Most people go to work every morning, taking for granted that they will come home safely at the end of the day. However, some jobs carry higher risks than others, making it less likely that workers will come home at all. Agriculture, logging, and mining are some of the most dangerous industries in the U.S.
In 2023, 5,283 Americans died in on-the-job accidents – a 3.7 percent decrease from 2022 – according to the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2024, that number dropped by 4% to 5,070 workers. The rate of fatal workplace injuries stood at 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, though some industries far exceeded this rate.
These are the 10 most dangerous jobs, according to preliminary BLS data:
| Rank | Occupation | Fatal injury rate (per 100,000 FTE workers) | Fatal work injuries | Vs. national average (3.3) |
| 1 | Logging workers | 110.4 | 51 | 33.5× |
| 2 | Fishing and hunting workers | 88.8 | 24 | 26.9× |
| 3 | Roofers | 48.7 | 104 | 14.8× |
| 4 | Structural iron and steel workers | 37.8 | 14 | 11.5× |
| 5 | Refuse and recyclable material collectors | 37.4 | 36 | 11.3× |
| 6 | Aircraft pilots and flight engineers | 36.7 | 73 | 11.1× |
| 7 | Helpers, construction trades | 35.8 | 18 | 10.8× |
| 8 | Underground mining machine operators | 35.6 | 12 | 10.8× |
| 9 | Driver/sales workers and truck drivers | 25.7 | 950 | 7.8× |
| 10 | Grounds maintenance workers | 20.9 | 239 | 6.3× |
1. Logging Workers
Fatal injury rate: 110.4 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers
Fatal work injuries: 51
Logging workers had the highest fatal injury rate among the selected occupations tracked by the BLS in 2024. The work often involves chainsaws, tree felling, heavy machinery, steep terrain, and remote job sites, conditions that can increase the likelihood of injuries and complicate emergency response.
With a rate of 110.4 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, logging was more than 33 times the national average fatal injury rate of 3.3.
2. Fishing and Hunting Workers
Fatal injury rate: 88.8
Fatal work injuries: 24
Fishing and hunting workers had the second-highest fatal injury rate in 2024. Commercial fishing in particular can involve long hours, severe weather, heavy gear, and isolated work sites far from immediate medical help. Although BLS recorded 24 fatal injuries in this occupation, the rate was 88.8 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, reflecting the high level of risk relative to the size of the workforce.
3. Roofers
Fatal injury rate: 48.7
Fatal work injuries: 104
Roofers ranked third by fatal injury rate, underscoring the dangers of work performed at elevation. Falls remain one of the central hazards in construction and maintenance work. BLS reported 104 fatal injuries among roofers in 2024, with a fatal injury rate of 48.7 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
4. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Fatal injury rate: 37.8
Fatal work injuries: 14
Structural iron and steel workers build and reinforce the frames of buildings, bridges, and other large structures. The job often requires working at height, moving heavy materials, and operating around cranes and other machinery. In 2024, the occupation recorded 14 fatal work injuries and a fatal injury rate of 37.8 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
5. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Fatal injury rate: 37.4
Fatal work injuries: 36
Refuse and recyclable material collectors face risks from traffic, heavy vehicles, machinery, lifting, and repeated stops along public roads. Workers may be exposed to unpredictable conditions while moving between vehicles, curbs, alleys, and disposal sites. BLS recorded 36 fatal injuries among refuse and recyclable material collectors in 2024, with a fatal injury rate of 37.4.
6. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Fatal injury rate: 36.7
Fatal work injuries: 73
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers had one of the highest fatal injury rates in 2024. The occupation includes different types of aviation work, and risks can vary by aircraft type, route, weather conditions, and operating environment. BLS reported 73 fatal work injuries among aircraft pilots and flight engineers, with a fatal injury rate of 36.7 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
7. Helpers, Construction Trades
Fatal injury rate: 35.8
Fatal work injuries: 18
Construction helpers support skilled trades workers and may perform tasks involving materials, tools, ladders, scaffolds, and active job sites. Their work can place them near multiple hazards at once, including moving equipment and unfinished structures. In 2024, helpers in construction trades recorded 18 fatal injuries and a fatal injury rate of 35.8.
8. Underground Mining Machine Operators
Fatal injury rate: 35.6
Fatal work injuries: 12
Underground mining machine operators work in confined and hazardous environments where machinery, rock movement, ventilation, and limited exits can intensify risk. BLS recorded 12 fatal injuries in this occupation in 2024. The fatal injury rate was 35.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
9. Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers
Fatal injury rate: 25.7
Fatal work injuries: 950
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers recorded by far the highest number of deaths among the top-ranked occupations. BLS reported 950 fatal injuries in this category in 2024, with a fatal injury rate of 25.7.
Transportation incidents were the most common type of fatal work event overall in 2024, accounting for 38.2% of all occupational deaths. Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles decreased from 2023 levels, but pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles rose by 19%.
10. Grounds Maintenance Workers
Fatal injury rate: 20.9
Fatal work injuries: 239
Grounds maintenance workers face risks from equipment, vehicles, heat, falling objects, tree work, and rapidly changing outdoor conditions. The occupation recorded 239 fatal injuries in 2024. The BLS also noted that fatalities among building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers increased to 356 in 2024, up from 337 in 2023.
The Deadliest Job Groups Are Not Always the Highest-Rate Jobs
A ranking by fatal injury rate highlights risk to individual workers, but total fatality counts tell another part of the story.
Transportation and material moving occupations recorded 1,391 fatal work injuries in 2024, the most of any major occupational group. Construction and extraction occupations followed with 1,032 deaths. Both groups had fatal injury rates well above the national average: 12.5 for transportation and material moving workers and 12.6 for construction and extraction workers.
Construction also remains heavily shaped by falls. Among construction and extraction workers, fatal falls, slips, and trips declined from 400 in 2023 to 370 in 2024, but they still accounted for a large share of deaths in the field.
What Makes a Job Likely to Cause Injury or Death?
Workplace fatalities stem from various causes, many of which occur in routine situations. The BLS identifies the “major events” contributing to the 5,486 fatal workplace injuries in 2022 as:
- Transportation incidents (car and truck accidents) – often involving vehicles like trucks or heavy machinery
- Falls, slips, and trips – especially prevalent in construction and logging
- Violence and other injuries by people or animals – particularly in industries with exposure to the public
- Contact with objects and equipment – including being caught in running equipment or “machinery deaths”
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments – including toxic chemicals or extreme temperatures
How a Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help After a Fatal Workplace Accident
If you’ve lost a loved one to a workplace accident, South Carolina’s workers’ compensation laws may entitle you to benefits that can ease the burden of funeral costs, medical expenses, and lost income.
In some cases, if a non-employer entity —such as an equipment manufacturer or contractor—contributed to the accident, your family may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against this third party. Unlike workers’ compensation, which provides limited benefits, a third-party claim may allow for broader compensation, including pain and suffering and additional financial support for the family.
At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we understand that workplace accidents can turn a family’s world upside down. Having both workers’ compensation and personal injury attorneys under one roof allows us to address every possible avenue of recovery for you and your family. When an on-the-job accident occurs, you need a team equipped to explore all facets of your case, ensuring no detail is overlooked. Whether securing workers’ comp benefits or pursuing a third-party claim for additional compensation, our attorneys collaborate to provide comprehensive legal support, leaving no stone unturned in the fight for justice.
With deep experience in both workers’ compensation and personal injury law, our team at Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers is uniquely positioned to help families navigate these complex cases and maximize their benefits. Let us guide you through this difficult time and pursue every option to achieve the full and fair recovery your family deserves. Give us a call at (888)-324-3100 or contact us online to get started with a free consultation.
Categories
