In this article we discuss the 5 most dangerous jobs in America. If you want to read our detailed analysis of these jobs, go directly to the 30 Most Dangerous Jobs in America.
5. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Total Fatal Injuries: 31
Fatal Injury Rate: 34 per 100,000 workers
Most Common Fatal Accidents: Transportation incidents
Median Base Salary: $40,560
Who knew “taking out the trash” could be as dangerous as making it to the top 5 of the 30 most dangerous jobs in America. Again, a relatively simple yet extremely dangerous job. All they have to do is drive around neighborhoods and collect garbage (with the occasional dead bodies) from dumpsters. The most common cause of death for workers in this field was transportation incidents.
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4. Roofers
Total Fatal Injuries: 111
Fatal Injury Rate: 41 per 100,000 workers
Most Common Fatal Accidents: Falls, trips, slips
Median Base Salary: $43,580
Roofers are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and replacement of roofs on buildings that include our homes too. Working at heights comes with its danger, most commonly the risk of falling, which was the most common cause of death for roofers in 2019.
3. Derrick, Rotary Drill, and Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Total Fatal Injuries: 12
Fatal Injury Rate: 46 per 100,000 workers
Most Common Fatal Accidents: Transportation incidents, contact with objects and equipment
Median Base Salary: $ 50,280
The job of a derrickman is to operate derrick and drill equipment to extract gas, oil, and other materials that may be used as fuel. The primary cause of death for derrickmen was transportation incidents, followed by coming into contact with equipment.
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2. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Total Fatal Injuries: 85
Fatal Injury Rate: 53 per 100,000 workers
Most Common Fatal Accidents: Transportation incidents
Median Base Salary: $130,440
Aircraft pilots are responsible for flying and navigating various aircraft such as airplanes and helicopters. It was more common for privately-owned aircraft to run into a transportation incident as compared to a regular commercial aircraft.
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1. Logging Workers
Total Fatal Injuries: 46
Fatal Injury Rate: 111 per 100,000 workers
Most Common Fatal Accidents: Contact with objects and equipment
Median Base Salary: $43,210
Being a logging worker is without a doubt the most dangerous job in America. Having a fatal injury rate of 111 per 100,000 FTE workers makes the job 33 times more prone to danger than the average job nationwide. They work outdoors, and in remote areas like forests, where it is difficult to find quick medical services. They operate power machinery to handle logs, which ironically is reported as the most common cause of death for loggers.
Photo by René Schubert on Unsplash
You can also take a peek at 30 Best Hotels in America in 2021 and Top 15 Building Materials Companies in USA.
