10 of the most dangerous jobs in America

Advertisement

a firefighter keeps watch on a wildfire along a hillside in azusa california police in the city of azusa and parts of duarte ordered hundreds of homes evacuated others were under voluntary evacuations

Associated Press

If the biggest complaints you have about your job or workplace are the ancient computers, uncomfortable room temperature, or annoying coworkers, you've got it pretty good.

Advertisement

In the US, thousands of people are injured or killed at work each year because of the dangerous nature of their jobs.

According to a report from jobs site CareerCast, "some of the most vital careers to upholding and maintaining the very fabric of American society are also among the most dangerous."

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

Take EMTs and firefighters, for example. "These professions are tailored for the brave, those willing to sacrifice their own health and safety for the well being of others," the CareerCast report says.

Not all jobs to make the top-10 list are so obvious. For instance, veterinarian and farmer also make the cut.

Advertisement

"Animals can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous," says Kyle Kensing at CareerCast. "Veterinarians working with dogs and cats can face the workplace hazards of bites and scratches, and those who work with livestock and other large animals risk serious injury."

The most dangerous jobs list was compiled by cross-referencing the 200 professions tracked in CareerCast's 2016 "Jobs Rated" report with US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other trade-organization data. Note these are not necessarily the most fatal jobs.

Here are the 10 most dangerous professions of 2016 from CareerCast's "Jobs Rated" list, in alphabetical order. All job descriptions and salary data comes from the BLS: