10 of the scariest jobs in America

Not every job out there involves sitting behind a desk and looking at a computer screen from 9 to 5. There are many out there that some even consider scary. From unpredictable environments to the grim realities of human nature, there are some jobs that take their toll on individuals. Keep reading to learn about 10 of the scariest jobs in America, including their duties and potential salaries.

What are scary jobs?

Scary jobs encompass a wide range of professions that expose individuals to danger, discomfort, or high-stakes situations. These roles often include first responders who confront life-threatening emergencies and unpredictable environments. Law enforcement officers work in crime-ridden areas, facing the potential for violence and the emotional toll of dealing with criminal activities. Similarly, forensic investigators navigate the grim realities of death and crime scenes, piecing together evidence from often disturbing circumstances.

Additionally, employees in the medical field, such as trauma surgeons and emergency room staff, frequently have to make high-pressure decisions and confront death. These careers highlight the bravery and resilience required to confront the darker aspects of the human experience.

Scariest jobs in America

Interested in pursuing a scary job? Here are 10 careers that many consider scary:

Epidemiologist

Most people try to avoid close contact with humankind’s most dangerous infectious diseases. Epidemiologists — particularly field epidemiologists — prefer to get up close and personal. Common duties in this role include studying public health issues to find ways to prevent or treat them, collecting and analyzing data to find the root cause of public health problems, and communicating findings to policymakers and the public to foster the health and wellness of the community.

• Average salary: $41.30 per hour

Forensic science technician

You may enjoy shows where the protagonists analyze crime scenes to solve the case, but to actually deal with the potentially gross or disturbing remnants of violent criminal acts day in, day out — that takes guts. Forensic science technicians collect evidence, including samples of bodily fluids and crime scene photos, to help investigators catch and convict criminals.

• Average salary: $33.30 per hour

Detective and criminal investigator

Finding clues and solving puzzles can be a lot of fun, which is why it’s easy to forget that criminal investigators are often working to track down and confront real-life dangerous criminals. These agents gather evidence, conduct witness interviews, and monitor suspects to solve criminal cases.

• Average salary: $44.05 per hour

“These careers highlight the bravery and resilience required to confront the darker aspects of human experience.”

Security guard

The security guard is always the first to go in a horror movie, and for good reason — they’re often the first to investigate something. Their duties include patrolling a specific property, responding to emergencies, and deterring criminal activity (which often involves being the first responder to a crime).

• Average salary: $17.65 per hour

Animal trainer

Training dangerous animals is, well, dangerous. No matter how well trained an animal is or how strong its bond is with its trainer, there’s always the threat of an attack. Animal trainer duties often include caring for the animals they train alongside teaching them riding, harnessing, security, performance, obedience, or assistance skills.

• Average salary: $16.60 per hour

Embalmer

Vampires, zombies, ghosts — there’s a reason so many of our classic monster movies involve the dead (or undead). Working with dead bodies? That’s a prime monster-meeting position. Embalmers prepare deceased bodies for burial or cremation by administering chemicals and applying cosmetics while also maintaining meticulous records for each body.

• Average salary: $26.05 per hour

Hazardous waste technician

If comic books are to be believed, hazardous materials have a tendency to give one superpowers. Unfortunately, in reality, hazardous materials are vastly more likely to cause the human body tremendous harm. Hazardous waste technicians neutralize, remove, and clean up hazardous materials (including asbestos, mold, and radioactive waste) and dispose of them according to their material type.

• Average salary: $27.00 per hour

Mine cutting and channeling machine operator

Mines are dark, cramped, and deep underground. Not only is there the threat of a mine collapse, but there are also crazy creatures that live down there. Mine cutting and channeling machine operators operate heavy machinery to cut or channel along mining surfaces (such as coal mines or stone quarries) to extract minerals or materials.

• Average salary: $20.80 per hour

Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installer and repairer

If you’re even a little afraid of heights, this job will give you chills. Those towers often don’t even look sturdy from a distance — imagine hearing them creak in the wind while strapped to their side, 200 feet off the ground. These installers and repairers climb towers to maintain, fix, or install radio equipment for a variety of communication channels. They may also test and analyze network coverage.

• Average salary: $30.10 per hour

Legislator

Public speaking, intense media scrutiny, high-stakes decisions, and a bunch of coworkers who you constantly argue with? Yeah, no thanks. Legislators develop and champion laws and/or statutes at a variety of legal levels for legislative consideration.

• Average salary: $31.90 per hour

Jobs aren’t just about clocking in at a desk — there are plenty that are downright scary. From first responders and forensic technicians to hazardous materials workers and animal trainers, these roles tackle tough realities head-on. It takes a special kind of courage to work in these high-stakes environments, and exploring the scariest jobs in America shows just how resilient people can be when faced with challenges. If you’re curious about diving into one of these intense careers, upload your resume to CareerBuilder to embark on your hunt for your next scary career.

More tips for landing a scary job

Finding a new job (even a scary one) can be challenging, so it’s important to find ways to stay positive and motivated during your job hunt.

Part of getting the hiring manager’s attention on your hunt for a scary job is creating an engaging resume headline to quickly show why you’re the perfect fit for the role.