Some jobs are more dangerous than others. And then there are jobs that are super dangerous. In this video, we’re taking a look at that latter category. Stick around, as Viewcation presents: The Most Dangerous Jobs in America!
REMINDER TO READ THIS IN REVERSE ORDER
Logging workers
It probably comes as no surprise that the most dangerous job in America is in the logging industry. Logging workers are the ones who take the raw materials of paper, wood, cardboard, and more – aka trees – and harvest it. And while it might seem like a fun setting to work all day out in nature and in the forest, it’s a trade off for the most dangerous occupation in the country. A big reason for the danger is the complex and huge machinery they use to fell the trees. And of course there’s also the issue of trees constantly falling. Most of the fatalities occur when workers have an incident with the machinery or the logs themselves. And those fatalities occur at 33 times the rate of the average American job. The rate of 111 deaths for every 100,000 workers is pretty staggering. And it’s not as if it’s a glamorous or high paying job. The average yearly take for logging workers is around $41K per year. So the brave men and women who work in the logging industry must love the work.
Pilots and Flight Engineers
The second most dangerous job in America might be a surprising one to hear about, because of how infrequently we hear about plane crashes. But apparently they occur frequently enough that aircraft pilots and flight engineers die at a rate of 53 for every 100,000 workers. We should also note that it’s more than simply commercial airlines that encompasses this group of workers. It also includes helicopters and privately owned planes. And these latter two are where most of the crashes and fatalities occur. These brave pilots and flight engineers are responsible for far more than simply take off, landing, and manning the controls in between those two. They also have to do a lot of work before and after the flights. They have to inspect the aircraft to ensure its safe for flying, as well as making sure the aircraft Is balanced. They also make sure the flight plans are sorted, and that there’s enough fuel. While flying, they are responsible for communicating with air traffic control, as well as keep an eye on all of the systems onboard as they fly. The average salary is around $121K per year, so at least they are well paid to compensate for the danger of the job. And most people who get their pilots license and make a career out of it tend to love flying. So it might be more dangerous than other jobs, but they usually feel it’s worth the risk.
Derrick Operators
The third most dangerous job in America is working as a derrick operator on an oil, mining, or gas site. Their fatality rate comes in a 46 deaths for every 100,000 people. They are responsible for operating the drilling equipment the derrick (the structure that sits above an oil well and attaches to the drilling equipment. The drills obviously dig into the earth, while the derrick holds it in place and often pumps the oil, gas, or other material from underground. Workers are killed in this industry from accidents involving the drilling equipment, as well as transportation incidents, which admittedly is a vague term, but likely having to do with moving the giant drills and derricks from drill spot to drill spot. The average salary for a derrick operator is just over $51K per year. So while it provides a decent salary, it’s perhaps not nearly enough to justify the danger involved.
Roofers
Being a roofer is the fourth most dangerous job you can have in America. It has a fatality rate of 41 deaths for 100,000 people. Roofers, as their name suggests, work to install, replace, and repair roofs on houses and other buildings. They have to remove and install materials like roof shingles, metal roofing panels, or other roofing material types. The obvious danger in roofing is the height. These workers are constantly high above the ground, working on the tops of structures. And even a fall from a two story house can severely injure or kill someone, let alone a fall from a much higher building. Even getting up to the top of a structure involves ladders and other equipment, and can be dangerous. And there’s always a slip, trip, and fall threat for anyone working up high on the roof of a structure. On the plus side you get to work outside all day, so that’s a nice bonus provided it’s in decent weather. Plus you get some of the best views in the area as you do. The average salary for a roofing worker is in the range of $42K per year, making it a fairly low paying job for how dangerous it is.
Garbage collectors
The fifth most dangerous job in the United States is garbage collectors. They drive trucks throughout their surrounding areas and collecting the trash from various bins and dumpsters. Some do this process by hand, lifting up trash bins and turning them over into the trash compactors, while others utilize the automated mechanisms built on their trucks. Once they have a full truck full of trash, they drive it to a waste transfer station or a local landfill and unload the refuse there. They had a fatality rate of 34 deaths per 100,000 workers. Most of the deaths in the garbage collecting profession is due to be hit by garbage trucks or by other vehicles. That makes sense, since, especially in urban settings, they are constantly moving in and out of traffic, and the workers often have to jump out of their trucks to go grab the trash. Their average salary is $42K a year. So, considering this is a fairly low paying and dangerous job, with some challenging physical aspects and a fairly smelly existence, we should all be very thankful for these brave and essential workers.
Ironworkers
Ironworkers have the 6th most dangerous job in America. They face a fatality rate of 29 deaths for every 100,000 workers. They are the ones who install the building material like iron and steel onto giant structures like bridges, roads, and buildings. And as such, they are involved with the loading and moving of heavy objects like iron and steel beams. They also use complex and dangerous machines that allow them to manipulate, cut and otherwise change the shape of these materials. Their jobs range from small projects in homes to large ones like skyscrapers and huge bridges. And while these metals are heavy and potentially dangerous, the most common cause of death in the world of iron work is falling off of one of these large structures. Iron workers generally make about $54K per year, which is not a ton, but is more than several of the other dangerous jobs we list in this video.
Delivery Drivers
Delivery drivers are involved in the transportation of goods in between people and businesses. It’s the 7th most dangerous job in America. Depending on the type of delivery driver they are, they might haul various types of cargo, laundry, food, and other things. They might be tasked with driving from customer to customer, or from large distribution centers to customers. Either way, they are constantly out on the road and having to deal with all of the various traffic hazards that exits everywhere. For delivery drivers, the sheer amount of time on the road means they are just that much more likely to get into a fatal accident. The job itself isn’t particularly dangerous, but driving throughout the day, every day, is. Delivery drivers have a fatality rate of 27 deaths for every 100,000 workers. And considering the average salary for a delivery driver is just under $30K a year, it’s a fairly thankless and dangerous job.
Farmers
You might assume that being a farmer is a fairly safe job. After all, they are away from some of the common danger elements of the other jobs on this list, like traffic, falling off of high buildings, and more. And yet farming is the 8th most dangerous job in America. The average farmer’s day involves the growing and harvesting of varies crops and the caretaking of farm animals like livestock. They also have to maintain and use farming equipment. That’s where most of the danger comes in. The most common cause of fatalities for farmers is accidents while using tractors. This results in a fatality rate of 26 deaths per 100,000 workers. The average salary for a farmer is just above $71K, so it’s a more lucrative gig than many of the jobs in this video. Plus you get to be outside for much of your days, and away from cities, if that’s not your particular cup of tea.
Firefighting Supervisors
You might expect that actual firefighters would be on this list higher up than their supervisors. And yet firefighting supervisors have a more dangerous job than their firefighting counterparts. They oversee and coordinate the firefighters in their company, attempting to control and prevent fires and fire damage. They are involved with supervising dispatch trucks, keeping tabs on the severity and size of fires, and maintaining the equipment that the firefighters utilize in the performance of their duties. And because they are often on the trucks and riding along with the firefighters, they suffer fatalities from car crashes. But they are also often killed by explosions on site as well as the fires themselves. Their fatality rate is 20 deaths per 100,000 workers, and they command a salary of about $82K per year.
Now its time to hear from you. Do you think any of these dangerous jobs are worth it? Would you consider doing any of them? Let us know in the comments section below!