The Scariest Jobs in America That Pay Surprisingly Well
Halloween is the one night of the year Americans choose to be scared. However, for more than 1.2 million workers, it’s just another day at the office. New research from resume.io reveals which of America’s scariest jobs pay the most, and whether the fear is worth it.
When it comes to frightening work, the scariest jobs aren't always the ones that pay the most.
To find out which scary careers are worth the fear, resume.io scored 22 U.S. occupations on how frightening the work is. The scores use federal O*NET data on exposure to disease, hazardous conditions, contaminants and injury, dealing with physically aggressive people, and the consequences of making a mistake. Each job was then ranked by median pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Emergency Physicians Revealed as America’s Highest-Paying Scary Job
Emergency physicians top the list with a median salary of $335,550, with the top 10% earning a staggering $495,910 or more. They also score a maximum of 100 out of 100 for exposure to disease and infection, and 98 for the consequences of getting something wrong.
Pathologists come second at $312,400, followed by police detectives ($93,790), funeral directors ($78,790) and fire investigators ($75,920). Fish and game wardens ($74,060), commercial divers ($72,990), crime scene investigators ($72,060), mining machine operators ($61,810) and explosives workers ($61,390) complete the top 10.
The death industry also pays better than many might expect. Funeral directors earn 55% more than the typical American worker, and embalmers and morticians also earn above the national median, at $58,780 and $55,010 respectively.
Police Detectives Are the Best-Paid Scary Job Outside Medicine, at $93,790 a Year
Outside the hospital, the highest-paying scary work is in investigation. Police detectives earn 84% more than the national median and score 95 out of 100 for the consequences of making an error, the third-highest of any job studied.
Further down the table, the danger becomes more physical. Explosives workers face the most hazardous conditions of any job analyzed, scoring 96 out of 100. Mining machine operators score the maximum of 100 for exposure to contaminants.
America's Scariest Job Pays 10% Less Than the National Median
Animal control officers have the highest fear score of any job studied, scoring 71.5 out of 100. They face more bites and stings than workers in any other role, along with high exposure to disease and contaminants. Yet they earn just $45,660 a year, 10% below the national median of $50,980. Emergency physicians earn more than seven times as much.
Paramedics are America's second-scariest job, earning $60,600. Correctional officers deal with physically aggressive people more than any other occupation studied and earn $58,940.
Only three of the scary jobs in the study pay less than the national median: hazardous materials removal workers ($49,450), animal control officers ($45,660) and pest control technicians ($45,250).
Whether it's a hospital, a crime scene, or the end of a snake catcher's pole, the data makes one thing clear: fear often comes with a pay premium, but not always.
“What stands out to me is that fear and pay don’t always go hand in hand,” said Amanda Augustine, resident career expert at resume.io and a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). “Some of the scariest and physically demanding jobs in the country pay less than the average American earns, while the highest salaries go to roles that combine risk with years of specialized training.
“That’s why I encourage anyone considering a high-risk profession to look beyond the base salary. Ask about hazard pay and overtime opportunities, but also consider what the employer offers in terms of training, certification support, and career advancement. These factors can make a big difference in your earning potential over time, especially in professions where additional credentials or specialized skills can lead to higher-paying opportunities.
“It’s also worth remembering how valuable these skills are elsewhere. Staying calm under pressure, making high-stakes decisions, and following strict safety procedures are qualities employers look for in almost every industry. If you’ve worked in a high-pressure role, make sure your resume includes specific examples that demonstrate how you’ve put those skills to work. Scary jobs build skills that are anything but ordinary.”
Campaign Methodology: Resume.io analyzed 22 U.S. occupations associated with danger, death, crime, or the macabre. Pay data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), and fear data from O*NET OnLine, accessed in September 2026. Each occupation received a fear score from 0 to 100, based on the average of six O*NET Work Context measures:
Exposure to Disease or Infections
Exposure to Hazardous Conditions
Exposure to Contaminants
Exposure to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
Consequences of Error
Occupations scoring 40 or above were classified as scary and ranked by median annual wage. The national median of $50,980 is the median annual wage for all occupations.
Resume.io, a career.io brand, is an AI-powered resume builder designed to help job seekers create professional resumes and cover letters with ease. With over 30 recruiter-approved templates, AI-driven writing suggestions, and hundreds of job-specific examples, it simplifies the job search process. Users can generate cover letters, tailor resumes to match job descriptions and download their documents in multiple formats, including PDF, Word, and Google Docs. Built for speed and efficiency, resume.io ensures resumes are ATS-friendly and optimized for success. Trusted by millions across 100+ countries, it offers more than just a resume builder–unlocking 18 powerful career tools to help professionals land their next opportunity faster. For more information, visit resume.io or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. https://resume.io/blog/highest-paying-scary-jobs
