(STACKER) – While many Americans spend most of their working days glued to a computer screen, others exert a great deal of energy due to the physical nature of their work.
Stacker ranked the 50 most physically demanding jobs in America using data from the Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, a system developed by the U.S. Department of Labor providing information for 873 occupations within the United States economy. O*NET uses professional occupational analysts to determine the importance of certain skills and abilities, as well as the appropriate level of accomplishment needed, to perform specific jobs. The analysis also includes average earnings, employment, and projected job growth.
The jobs on this list are ranked by the importance of having stamina, or the necessary capacity for long-term exertion, which factors in the work of different muscle groups in different jobs, on a scale from 0 to 100. Ties were broken by both the level of stamina required, also on a scale from 0 to 100, and the average wage in 2021. Some wages are reported as either hourly or salary rather than both due to differences in pay structures for some occupations.
Stacker also examined detailed responsibilities and work activities included for each job to see what kind of physical activities are required, such as climbing, lifting, walking, stooping, handling sizable machinery, or working in hazardous or outdoor conditions.
50. Brickmasons and blockmasons
49. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
48. Helpers—installation, maintenance, and repair workers
47. Helpers—brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
46. Tire builders
45. Wind turbine service technicians
44. Rail car repairers
43. Transit and railroad police
42. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
41. Correctional officers and jailers
40. Helpers—roofers
39. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
38. Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders
37. Foundry mold and coremakers
36. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
35. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders
34. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
33. Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
32. Helpers—extraction workers
31. Carpet installers
30. Plasterers and stucco masons
29. Forest and conservation workers
28. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
27. Fence erectors
26. Construction laborers
25. Highway maintenance workers
24. Massage therapists
23. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
22. Terrazzo workers and finishers
21. Roof bolters, mining
20. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
19. Commercial divers
18. Rock splitters, quarry
17. Cement masons and concrete finishers
16. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
15. Floor sanders and finishers
14. Tree trimmers and pruners
13. Roofers
12. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
11. Fallers
10. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
9. Stonemasons
8. Structural iron and steel workers
7. Manufactured building and mobile home installers
6. Derrick operators, oil and gas
5. Firefighters
4. Choreographers
3. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
2. Athletes and sports competitors
1. Dancers
