10 Dangerous Jobs

America's Most Dangerous Jobs

By Laura Morsch, CareerBuilder.com

For many of us, the most dangerous part of the workday is the commute -- followed closely by teetering on stiletto heels.

Nationwide, most employees have a miniscule chance of being killed at work. There were just four fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers in the United States in 2005, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That, of course, is just the average. For some workers -- soldiers in combat, for example -- every day is a life-threatening one. But on the domestic front, the most dangerous jobs are less obvious.

Statistically speaking, farmers -- with a fatality rate of 41.1 -- are more than twice as likely to die on the job than police officers (18.2) and nearly four times more likely to be killed at work than firefighters (11.5).

The Most Life-Threatening Jobs
According to BLS data, the following jobs had some of the highest fatality rates for 2005:

Fishers and related fishing workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 118.4
Average salary: $29,000 per year

Logging workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 92.9
Average salary: $31,290 per year

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 66.9
Average salary: $135,040

Structural iron and steel workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 55.6
Average salary: $43,540

Refuse and recyclable material collectors
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 43.8
Average salary: $30,160

Farmers and ranchers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 41.1
Average salary: $39,720

Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 32.7
Average salary: $49,200

Truck drivers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 29.1
Average salary: $35,460 (for heavy or tractor-trailer drivers)

Miscellaneous agricultural workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 23.2
Average salary: $24,140

Construction laborers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 22.7
Average salary: $29,050

The Most Injury-Prone Jobs
Although employees are statistically unlikely to die on the job, illnesses and injuries are a far greater threat. In 2005, the rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses was 4.6 per 100 workers.

The manufacturing industry accounted for more than 20 percent of the nation's reported nonfatal occupational injuries last year, with complaints ranging from sprains to gashes. Sixteen percent of workplace injuries were reported by workers in the healthcare sector.

The following industries saw the highest workplace injury rates for 2005:


Beet sugar manufacturing: 16.6 injuries per 100 workers


Truck trailer manufacturing: 15.7 injuries per 100 workers


Iron foundries: 15.2 injuries per 100 workers


Prefabricated wood building manufacturing: 13.9 injuries per 100 workers


Framing contractors: 13.3 injuries per 100 workers

Jobs That Could Make You Sick
Considering the nature of their work, it's not surprising that healthcare workers reported 19 percent of the 242,500 new occupational illnesses in the private sector for 2005. But manufacturing workers actually get sick from work most often, accounting for 39 percent of reported injuries.

The following industries had the highest reported illness rates:


Light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing: 701.5 illnesses per 10,000 workers


Animal slaughtering, except poultry: 478.8 illnesses per 10,000 workers


Automobile manufacturing: 320.6 illnesses per 10,000 workers


Cut stock, resawing lumber and planning: 276.4 illnesses per 10,000 workers


Motor vehicle air-conditioning manufacturing: 235 illnesses per 10,000 workers


Laura Morsch is a writer for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.