Warning: These Are 5 of the Most Dangerous Jobs

Many jobs are synonymous with danger, like being a police officer, firefighter, soldier, or some other occupation that forces a person to put his or her life on the line with each new day on the job. There are many other careers, however, that do not seem obviously dangerous on the surface but are perilous nonetheless.
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Many jobs are synonymous with danger, like being a police officer, firefighter, soldier, or some other occupation that forces a person to put his or her life on the line with each new day on the job. There are many other careers, however, that do not seem obviously dangerous on the surface but are perilous nonetheless.

CareerCast compiled a list of the of the 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. by looking at two factors: the degree of danger one personally faces and the hazards others face while working alongside.

The number of fatal work injuries, which totaled 4,585 in 2013, also was included in the career website's rankings, though certain demographics were affected disproportionately, noted TheStreet.

"Men accounted for 4,265 fatal occupational injuries, while women represented 319. Transportation incidents caused 1,865 deaths, violence and injury by people or animal caused 773, and falls, slips and trips led to 724."

Here are five of the top 10 jobs deemed most dangerous by CareerCast, as well as the annual median wage both nationally and in Illinois, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' occupational wage data for 2013.

Airline Pilot

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  • Annual median wage: $98,410
  • Annual median wage in Illinois: $107,915
  • Projected growth by 2022: -1%
Animal Care Worker

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  • Annual median wage: $19,970
  • Annual median wage in Illinois: $23,441
  • Projected growth by 2022: 15%
Construction Laborer

2015-08-06-1438874286-4609812-constructionlaborer.jpg

  • Annual median wage: $29,160
  • Annual median wage in Illinois: $44,030
  • Projected growth by 2022: 25%
Emergency Medical Technician

2015-08-06-1438874319-3416095-emergencymedicaltechnician.jpg

  • Annual median wage: $31,020
  • Annual median wage in Illinois: $42,950
  • Projected growth by 2022: 23%
Enlisted Military Personnel

2015-08-06-1438874347-9841255-enlistedmilitarypersonnel.jpg

  • Annual median wage: $21,664 (Private First Class E-3, United States Army)
  • Annual median wage in Illinois: n/a
  • Projected growth by 2022: n/a

To see five more of the top 10 most dangerous jobs and those jobs' annual median wages, check out Reboot Illinois.

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