The 50 Most Dangerous Jobs for Contracting COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended avoiding close contact with others as the most effective way to protect yourself from getting the coronavirus, but for some workers, this is impossible. Certain jobs require person-to-person contact, which puts those workers at risk for exposure. In general, healthcare workers are at the greatest risk — they have person-to-person contact every workday, often exposing themselves to people who have the coronavirus — but it’s not just those who work in the healthcare field who are at high risk.
To determine the 50 jobs that are the most dangerous in terms of contracting the coronavirus, GOBankingRates sourced data from Visual Capitalist. The site used information from the Occupational Information Network to calculate a “COVID-19 risk score” based on three factors: (1) how much the job requires contact with others; (2) how much the job requires tasks to be performed in close proximity to others; and (3) how often the job requires exposure to hazardous conditions. Scores ranged from zero to 100, with 100 being the highest risk. Data on each occupation’s average annual income and number of employees was sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics data gathered by Visual Capitalist. Information on whether the dangerous job is considered to be essential or nonessential is based on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s guidelines on essential workers, plus reporting on which businesses and services closed during initial shutdowns because they were deemed nonessential.
All in all, these workers are facing new risks during the coronavirus crisis.
Last updated: Oct. 6, 2020
50. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Risk score: 53.8
Average income: $58,230
Number employed: 1,410,970
Essential, but varies by state; however, most schools were closed throughout the U.S. for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
49. Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Risk score: 55.2
Average income: $29,780
Number employed: 424,520
Essential, but varies by state; however, most schools were closed throughout the U.S. for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
48. Teacher Assistants
Risk score: 55.7
Average income: $26,970
Number employed: 1,331,560
Essential, but varies by state; however, most schools were closed throughout the U.S. for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
47. Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Risk score: 56.0
Average income: $22,260
Number employed: 319,890
Nonessential; many theme parks, including Disney World and Disneyland, have been closed.
46. Pharmacists
Risk score: 56.8
Average income: $126,120
Number employed: 309,550
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
45. Child Care Workers
Risk score: 57.9
Average income: $23,240
Number employed: 564,630
Most are nonessential, but those who provide child care to essential healthcare personnel are considered essential by the U.S. government.
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44. Healthcare Social Workers
Risk score: 58.1
Average income: $56,200
Number employed: 168,190
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
43. Social and Human Service Assistants
Risk score: 60.3
Average income: $33,750
Number employed: 392,300
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
42. Correctional Officers and Jailers
Risk score: 60.4
Average income: $44,330
Number employed: 415,000
Essential — law enforcement and public safety workers are considered essential by the U.S. government.
41. Nurse Practitioners
Risk score: 60.9
Average income: $107,030
Number employed: 179,650
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
40. First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Risk score: 61.0
Average income: $63,340
Number employed: 43,760
Essential — law enforcement and public safety workers are considered essential by the U.S. government.
39. Hairdressers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists
Risk score: 62.1
Average income: $24,730
Number employed: 377,210
Nonessential — salons were closed down around the beginning of the pandemic.
38. Pharmacy Technicians
Risk score: 62.5
Average income: $32,700
Number employed: 417,860
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
37. First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Risk score: 62.8
Average income: $32,450
Number employed: 964,400
Most are nonessential, but those who provide food service to healthcare personnel and patients are considered essential by the U.S. government.
36. Municipal Firefighters
Risk score: 63.2
Average income: $49,620
Number employed: 321,570
Essential — law enforcement and public safety workers are considered essential by the U.S. government.
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35. Medical Equipment Preparers
Risk score: 63.9
Average income: $36,240
Number employed: 55,610
Essential — vendors and suppliers of medical equipment are considered essential by the U.S. government.
34. Personal Care Aides
Risk score: 64.0
Average income: $24,020
Number employed: 2,211,950
Essential — outpatient and home care workers are considered to be essential by the U.S. government.
33. Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Risk score: 65.8
Average income: $55,470
Number employed: 131,160
Essential, but varies by state; however, most schools were closed throughout the U.S. for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
32. Home Health Aides
Risk score: 66.3
Average income: $24,200
Number employed: 797,670
Essential — home care workers are considered to be essential by the U.S. government.
31. Bus Drivers, School or Special Client
Risk score: 67.3
Average income: $32,420
Number employed: 504,150
Essential — transportation workers are considered essential by the U.S. government.
30. Skin Care Specialists
Risk score: 68.0
Average income: $31,290
Number employed: 50,740
Nonessential — spas were closed down around the beginning of the pandemic.
29. Psychiatric Aides
Risk score: 69.0
Average income: $29,180
Number employed: 56,910
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
28. Psychiatric Technicians
Risk score: 69.8
Average income: $32,870
Number employed: 71,360
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
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27. Veterinarians
Risk score: 70.0
Average income: $93,830
Number employed: 71,060
Essential — veterinary health is considered to be an essential service by the U.S. government.
26. Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
Risk score: 70.7
Average income: $34,320
Number employed: 257,210
Essential — all direct patient care workers are considered essential by the U.S. government.
25. Nurse Anesthetists
Risk score: 70.8
Average income: $167,950
Number employed: 43,520
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
24. Medical Assistants
Risk score: 72.2
Average income: $33,610
Number employed: 673,660
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
23. Nursing Assistants
Risk score: 72.5
Average income: $28,540
Number employed: 1,450,960
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
22. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Risk score: 74.9
Average income: $27,540
Number employed: 89,480
Essential — veterinary health is considered to be an essential service by the U.S. government.
21. Occupational Therapy Assistants
Risk score: 75.0
Average income: $60,220
Number employed: 42,660
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
20. Flight Attendants
Risk score: 75.6
Average income: $56,000
Number employed: 118,770
Essential — air transportation workers are considered essential by the U.S. government.
19. Occupational Therapists
Risk score: 77.7
Average income: $84,270
Number employed: 126,900
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
18. Physical Therapists
Risk score: 78.6
Average income: $87,930
Number employed: 228,600
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
17. Physical Therapist Assistants
Risk score: 79.3
Average income: $58,040
Number employed: 94,250
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
16. Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Risk score: 79.3
Average income: $56,850
Number employed: 56,560
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
15. Internists, General (Internal Medicine)
Risk score: 79.8
Average income: $194,500
Number employed: 37,820
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
14. Physician Assistants
Risk score: 80.0
Average income: $108,610
Number employed: 114,710
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
13. Physical Therapist Aides
Risk score: 80.3
Average income: $26,240
Number employed: 47,260
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
12. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Risk score: 80.4
Average income: $72,510
Number employed: 71,130
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
11. Surgical Technologists
Risk score: 80.6
Average income: $47,300
Number employed: 110,160
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
10. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Risk score: 82.1
Average income: $46,240
Number employed: 701,690
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
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9. Radiologic Technicians
Risk score: 84.1
Average income: $59,520
Number employed: 205,590
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
8. Respiratory Therapists
Risk score: 84.2
Average income: $60,280
Number employed: 129,600
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
7. Registered Nurses
Risk score: 86.1
Average income: $71,730
Number employed: 2,951,960
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
6. Family and General Practitioners
Risk score: 90.1
Average income: $201,100
Number employed: 114,130
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
5. Orderlies (Patient Care Assistants)
Risk score: 90.2
Average income: $28,060
Number employed: 50,100
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
4. Dentists, General
Risk score: 92.1
Average income: $151,850
Number employed: 113,000
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
3. Dental Assistants
Risk score: 92.5
Average income: $38,660
Number employed: 341,060
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
2. Respiratory Therapy Technicians
Risk score: 95.0
Average income: $60,280
Number employed: 129,600
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
1. Dental Hygienists
Risk score: 99.7
Average income: $74,820
Number employed: 215,150
Essential — the U.S. government considers all healthcare providers to be essential.
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Scores for risk were sourced from Visual Capitalist.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The 50 Most Dangerous Jobs for Contracting COVID-19
