The Most Dangerous Jobs in America: A 2026 Perspective

In 2021, a work-related fatality occurred every 101 minutes in the United States, highlighting the persistent dangers that exist in various occupations.

Have you ever contemplated the dangers associated with your job? The reality is that every industry has its risks, some more than others. Thanks to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we can quantify these dangers and understand which occupations pose the highest risks.

The BLS compiles data based on over 25,000 source documents through its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). This invaluable resource has been tracking workplace fatalities since 1992, and the data is updated annually.

Although the data released is always a year behind, the numbers for 2021 were published in December 2022. In that year, the total number of work-related fatalities reached 5,190, reflecting an 8.9% increase from 4,764 deaths in 2020. The overall fatal work injury rate stood at 3.6 deaths per 100,000 FTE employees.

Work-related fatalities are categorized into six primary events:

1. Transportation incidents

2. Falls, slips, trips

3. Violence and other injuries inflicted by persons or animals

4. Contact with objects and equipment

5. Exposure to harmful substances or environments

6. Fires and explosions

Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in America

Some occupations inherently carry more risk. The BLS’s National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries identifies the most dangerous jobs based on work-related deaths.

It’s no surprise that most of these jobs fall under the blue-collar category, typically characterized by manual labor and physical tasks.

Regrettably, salary does not often correlate with the danger level of a job. Many roles on this list offer relatively low average yearly salaries.

1. Motor vehicle operators
   Average Yearly Salary: $51,500

   With 1,103 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers, this remains the deadliest job in the U.S. Despite the hazards, the projected job growth stands at 12% between 2021 and 2031.

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2. Construction trades workers
   Average Yearly Salary: $31,800

   This occupation experienced 726 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers and is expected to grow by 4% in the coming decade.

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3. Management occupations
   Average Yearly Salary: $58,600

   With 323 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers, this broad category includes varying levels of risk.

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4. Material moving workers
   Average Yearly Salary: $32,500

   This role had 284 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers.

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5. Production occupations
   Average Yearly Salary: $30,800

   This sector recorded 242 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers.

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6. Grounds maintenance workers
   Average Yearly Salary: $28,500

   This job faced 225 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers.

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7. Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers
   Average Yearly Salary: $42,600

   Even without driving, this role had 152 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers.

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8. Agricultural workers
   Average Yearly Salary: $27,200

   This field had 133 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers.

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9. Supervisors of construction and extraction workers
   Average Yearly Salary: $62,800

   This role had 117 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers, making it the highest paid job on this list.

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10. Food preparation and serving related occupations
    Average Yearly Salary: $25,000

    This sector recorded 101 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE workers.

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What Makes a Job Dangerous?

Fatalities are a crucial indicator of a job’s danger level. Certain occupations come with inherent risks that can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Jobs involving unpredictable environments, animal handling, or hazardous materials are typically deemed more dangerous.

In this context, “dangerous” refers specifically to high fatality rates due to workplace injuries, emphasizing the grave nature of these incidents.

Fatal Work Injury Statistics

While the focus here is on specific occupations, it’s essential to consider broader statistics:

1. Are certain age groups more susceptible to injuries?

2. Which incidents lead to the most fatalities?

3. What industries are the most hazardous overall?

Here’s a breakdown of fatal work injuries in 2021 based on different criteria:

1. By age group. The BLS provides fatality statistics segmented by age. Surprisingly, younger age groups report fewer fatal work injuries, likely due to their limited exposure to hazardous jobs.

   The age groups with the highest number of work-related fatalities were 45-54 years and 55-64 years. The detailed breakdown is as follows:

   • Under 16 years: 7 fatal work injuries.

   • 16-17 years: 17 fatal work injuries.

   • 18-19 years: 85 fatal work injuries.

   • 20-24 years: 289 fatal work injuries.

   • 25-34 years: 882 fatal work injuries.

   • 35-44 years: 977 fatal work injuries.

   • 45-54 years: 1,087 fatal work injuries.

   • 55-64 years: 1,140 fatal work injuries.

   • 65+ years: 702 fatal work injuries.

2. By event. The BLS categorizes fatal work injuries by event. Here’s the breakdown:

   • Transportation incidents. These incidents account for 38.2% of all work-related fatalities, totaling 1,982 deaths in 2021, marking an 11.5% increase from 2020.

   • Falls, slips, trips. Fatalities from falls, slips, or trips grew by 5.6% in 2021, resulting in 850 deaths.

   • Contact with objects and equipment. This category accounted for 705 fatal work injuries in 2021, with men facing a higher risk due to male-dominated roles in hazardous occupations.

   • Violence and other injuries by persons or animals. In 2021, 761 deaths were linked to workplace violence, including suicides, with women at a higher risk of fatality from these incidents.

   • Exposure to harmful substances or environments. This event caused 798 work-related fatalities in 2021, including substance overdoses.

   • Fires and explosions. Fire or explosion-related deaths were the least frequent, with only 76 fatalities attributed to this event in 2021.

3. By industry. While specific occupations may exhibit higher dangers, certain industries report more fatal work injuries. The most dangerous industries for 2021 include:

   • Construction. 951 fatal work injuries in 2021.

   • Transportation and warehousing. 1,523 fatal work injuries. This sector saw one in five injured workers classified as a driver, sales worker, or truck driver.

     Transportation-related injuries accounted for nearly half of all work-related fatalities in 2021.

   • Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting. 218 fatal work injuries.

   • Retail trade. 200 fatal work injuries, often from falls, violence, or fires.

   • Leisure and hospitality. 271 fatal work injuries, primarily due to slips, trips, or equipment-related incidents.

4. By gender. The BLS separates statistics by gender, revealing that men are disproportionately represented in high-risk jobs. In 2021, men accounted for 4,741 fatal workplace injuries, while women represented only 448.

   Men face a significantly higher risk of deaths from contact with objects and equipment, while women are more vulnerable to homicide-related fatalities.

Understanding the dangers inherent in various jobs is crucial for workers and employers alike. By recognizing these risks, we can work towards safer workplaces and improved safety protocols that protect workers across all industries.

Author

Samantha Goddiess

Samantha is a lifelong writer who has been writing professionally for the last six years. After graduating with honors from Greensboro College with a degree in English & Communications, she went on to find work as an in-house copywriter for several companies including Costume Supercenter, and Blueprint Education.