Resume Now Reveals the Riskiest U.S. Careers

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Table of contents

Key Criteria for Selection
Most Dangerous Jobs Paying Under $60K
Highest-Paying Dangerous Jobs

When people picture dangerous jobs, they often imagine high salaries as compensation for high risk. But the truth is more complicated.

New analysis from Resume Now, using the most recent data available from the BLS (2023), shows that some of the most dangerous jobs in America don't even clear $40,000 a year, while others pay well into six figures in equally hazardous environments.

Truck drivers faced nearly 1,000 workplace fatalities in 2023 despite earning around $57,000 annually. On the other end of the spectrum, airline pilots work in one of the most perilous settings, yet they bring home close to $200,000 a year.

Key Criteria for Selection

Analysts at Resume Now reviewed the latest Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to identify careers that meet the following criteria:

Danger: The lists include occupations from the BLS CFOI with fatal work injury rates well above the 2023 average (3.5 per 100,000) or high total fatalities.
Salary categories: One list includes jobs with a median annual wage under $60,000; the other highlights the highest-paying jobs from the high-danger pool.
Ranking: Jobs in both lists are ordered by total annual fatalities, from highest to lowest, within each wage category.

Most Dangerous Jobs Paying Under $60K

Below is a list of the most dangerous low-paying jobs in America, ranked by fatalities:

1. Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

Fatalities: 984
Median pay: $57,440 (Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers; the group with the majority of fatalities)
Why it's dangerous: Long hours on the road, vehicle accidents, and weather-related hazards

2. Construction laborers

Fatalities: 318
Median pay: $46,050
Why it's dangerous: Falls, heavy machinery, and exposure to all-weather conditions at construction sites

3. Grounds maintenance workers

Fatalities: 226
Median pay: $38,470
Why it's dangerous: Machinery accidents, falls, and extreme weather exposure

4. Agricultural workers

Fatalities: 146
Median pay: $35,980
Why it's dangerous: Risks include heavy machinery, exposure to pesticides, and unpredictable animals

5. Laborers & freight movers

Fatalities: 114
Median pay: $37,680
Why it's dangerous: Strains, crushing injuries, and vehicle-related accidents in warehouses

6. Roofers

Fatalities: 113
Median pay: $50,970
Why it's dangerous: Falls from heights, extreme weather, and heavy material handling

7. Security guards

Fatalities: 79
Median pay: $38,390
Why it's dangerous: Confrontations with intruders, theft prevention, and potential violent incidents

8. Logging workers

Fatalities: 52
Median pay: $49,540
Why it's dangerous: High risk from falling trees, equipment accidents, and remote work environments

9. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

Fatalities: 41
Median pay: $47,810
Why it's dangerous: Traffic hazards, heavy equipment operation, and exposure to waste materials

What this means: If you work in a lower-paying but high-risk job, it is important to protect yourself and know your worth. These roles keep essential parts of the economy moving, but the pay often does not reflect the hazards.

Asking employers for stronger safety programs, hazard pay, or support with training can help. Job seekers should highlight their safety record, certifications, and dependability on their resume. Employers look for people who can do the work and manage the risks responsibly.

Infographic depicting the highest and lowest pay amongst the most dangerous jobs in America.

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Highest-Paying Dangerous Jobs

Some workers are better compensated for the risk they assume, as shown in this list of high-paying, dangerous jobs, ranked by fatalities:

1. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Fatalities: 171
Median pay: $87,980
Why it's dangerous: Risks include operating heavy machinery, working with large animals, and long exposure to outdoor elements

2. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

Fatalities: 62
Median pay: $198,100
Why it's dangerous: High responsibility, weather hazards, and mechanical risks in flight

3. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Fatalities: 47
Median pay: $75,820
Why it's dangerous: Supervisors often work alongside crews in environments with heavy machinery, electrical systems, and moving vehicles

4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Fatalities: 27
Median pay: $92,560
Why it's dangerous: High risk of electrocution, falls from heights, and working in severe weather

5. Construction managers

Fatalities: 21
Median pay: $106,980
Why it's dangerous: Frequent presence on construction sites exposes managers to falls, equipment accidents, and other hazards

6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Fatalities: 9
Median pay: $102,010
Why it's dangerous: Oversight of large-scale logistics operations where vehicle accidents, heavy equipment, and hazardous materials create serious risks

7. Mining and geological engineers

Fatalities: 8
Median pay: $101,020
Why it's dangerous: Work often occurs in hazardous environments with risks of cave-ins, explosions, and exposure to harmful substances

8. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

Fatalities: 5
Median pay: $85,540
Why it's dangerous: Exposure to severe weather, vessel accidents, and the challenges of working at sea

9. Industrial production managers

Fatalities: 5
Median pay: $121,440
Why it's dangerous: Regular exposure to heavy machinery, industrial processes, and factory hazards

What this means: High-paying careers with real risk show that danger is not limited to frontline roles. For pilots, lineworkers, and managers, the challenge is often about making critical decisions in complex and hazardous environments.

Investing in ongoing training, advanced certifications, and safety practices is key to staying safe and moving forward in a dangerous occupation.

When applying for leadership roles or higher-paying opportunities, job seekers should point to their technical skills, ability to stay calm under pressure, and record of safe operations. Those qualities stand out to employers who need trusted people in high-stakes positions.

Looking for a change of scenery? Resume Now's AI Resume Builder can help you land a new role by creating or updating your resume to meet the standards of the competitive job market.

Methodology

Resume Now analysts used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) Table A-5 and the Hours-Based Fatal Injury Rates table for 2023, combined with Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 data.

Occupations were grouped into two categories and ranked by fatalities: jobs with median annual wages below $60,000 and high-wage occupations with significant hazards. This approach highlights the riskiest careers across income levels by focusing on those with the highest total workplace deaths.

Fatalities figures reflect total deaths in calendar year 2023, the most recent BLS CFOI data available at the time of analysis.

About Resume Now

Resume Now is a powerful resource dedicated to helping job-seekers achieve their potential. Resume Now's AI Resume Builder is a cutting-edge tool that makes creating a resume fast, easy, and painless. Resume Now has been dedicated to serving job seekers since 2005. Alongside its powerful AI Resume Builder and stylish, ready-to-use templates, it also features free advice for job seekers at every career stage, guides for every step of the hiring process, and free resources for writing cover letters. Resume Now is committed to supporting job seekers and workers alike and has conducted numerous surveys related to the experience, trends, and culture of the workplace. These surveys have been featured in Business Insider, CNBC, Fast Company, Yahoo!, Forbes, and more. Keep up with Resume Now on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Pinterest.

For press inquiries, contact Joseph Santaella at joseph.santaella@bold.com.

Keith is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and trusted media source in the career industry with over a decade of experience helping job seekers stand out.