Discovering the perfect balance between risk and reward is an eternal pursuit in the world of work. Many high-risk jobs may seem unattractive due to their potential dangers and the physical toll they can take, often offering meager pay rates that hardly justify the hazards involved. However, there exists a fascinating realm of careers where the scales tip in favor of substantial financial gains, enticing those who dare to embrace challenges that few others are willing to confront.
Most of these jobs tend to have a low pay rate compared to other jobs. If you are going to take a dangerous job, you should at least receive an amount proportional to the risks it may pose. So we set ourselves the task of finding some jobs that offer payment according to their risks and difficulty. However, some jobs pay so well that you could enjoy a six-figure salary without a college degree. In addition, there is no risk of being replaced by technology in many of these.
10 High-Risk Yet Best-Paying Jobs In 2023
Airline Pilot
Flying can be much safer than driving, with a low accident rate, but pilots can still get hurt. One of the most common injuries in pilots is back or neck strain, suffering from the countless hours of flight they undergo each year.
Still, the payoff can make the physical risks worth it. Average annual salaries for airline pilots, co-pilots, and flight engineers are considerably high, around $73K, up to $125K. You can save the cost of college by going directly to flight school, although most airlines prefer to hire graduates.
Competition in this field can be very tough, given the industry consolidation and the general weakness of the labor market. You will also need to have the necessary flight hours to apply for a job with an airline. The Federal Aviation Administration requires applicants for pilot and first officer positions to have at least 1,500 hours of total flight time.
Professional Gambler
With risks more financial than physical, this is one of the jobs that people do not consider dangerous or even a job at all. However, it can be difficult for people without math and logic skills.
To become a betting professional, you don’t need any college degree, not even high school. And with the introduction of popular casino online games, you don’t even need a land-based casino nearby. The only requirement is that you have internet access, gambling money, skill, and a bit of luck.
With the bets, you can win exorbitant sums of money without much effort, $200k on average for professionals. But just as you can win, it is also very possible that you lose a lot of money. That is why it is a risky job, both for your economic situation and for your mental health.
Private Detective
Dusting off information can be quite a stressful job. Most injuries in this field relate to traffic accidents and physical altercations. But even those accidents are relatively minimal, as far as the payout is concerned, running up to $150K yearly.
Most private detective work does not require a college degree, but quick-learning ability is crucial. Requirements often vary in this profession, but you will always need a license.
You may need a bachelor’s degree to specialize in areas like insurance fraud or computer forensics. In addition, previous work experience is an advantage. That experience will not only help you resolve cases faster, but it will also help you raise your salary.
Registered Nurse
It can be tough to work as a nurse, and you will submit to many risks daily. Registered nurses were among the most people hit by COVID in 2020. That year they suffered a whopping 78,740 injuries and illnesses, an increase of more than 300% over 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This job requires a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in nursing or a diploma from an accredited nursing course. Salaries for nurses are typically around 90% above the national average, which can offset the profession’s risks.
The average annual salary for nurse practitioners is almost $90K yearly. And if you manage to advance your education to a master’s degree, you can increase this amount considerably.
Professional Athlete
When your job is exercising and competing, your body is exposed daily. Half the injuries that occur yearly in sports are sprains, strains, and fractures. But this is a low price when you play the sport you love so much and make a living from it.
Sports careers often provide little stability and can have a short duration. However, you can generate income off the field by demonstrating extraordinary abilities.
According to specialized statistical centers, the average base salary of a professional athlete can go from $110k to $220k for some NFL members. With advertising deals and sponsorships, many well-known athletes can earn up to more than $90M per year.
Police Officer
Police work can be a risky business. The annual mortality rate on this job is one of the highest in the world. The mortality rate is 18.5 per 100,000 employees, close to taxi drivers.
But these numbers are hardly surprising when physical altercations and top-speed chases are everyday occurrences for them. The most common injury risks can be sprains, tears, or fractures. But when you see their monthly check, these pains will go background.
You must be over 21 and have a high school diploma or a GED to enter police school. However, many agencies and higher positions require some college courses or a college degree itself. Although not necessary, a college degree can help you add to your paycheck.
The average base salary for a police officer is $55K yearly. It typically ranges from $45K for officers with less than one year of experience to $75K for officers with more than ten years of experience. If you’re in the appropriate city and advance through the ranks, your salary can reach $127K yearly.
Railway Conductor
Tragedies on train tracks are as infrequent as tragic because of train safety advances. However, train drivers can expect a high injury rate after managing the crews, passenger, and rail yard trains. But these potential risks also make it possible to obtain higher payments at the end of the month, close to $60K per year.
To become a train driver, you only need a high school or equivalent level diploma certified by the Federal Railroad Administration. Additionally, most applicants require one to three months of on-the-job training. Some large companies provide their applicants with a training program, while railways often send them to a community college to train them for the job.
Electrician
With excessive demand for and reliance on electricity, being an electrician can be a promising career. Unfortunately, this profession comes with considerable drawbacks. The common injuries are mostly falls and electricity-related accidents.
This statistic is not surprising when considering electricians spend most of their time on construction sites or tall ladders. However, electricians can enjoy payments up to 43% higher than the national average. Their annual average salary goes from $50K to $65K yearly.
You can start your career as an electrician with a high school diploma and a four-year paid apprenticeship to obtain your license. A bachelor’s degree can significantly increase your salary. An electrician with college-level training can earn around $90K a year.
Mining Machine Operator
Pumping for resources, drilling, and extracting oil, coal, gas, and the like can drain your life energy. Mining employees record up to 100 deaths and 3,000 injuries a year. And although some of the mining jobs offer little compensation for the risks involved, specialized machine operators do manage to fill their pockets.
The educational requirements are minimal, and sometimes you don’t even need a high school diploma. You’ll need the proper training in heavy machine operation and capacitation courses. But all the practice is worth it once you earn up to $70K yearly.
If you enter the mining world with a college degree, you can earn more security and a higher salary as a mining engineer. Engineers who survey mining areas and design underground entrances, tunnels, and exit plans earn an average salary of $95k. However, their work is also risky as they are already exposed to air pollution and at risk of cave-in accidents.
Scaffold Foreman
A foreman typically needs many years of experience and is responsible for leading crews and training new hires. These are responsible for scaffolding and structure construction and the installation of multiple elements in construction sites. They must also coordinate with vendors, monitor the progress of other employees, ensure the work is up to standards, and control the construction schedule.
Their work can be as risky as any other construction site work. They often handle dangerous tools and are surrounded by fall hazards in construction areas. Plus, physical exhaustion is present daily, so sprains and fractures are too.
To be a foreman, you only need work field experience and little else since a university degree is not required. Of course, the experience is not easy to gain, and you might need years working in construction to achieve it. But this is nothing compared to the average salary, which usually reaches $90K yearly.
Honorable Mentions
Stunt Double
If you don’t mind jumping out of moving cars or being set on fire, this job is for you. The risks of stunt doubles are high, ranging from scrapes to complete fractures. But a yearly compensation of $180K might break the fall.
Oil Rig Worker
This job embodies the adage ‘work hard, gain hard.’ The shifts are long, the vacations are the same, and there are plenty of risks, but the pay is fantastic. It’s up to you if you are willing to face the risks involved to pocket $100k a year.
Commercial Diver
Do not think this job is about watching exotic fish and coral reefs. Commercial divers often find themselves in dark and lonely environments performing necessary repairs or maintenance, not searching for sunken treasure in the ocean. You can earn between $90K and $110K a year if you can handle the pressure.
