The Riskiest Jobs Pay Less Than You Might Think

If you’re thinking about a career change in New York State, a new study ranks some of the country’s riskiest jobs by how much they pay. The results may surprise you: They looked at 22 jobs across the United States.

It used federal data about risks such as illness, dangerous conditions, bites and the harm a mistake could cause. The pay figures are national numbers, so they don’t show what someone in New York would earn in each job.

Emergency Doctors Top the Pay List

Emergency doctors had the highest median pay, at $335,550 a year. A median is the middle amount: Half of workers earn more, and half earn less. Pathologists, doctors who study disease, came next at $312,400.

Outside of medicine, police detectives had the highest pay on the list, with a median of $93,790. Other jobs among the 10 highest-paying included funeral directors, fire investigators, fish and game wardens, commercial divers and crime scene investigators.

The Riskiest Job Pays Less Than the National Median

Animal control officers received the highest fear score in the study. The work can involve handling dangerous or sick animals, and workers may face bites or other injuries.

Their median pay was $45,660 a year, about 10% below the national median of $50,980. Paramedics were ranked second for fear, with median pay of $60,600. Correctional officers, who may deal with people who are physically aggressive, earned a median of $58,940.

What New Yorkers Should Know

Most jobs on the list paid more than the national median, but some did not. Resume.io career expert Amanda Augustine says workers should also consider training, support and chances to move into higher-paying roles.

Now that we've told you about the riskiest jobs with lower than expected pay, here is a list of fun jobs that do pay pretty well