Occupation Safety Ratings
Safety grades for 831+ occupations based on BLS fatality and injury data (2023)
A
499
Very Safe
B
278
Safe
C
53
Moderate Risk
D
1
Dangerous
Top 10 Most Dangerous Occupations
1 D
Fallers
111.7/100K fatality rate · 4/100 injury rate
2 C
Roofers
59/100K fatality rate · 5/100 injury rate
3 C
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
33/100K fatality rate · 6.5/100 injury rate
4 C
Commercial Pilots
69/100K fatality rate · 1/100 injury rate
5 C
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
25/100K fatality rate · 5/100 injury rate
6 C
Nursing Assistants
0.5/100K fatality rate · 8/100 injury rate
7 C
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
16/100K fatality rate · 6/100 injury rate
8 C
Construction Laborers
18/100K fatality rate · 5.5/100 injury rate
9 C
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
25/100K fatality rate · 4.5/100 injury rate
10 C
Correctional Officers and Jailers
8/100K fatality rate · 6/100 injury rate
Top 10 Safest Occupations
1 A
Accountants and Auditors
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
2 A
Computer Systems Analysts
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
3 A
Computer Network Architects
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
4 A
Software Developers
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
5 A
Lawyers
Legal Occupations
6 A
Judicial Law Clerks
Legal Occupations
7 A
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Legal Occupations
8 A
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Legal Occupations
9 A
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Legal Occupations
10 A
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal Occupations
How Safety Grades Work
Each occupation receives a safety grade (A through F) based on a danger index computed from two BLS data sources:
- Fatality rate (60% weight) — Deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI)
- Injury rate (40% weight) — Nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers, from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)
Both rates are normalized to a 0-100 scale, then combined into a single danger index. The grade thresholds are:
| Grade | Danger Index | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 0 – 10 | Very Safe |
| B | 10 – 25 | Safe |
| C | 25 – 50 | Moderate Risk |
| D | 50 – 75 | Dangerous |
| F | 75 – 100 | Very Dangerous |
For occupations where the BLS publishes specific fatality or injury data, we use those exact figures. For others, we use the rate for their SOC major occupation group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most dangerous jobs in America?
Based on BLS fatality and injury data, the most dangerous occupations include logging workers, fishing workers, roofers, and heavy truck drivers. These jobs have the highest fatality rates per 100,000 workers.
How are occupation safety grades calculated?
Safety grades (A through F) are computed from a danger index that combines BLS fatality rates (60% weight) and injury rates (40% weight). Grade A means very safe (danger index 0–10), while Grade F means very dangerous (75–100).
What is the safest job in America?
The safest occupations are typically in computer science, business, legal, and education fields. Software developers, accountants, and lawyers have the lowest fatality and injury rates according to BLS data.