The chance of an average worker sustaining a fatal work injury is slim – there were just 3.9 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers in the United States in 2006. There were 5,703 overall work-related fatalities in 2006.

Top 10 of most perilous jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following jobs had the highest fatality rates for 2006 (USA):

1. Fishers and related fishing workers:
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 141.7 – Number of fatalities: 51 – Average salary: $19,104

2. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 87.8 – Number of fatalities: 101 – Average salary: $129,250

3. Logging workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 82.1 – Number of fatalities: 64 – Average salary: $22,320

4. Structural iron and steel workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 61.0 – Number of fatalities: 36 – Average salary: $39,168

5. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 41.8 – Number of fatalities: 38 – Average salary: $23,770

6. Farmers and ranchers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 37.1 – Number of fatalities: 291 – Average salary: $15,603

7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 34.9 – Number of fatalities: 38 – Average salary: $45,331

8. Roofers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 33.9 – Number of fatalities: 82 – Average salary: $28,474

9. Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 27.1 – Number of fatalities: 940 – Average salary: $30,931 (for heavy or tractor-trailer drivers)

10. Miscellaneous agricultural workers
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 21.7 – Number of fatalities: 158 – Average salary: $24,140

The top five most threatening industries based on fatality rates are:

1. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 29.6 – Number of fatalities: 646

2. Mining
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 27.8 – Number of fatalities: 190

3. Transportation and warehousing
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 16.3 – Number of fatalities: 832

4. Construction
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 10.8 – Number of fatalities: 1,226

5. Utilities
Fatality rate (per 100,000 workers): 6.2 – Number of fatalities: 52

Sources:

blogpost Rachel Zupek at CareerBuilder.com 

article by Tom Van Riper in Forbes

with an interesting slideshow of the most dangerous jobs in pictures