VWB Blog Dangerous jobs can often be the most lucrative blue-collar work, with extra pay for danger, overtime for strange hours, and the possibility of massive worker’s compensation payouts. But did you know that the largest ever worker’s compensation payout went to a nanny? After sustaining injuries in a car crash with her employers, the nanny got $11.3 million in her settlement!
The nanny wasn’t earning extra money because of the dangerous nature of her job, but you could (and you don’t even have to get injured). Check out these 10 dangerous jobs and see if you’re brave enough to boost your monthly earnings.
1. Loggers
The most dangerous job in America today is that of a lumberjack. Workers in this industry are most likely to be killed by their own equipment or tools. If that doesn’t get them, the falling trees and rockslides might.
2. Fishermen and Hunters
Fishermen and hunters are often around dangerous equipment and wildlife, far from any hospital. Falling overboard, succumbing to a trap, getting bitten, stung, or attacked by wildlife are just a few ways these brave workers perish while working to feed America.
3. Aviation Workers
If you look at the business end of the aviation industry, pilots and aircraft technicians, you get staggeringly high death rates. Because planes are incredibly technical machines, there are hundreds of different ways that things can go fatally wrong for someone in or near an aircraft. It’s worth it though, as many of these workers make six-figure salaries.
4. Roofers
Roofers spend most of their workdays several stories above ground. Fatal missteps can be very common, especially in rainy or snowy seasons.
5. Garbage Collectors
Refuse collectors spend every day collecting the trash society leaves for them, no matter the conditions. They work alongside heavy equipment and for relatively little pay. If they can’t afford medical insurance, even a small infected cut can be quite deadly.
6. Logistics Chain Workers
Truck drivers and warehouse workers also serve in quite a dangerous line of work. Small mistakes with huge rigs can cost a truck driver dearly.
Packing and managing warehouses can also be quite taxing. Skimping on warehouse safety can cost an employer dearly, especially if the workers consult a workers’ compensation lawyer.
7. Agricultural Workers
Farmers and farmhands spend most of their days around big machines, animals, or on the road transporting goods. A rogue bull can be just as dangerous as a truck accident while transporting food.
8. Structural Steel Workers
Structural steel is a niche industry in construction with its own high death rate. Since they work high up on skyscrapers and bridges, missteps or relaxed safety protocols can be fatal.
9. Construction Workers
Construction workers and managers face many dangers. Last year, falls, slips, rogue machines, workplace disasters, and transportation-related incidents caused the deaths of many construction workers.
10. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
It’s strange to think that gardening can be so dangerous, but professionals in this business spend a lot of time traveling from place to place. Transportation-related incidents, therefore, have made this the tenth most dangerous job in America.
Explore More About Dangerous Jobs
A unifying theme across many of these dangerous jobs is that they all require some form of long-distance travel. They’re also all jobs where workers spend most or all their time away from the office.
Just because they’re more dangerous than the average job doesn’t mean they can’t be rewarding. Employees get to move around a lot and claim massive workers’ compensation cheques if something ever goes wrong. If you want to learn more about finding jobs like these, check out our blog on finding a job in America today.