result of traffic accidents. Fires and explosions also commonly cause occupational fatalities, but not as often as traffic crashes.
#10 - Power Linemen
Fatal injury rate: 20 per 100,000 operators
Total deaths in 2018: 29
Average salary: $71,960
Most common fatalities: Exposure to hazardous substances or environments
Working on power lines poses many risks to linemen. As a result, the most common cause of death in this profession is from electrocution.
If you’ve been injured as a result of an accident at work, you may be entitled to compensation. Let our team see if we can help you recover what you are owed.
Call Adler Firm, PLLC today at (888) 966-9524 to speak with an accomplished attorney about your workers’ compensation case.
