Most Dangerous High-Paying Jobs
1 occupations with D or F safety grades that pay over $50,000/year, BLS 2024
1
Dangerous & well-paying
$52,100
Highest salary
$52,100
Average salary
0
Pay $100K+
High risk, high reward? These 1 occupations offer salaries above $50,000/year but carry significant workplace safety risks. They have D or F safety grades based on BLS fatality and injury data.
Some dangerous occupations pay a genuine "danger premium" - airline pilots, power plant operators, and mining engineers earn well above average. Others carry high physical risk without proportional compensation.
| # | Occupation | Safety | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fallers | D | $52,100 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What dangerous jobs pay the most?
The highest-paying dangerous jobs include Fallers ($52,100/year). These occupations have D or F safety grades based on BLS fatality and injury data.
Is the danger premium real?
Some dangerous jobs do pay premium wages, airline pilots, power plant operators, and mining engineers earn well above national averages. However, many high-risk occupations like logging workers and roofers earn below-average wages, suggesting the "danger premium" is inconsistent and depends more on skill requirements and industry economics.
What makes a job "dangerous"?
A job receives a D or F safety grade when it has high fatality rates (deaths per 100,000 workers) or high injury rates (injuries per 100 workers) from BLS data. Grade D means dangerous (danger index 50–75), Grade F means very dangerous (75–100).