Analysis: The most physically demanding jobs in US – FOX 28 Spokane

Despite increased focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs, hard labor is still a major driver of the national economy.

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that employment for construction workers and hand laborers/movers has grown faster than employment in STEM jobs over the past five years. While STEM careers tend to command higher salaries, wage increases for careers in manual labor have also outpaced STEM. Wages for STEM careers grew at an average annual rate of 2.1 percent between 2013 and 2018, whereas wages for construction workers and hand laborers/movers grew by 2.9 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively.

While employment and wage growth might be strong, working in a physically demanding job can be both taxing and dangerous. Research from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows that out of 4,674 worker fatalities in private industry in 2017, more than 20 percent were in a construction field. Additionally, a recent analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that while hand laborers/movers account for just 2 percent of total employment, they were responsible for 6 percent of days away from work due to occupational-related injury and illness in 2018.

To identify the most physically demanding jobs, researchers at InsuranceProviders.com analyzed data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). They created an index to measure the overall level of physical demands for different jobs based on strength, stamina, coordination, and flexibility requirements.

The 5 million employees in the 20 most physically demanding jobs make up about 3.5 percent of the nations 145 million workers. Construction laborers and hand laborers/movers account for approximately 80 percent of total employment among the 20 most physically demanding jobs. While most of the physically demanding jobs are related to building and construction, otherssuch as dancers, athletes, and trainersrequire intense fitness routines or athletic practice. Here are the 20 most physically demanding jobs.

The Top 20 Most Physically Demanding Jobs

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20. Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Overall physical demand index: 57.7Strength index: 88.7Stamina index: N/AFlexibility index: 76.6Coordination index: 65.4Total employment & projected growth: 63,930 (9.7%)Mean annual wage: $54,430

Brickmasons and blockmasons are responsible for using materials such as brick, tile, and concrete to build or repair structures like walls, partitions, arches, and sewers. More specifically, brickmasons and blockmasons must be able to handle and move heavy objects, employing physical abilities such as trunk strength and extent flexibility. The mean annual wage for brickmasons and blockmasons is slightly above the national average.

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19. Hand Laborers and Material Movers

Overall physical demand index: 58.4Strength index: 96.2Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 60.7Coordination index: N/ATotal employment & projected growth: 2,893,180 (4.9%)Mean annual wage: $30,890

Hand laborers and material movers manually move materials such as freight, stock, or luggage from one location to another. They might also perform other general labor, and they often work in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and retail operations. With a total employment of 2,893,180 workers, hand laborers and material movers are the most common job on this list. They also have the lowest mean annual wage on this list, at $30,890.

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18. Stonemasons

Overall physical demand index: 60.0Strength index: 100.0Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: N/ACoordination index: 63.5Total employment & projected growth: 12,310 (9.0%)Mean annual wage: $44,370

Stonemasons typically use stone materials and masonry techniques to build structures like piers, walls, walkways, curbstones, and floors. Stonemasons often use hand tools to shape, trim, or cut stone, as well as mix and pour grout. Among all occupations on this list, stonemasons have the highest strength index due to the weight of the materials they must work with and move.

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17. Construction Laborers

Overall physical demand index: 60.5Strength index: 98.1Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 55.1Coordination index: N/ATotal employment & projected growth: 1,001,470 (10.5%)Mean annual wage: $40,350

Construction labor is the second most common job on this list and total employment is projected to grow by more than 10 percent in the next decade. Compared to other occupations, construction work requires an incredible amount of both strength and stamina. In addition to building, these laborers may also be involved in clearing debris from construction sites, digging trenches, and setting up scaffolding.

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16. Firefighters

Overall physical demand index: 64.0Strength index: 72.8Stamina index: 96.2Flexibility index: N/ACoordination index: 86.9Total employment & projected growth: 321,570 (5.3%)Mean annual wage: $53,240

In addition to fire work and prevention, firefighters provide emergency medical services, search and rescue, disaster assistance, and hazardous material response. Being a firefighter requires both strength and stamina, which is why its so common to see these workers exercising at the station when not responding to an emergency.

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15. HelpersRoofers

Overall physical demand index: 64.9Strength index: 98.1Stamina index: N/AFlexibility index: 67.2Coordination index: 94.3Total employment & projected growth: 8,630 (13.0%)Mean annual wage: $31,740

While helpers generally assist roofers by using or holding materials and tools involved in building or repairing roofs, they are also responsible for cleanup on the job site. Helpers to roofers require a high degree of strength and coordination because they generally work high above the ground and must keep their balance. This is one of the lowest-paid occupations on this list, but the projected growth is more than twice as much as the overall average of 5.2 percent.

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14. Commercial Divers

Overall physical demand index: 77.3Strength index: 53.2Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 92.5Coordination index: 86.9Total employment & projected growth: 3,380 (7.2%)Mean annual wage: $59,470

Commercial divers inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures within bodies of water. They might also conduct underwater tests or experiments, rig explosives, or take photographs. The physical requirements of the job skew towards flexibility and coordination; divers must be able to swim and perform manual labor while underwater.

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13. Tree Trimmers and Pruners

Overall physical demand index: 78.5Strength index: 85.0Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 74.7Coordination index: 77.5Total employment & projected growth: 42,440 (9.8%)Mean annual wage: $40,510

Tree trimmers and pruners remove branches from trees and shrubs in order to maintain a clear path for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve the appearance of a landscape or neighborhood. Strength is an essential skill for this job, since it often involves climbing and working with heavy equipment. Coordination and balance are also critical for those working in high places.

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12. Roof Bolters, Mining

Overall physical demand index: 79.3Strength index: 88.7Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 74.7Coordination index: 77.5Total employment & projected growth: 3,250 (-9.7%)Mean annual wage: $59,090

Roof bolters are responsible for operating machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mines. The installation process can involve drilling holes into the ground and breaking up rocks and concrete. Even though roof bolters typically use machinery, they must still exert physical strength to perform their job duties. Although this is one of the highest-paid occupations on this list, employment is expected to decline by 2028.

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11. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Overall physical demand index: 79.4Strength index: 64.4Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 85.9Coordination index: 90.6Total employment & projected growth: 101,900 (2.3%)Mean annual wage: $49,170

Like many of the other jobs on this list, drywall and ceiling tile installers are heavily involved in construction. These workers apply materials such as plasterboard, wallboards, and tiles to ceilings or interior walls of buildings to improve aesthetics and reduce sound. The physical demands of this job typically involve carrying and installing heavy materials and also maintaining balance while installing these materials at various heights.

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10. Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Overall physical demand index: 80.1Strength index: 81.3Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 72.8Coordination index: 77.5Total employment & projected growth: 18,360 (11.1%)Mean annual wage: $54,670

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers are an integral part of many construction crews. These workers use tools such as fasteners, rod-bending machines, and blowtorches to secure reinforced steel bars (rebar) or wire mesh to the concrete used in constructing roads, buildings, and bridges. The main physical demands of this job include carrying heavy equipment, standing for many hours at a time, and bending or stooping in order to install rebar.

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9. Choreographers

Overall physical demand index: 83.1Strength index: 57.9Stamina index: 97.1Flexibility index: 78.5Coordination index: 99.0Total employment & projected growth: 5,090 (-2.8%)Mean annual wage: $53,560

At $53,560 per year, choreographers earn slightly more than the national average across all occupations. Choreographers must exercise high levels of stamina, coordination, and flexibility in order to lead rehearsals, create new dance routines, and demonstrate proper technique and form.

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8. Fallers

Overall physical demand index: 85.2Strength index: 91.5Stamina index: 93.4Flexibility index: 65.4Coordination index: 90.6Total employment & projected growth: 4,680 (-18.0%)Mean annual wage: $48,520

Fallers cut down trees, while ensuring that the direction of the trees fall minimizes any damage to people or objects around it. Since fallers rely on a variety of hand tools such as axes or chainsaws, they must be strong enough and have enough stamina to properly use them. The job outlook for fallers is the worst on this list, with a projected 18 percent decline in employment over the next decade.

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7. Roofers

Overall physical demand index: 86.9Strength index: 88.7Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 73.8Coordination index: 96.2Total employment & projected growth: 128,680 (11.8%)Mean annual wage: $43,870

Roofers install shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, or wood on new or existing buildings. They may also bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof the roofs as well. Coordination is particularly important for roofers, who must maintain their balance on top of ladders or buildings as they perform their work.

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6. Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Overall physical demand index: 88.4Strength index: 97.1Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 85.9Coordination index: 94.3Total employment & projected growth: 77,410 (11.5%)Mean annual wage: $58,170

Also known as ironworkers, structural iron and steel workers raise and place iron or steel girders and columns in order to form structural frameworks for new buildings. These workers may also construct metal storage tanks or prefabricated metal buildings. Welding metal components, operating machinery, and loading or unloading materials are some of the physical demands for this job, making strength and coordination especially important skills.

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5. Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

Overall physical demand index: 88.5Strength index: 77.5Stamina index: 98.1Flexibility index: 80.3Coordination index: 98.1Total employment & projected growth: 308,470 (12.8%)Mean annual wage: $44,580

Like choreographers, athletic trainers must also have high levels of stamina, coordination, and flexibility in order to lead workouts, design new exercise routines, and demonstrate proper technique and form. Its common for fitness trainers and aerobics instructions to teach multiple classes or clients in a day, further raising the physical demands required.

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4. Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers

Overall physical demand index: 90.3Strength index: 93.4Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 85.9Coordination index: 93.4Total employment & projected growth: 2,920 (-11.4%)Mean annual wage: $32,910

Since manufactured building and mobile home installers are constantly moving materials and using construction tools, strength, coordination, and stamina are the major physical abilities required for this job. Manufactured building and mobile home installers have the lowest total employment on this list, at 2,920 workers, and employment is expected to decline even further by 2028.

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3. Athletes and Sports Competitors

Overall physical demand index: 90.4Strength index: 95.3Stamina index: 98.1Flexibility index: 71.9Coordination index: 96.2Total employment & projected growth: 10,800 (6.2%)Mean annual wage: $87,030

Despite low employment numbers, athletes and sports competitors are the highest-paid workers on this list, with a mean annual wage of $87,030. Regardless of the sport, athletes are generally strong, coordinated, and in great aerobic shape. For most athletes, the competition itself is only a small part of the job; training and practice are where most of the work hours are put in.

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2. Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Overall physical demand index: 92.0Strength index: 93.4Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 93.4Coordination index: 92.5Total employment & projected growth: 11,310 (17.1%)Mean annual wage: $47,630

At 17.1 percent, derrick operators have the highest projected growth of all occupations on this list. These workers rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through a drill hole, with the ultimate purpose of extracting oil and gas. Flexibility, strength, and coordination are highly important to derrick operators, who use heavy machinery and handle heavy objects.

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1. Dancers

Overall physical demand index: 97.0Strength index: 87.8Stamina index: 100.0Flexibility index: 100.0Coordination index: 100.0Total employment & projected growth: 9,720 (0.6%)Mean annual wage: $43,056

Among all occupations on this list, dancers require the greatest amount of stamina, flexibility, and coordination. Whether performing solo or as part of a group, dancers must maintain tight synchronization between the bodys movement and musical accompaniment, usually in a choreographed routine. Like athletes, professional dancers practice rigorously and maintain peak physical fitness.

Detailed Findings & Methodology

Data on physical demands of occupations for the U.S. were obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Wage statistics were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics and employment statistics were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Program, with projections into 2028.

To identify the most physically demanding jobs, a composite score for each occupation was calculated based on the following data from O*NET: trunk strength, static strength, explosive strength, dynamic strength, stamina, gross body equilibrium, gross body coordination, extent flexibility, and dynamic flexibility. Values for these measures were combined to result in four dimensions of physical demand: strength, stamina, flexibility, and coordination. Jobs were then ranked by their overall score.

In general, the most physically demanding jobs are lower-paying jobs. More specifically, employees in the 20 most physically demanding jobs have an average wage of $36,926, which is significantly lower than the $51,960 annual mean wage for U.S. employees as a whole. A few of the main outliers include athletes, commercial divers, and roof bolters (mining), which all have average wages more than 1.5 times the average wage of the 20 most physically demanding jobs.

Interestingly, none of these jobs require a college degree. In fact, only two occupationsfirefighters and commercial diversneed an additional postsecondary certification or training program. Half of the most physically demanding jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent, and eight do not require any educational credentials at all.

While the job outlook for individual physically demanding jobs varies significantly, from -18 percent for fallers to 17.1 percent for derrick operators, these jobs overall are poised for growth by 2028. Altogether, the 20 most physically demanding jobs are projected to grow at a rate of a little over 7 percent in the next ten years, which is higher than the projected growth of about 5 percent in the number of employees in the U.S. as a whole.

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Analysis: The most physically demanding jobs in US - FOX 28 Spokane