Among the many other effects COVID-19 had on the nation was the way it upended the labor market. Forced to stay at home for various periods as their workplaces shut down temporarily (or permanently in some cases) and/or anxious to avoid public transportation and other situations where they’d be exposed to crowds, some workers quit their jobs and either launched entrepreneurial ventures or sought new positions that didn’t require a physical presence. A lot of them never went back to work, or at least didn’t go back to an actual workplace.
According to the latest data from the Pew Research Center, 35% of workers who can do their jobs from home today are choosing to do so. (At the height of the pandemic, in October of 2020, the number was 55% — but pre-COVID it was only 7%.)
On the other hand, almost two-thirds of American workers — 61% — have hands-on jobs that can’t be done from home. Those without a four-year college degree and people in lower-paying jobs are the most likely to have to go to work every day. That includes gig workers employed by meal delivery or ride-share services and those in creative occupations (filmmakers, photographers, studio musicians, etc.) as well as those with jobs that involve serving the public or maintaining equipment of various kinds.
Some jobs are considerably more physically demanding than others, of course, and because the workforce, along with the general population, is aging, there may well be a shortage of people to fill some of these jobs in the future. According to the Economic Policy Institute, already “Significant numbers of Americans over 50 endure difficult working conditions, including physically taxing, dangerous, and stressful jobs….” Some 54.2% of older workers, as of May last year, were regularly exposed to unhealthy or hazardous conditions.
To determine the nation’s most physically demanding jobs, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Requirements Survey. Note that while the two categories may overlap in some cases, these are not necessarily the most dangerous jobs, but those that require working under the most difficult conditions. (To learn about jobs that are now obsolete, check out Once Common Jobs That No Longer Exist.)
Click here to see the most physically demanding jobs in America.
50. Lifeguards, ski patrol and other recreational protective service workers
Physical demands index score: 2.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 62.0 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 3.8 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $28,370
> Total employment: 107,93049.
49. Food preparation workers
> Physical demands index score: 2.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 33.6 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.8 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $30,720
> Total employment: 904,330
48. Food batchmakers (workers who blend ingredients in food manufacturing)
> Physical demands index score: 2.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 46.3 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.5 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $38,710
> Total employment: 166,520
47. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
> Physical demands index score: 2.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 33.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $76,020
> Total employment: 559,050
46. Tire repairers and changers
> Physical demands index score: 2.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 65.2 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.9 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $34,970
> Total employment: 99,980
45. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
> Physical demands index score: 2.2 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 46.2 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.2 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $37,270
> Total employment: 914,230
44. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
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> Physical demands index score: 2.2 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 45.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.1 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $46,180
> Total employment: 15,030
43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
> Physical demands index score: 2.2 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 58.0 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.1 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $59,560
> Total employment: 158,350
42. Crane and tower operators
> Physical demands index score: 2.3 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 33.3 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.0 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $65,220
> Total employment: 45,210
41. Construction managers
> Physical demands index score: 2.3 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 17.3 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 3.5 (tie) hours
> Avg. annual wage: $112,790
> Total employment: 303,220
40. Cooks, short order
> Physical demands index score: 2.3 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 37.8 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.2 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $30,770
> Total employment: 133,290
39. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
> Physical demands index score: 2.4 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 35.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.9 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $37,870
> Total employment: 461,750
38. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
> Physical demands index score: 2.4 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: N/A
> Avg. daily standing time: N/A
> Avg. annual wage: $61,670
> Total employment: 168,180
37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
> Physical demands index score: 2.4 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 34.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.9 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $33,670
> Total employment: 417,780
36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
> Physical demands index score: 2.4 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 48.0 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.7 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $55,690
> Total employment: 119,350
35. Maintenance workers, machinery
> Physical demands index score: 2.5 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 45.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.7 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $55,910
> Total employment: 62,770
34. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
> Physical demands index score: 2.5 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 38.1 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.1 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $77,650
> Total employment: 720,900
33. Chefs and head cooks
> Physical demands index score: 2.5 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 35.6 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $60,210
> Total employment: 160,190
32. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
> Physical demands index score: 2.5 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 88.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 4.1 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $71,380
> Total employment: 655,890
31. Butchers and meat cutters
> Physical demands index score: 2.6 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 64.1 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.5 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $38,200
> Total employment: 129,400
30. Cooks, fast food
> Physical demands index score: 2.6 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 33.9 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.4 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $27,920
> Total employment: 725,590
29. Cooks, restaurant
> Physical demands index score: 2.6 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 34.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.0 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $33,940
> Total employment: 1,321,480
28. Cement masons and concrete finishers
> Physical demands index score: 2.6 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 61.0 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.4 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $53,890
> Total employment: 196,730
27. Pourers and casters, metal
> Physical demands index score: 2.7 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 49.3 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $46,600
> Total employment: 6,070
26. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (metal joiners)
> Physical demands index score: 2.7 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 52.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $50,460
> Total employment: 408,990
25. Labor relations specialists
> Physical demands index score: 2.7 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: N/A
> Avg. daily standing time: N/A
> Avg. annual wage: $87,470
> Total employment: 62,200
24. Construction laborers
> Physical demands index score: 2.8 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 57.0 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.6 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $46,350
> Total employment: 1,012,780
23. Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
> Physical demands index score: 2.8 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 53.9 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.5 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $55,680
> Total employment: 5,823,400
22. Highway maintenance workers
> Physical demands index score: 2.9 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 58.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.4 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $45,790
> Total employment: 143,330
21. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
> Physical demands index score: 2.9 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 48.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.2 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $53,450
> Total employment: 19,320
20. Construction and extraction occupations
> Physical demands index score: 2.9 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 51.2 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.7 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $58,400
> Total employment: 6,075,520
19. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
> Physical demands index score: 3.0
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 62.5 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.2 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $69,410
> Total employment: 46,410
18. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
> Physical demands index score: 3.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 36.1 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.5 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $39,130
> Total employment: 13,200
17. Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
> Physical demands index score: 3.1 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 53.0 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.6 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $44,240
> Total employment: 6,420
16. Industrial machinery mechanics
> Physical demands index score: 3.2
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 52.2 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.1 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $60,990
> Total employment: 386,120
15. Maintenance and repair workers, general
> Physical demands index score: 3.3 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 51.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.7 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $47,130
> Total employment: 1,485,990
14. Tapers (drywall finishers)
> Physical demands index score: 3.3 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 40.8 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.9 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $65,880
> Total employment: 14,290
13. Recreational vehicle service technicians
> Physical demands index score: 3.3 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 60.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.9 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $47,320
> Total employment: 17,190
12. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
> Physical demands index score: 3.4 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: N/A
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.1 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $65,190
> Total employment: 427,920
11. Painters, construction and maintenance
> Physical demands index score: 3.4 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 42.2 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.7 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $49,350
> Total employment: 215,680
10. Carpenters
> Physical demands index score: 3.5 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 52.7 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.4 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $58,210
> Total employment: 689,770
9. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
> Physical demands index score: 3.5 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 72.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.4 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $56,140
> Total employment: 271,720
8. Helpers — installation, maintenance, and repair workers
> Physical demands index score: 3.6 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 68.5 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.6 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $36,750
> Total employment: 93,650
7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
> Physical demands index score: 3.6 (tie)
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 65.8 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.6 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $82,770
> Total employment: 119,510
6. Electricians
> Physical demands index score: 3.7
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 45.5 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $65,280
> Total employment: 690,050
5. Fire inspectors and investigators
> Physical demands index score: 3.8
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 65.2 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 5.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $76,910
> Total employment: 14,510
4. Roofers
> Physical demands index score: 3.9
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 58.1 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 7.3 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $51,910
> Total employment: 131,980
3. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers
> Physical demands index score: 4.1
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: N/A
> Avg. daily standing time: N/A
> Avg. annual wage: $84,810
> Total employment: 84,040
2. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
> Physical demands index score: 4.1
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 66.6 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: 6.2 hours
> Avg. annual wage: $57,460
> Total employment: 374,770
1. Firefighters
> Physical demands index score: 6.0
> Avg. maximum weight workers required to carry: 126.4 pounds
> Avg. daily standing time: N/A
> Avg. annual wage: $56,310
> Total employment: 321,450
(To explore other career choices, read the Most In-Demand Jobs That Don’t Require A Degree.)