Methodology

This ranking examines the extent to which workers in the United States are compensated for performing dangerous jobs.

We started by compiling fatality rates and annual salaries for select occupations using 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fatality rates are the number of on-the-job deaths suffered per 100,000 workers per year, assuming a 40-hour work week for 50 weeks a year. Only jobs with a fatality rate greater than one were considered.

The mean annual salary of each occupation was divided by its fatality rate, to obtain a per-fatality compensation ratio. The lower the ratio, the less workers are compensated for their risk of fatalities on the job. A higher ratio indicates relatively lower risk and/or higher pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

As of: September 14, 2011

Truck Drivers, Driver/ Sales Workers

Rank: 10

Dead End Ratio: 1,642

Fatalities: 21.8

Annual Salary: $35,795