Delivery drivers are now dying on the job more than loggers and roofers combined.
According to newly released federal data, 984 truck and delivery drivers were killed on the job in 2023, accounting for nearly 1 in 5 workplace deaths nationwide. This staggering total makes it the deadliest U.S. occupation by volume, surpassing even historically high-risk industries like logging and roofing.
A new study by Anidjar & Levine Injury Law, based on the latest Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), reveals the five deadliest jobs in America and the changing dynamics behind this growing threat to worker safety.
Key Findings:
- Loggers face a death rate of 98.9 per 100K, the highest in the nation.
- Fishing workers suffer 86.9 deaths per 100K, earning just $33K/year.
- Roofers’ fatality rate rose 4.8%, reaching 59.0 per 100K.
- Ironworkers’ deaths mostly stem from collapses, falls, and crush injuries.
- Truck/delivery drivers saw 984 deaths, a 24.2% YoY spike, deadliest job by total fatalities.
- Gig drivers now face industrial-level risks without traditional workplace protections.
America’s 5 Deadliest Jobs in 2025 (Analytical Table):
| Rank | Occupation | Fatality Rate (per 100K) | Total Deaths (2023) | Common Causes | Median Annual Wage (USD) |
| 1 | Logging Workers | 98.9 | 52 | Falling trees, chainsaw trauma | $49,540 |
| 2 | Fishing & Aquaculture | 86.9 | 19 | Boat capsizes, gear entanglement | $40,934 |
| 3 | Roofers | 59.0 | 113 | Falls from elevation | $55,580 |
| 4 | Iron & Steel Workers | 40.2 | 41 | Collapses, struck-by equipment | $69,240 |
| 5 | Delivery/Truck Drivers | 26.8 | 984 | Crashes, fatigue, algorithmic pressure | $42,330 |
Note: 2024 data is not yet released by the BLS. This analysis focuses entirely on 2023 figures.
1. Logging Workers
With a fatality rate of 98.9 per 100,000 workers and 52 deaths in 2023, logging remains America’s most dangerous job. Despite offering a relatively higher median wage of $49,540, the role exposes workers to lethal hazards like falling trees, chainsaw injuries, and remote-location response delays. The risk-to-reward ratio remains disproportionately high in rural logging communities where emergency services are sparse.
2. Fishing & Aquaculture
Recording 19 deaths and a fatality rate of 86.9, commercial fishing poses life-threatening conditions with unstable vessels, weather volatility, and gear entanglement. The median wage sits at just $40,934, placing fishers among the lowest-paid high-risk workers in the country. This highlights a stark imbalance between physical risk and financial compensation in a largely unregulated marine workforce.
3. Roofers
With 113 fatalities and a death rate of 59.0 per 100K, roofing deaths continue to climb, largely from falls on residential and non-union job sites. While the median wage is $55,580, poor enforcement of OSHA fall prevention standards contributes to repeated violations, particularly in seasonal, subcontracted, or undocumented labor segments.
4. Iron & Steel Workers
Despite a smaller workforce, 41 iron and steel workers died on the job in 2023. A fatality rate of 40.2 underscores the extreme risks of high-altitude work, structural collapses, and crushing injuries from steel beams and equipment. Their median wage of $69,240 is the highest on this list, yet it comes with the constant risk of life-altering or fatal injuries.
5. Delivery/Truck Drivers
Accounting for 984 deaths in 2023, truck and delivery drivers make up the highest total death count of any U.S. occupation. Despite a lower fatality rate of 26.8 per 100K, the sheer volume of workers and 24/7 exposure to highway crashes, fatigue, and algorithmic pressures from gig apps make this one of the most systemically dangerous jobs. With a median wage of just $42,330, these drivers bear high fatality burdens without traditional labor protections.
Truck and delivery drivers are no longer just road workers. They are now among the most vulnerable in America’s workforce.
In 2023, drivers experienced a 24.2% increase in workplace deaths, while gig economy expansion placed more underprotected workers into hazardous environments. These five roles made up over a quarter of all workplace fatalities last year, despite their combined representation being far smaller in the overall labor force.
Without policy updates, OSHA enforcement, and legal clarity for gig workers, this trend will likely accelerate in 2024. The urgency is clear, America’s risk profile is shifting fast, and vulnerable workers are paying the price.