Why Agriculture Remains Minnesota's Deadliest Work Sector

Most of us clock in, do our jobs, and clock out without giving much thought to just how dangerous our workday could be. But some workers here in Minnesota face significantly greater risks than others, and the job at the top of this list might not be the one you’d expect.

Here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, certain professions carry risks as vast as the waters of Lake Superior. From the perils of agriculture and construction to the hazards faced by transportation workers, these are the jobs that have been deemed most hazardous to your health in our fair state this year.

Minnesota is home to thousands of jobs, and while there are many that could be treacherous, a new survey has crunched the numbers to come up with the five most hazardous jobs here in the Gopher State.

What Are the Most Dangerous Jobs in Minnesota?

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Despite what you might have heard, business is booming here in the Bold North these days. According to CareerForce, Minnesota is home to almost 200,000 business establishments, which provided nearly 2.9 million jobs in 2022.

Here are the industries employing the largest number of residents in the North Star State, according to CareerForce:

Health care (493,750 jobs)
Manufacturing (323,365 jobs)
Retail trade (281,785 jobs)
Accommodation and food services (216,600)
Educational services (225,200)

But which of those jobs are the most dangerous? Workers' Compensation Attorneys Hansford Law took a look at fatal injury rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for each employment sector in Minnesota. They then compared the number of fatal injuries in each state with the total hours worked.

Minnesota’s 5 Most Dangerous Job Sectors in 2026

And across Minnesota, we now know just which sectors are the most hazardous in 2026:

For every 100,000 workers in the manufacturing sector in Minnesota, the Hansford Law survey noted there were 1.8 fatal injuries. The manufacturing sector transforms a range of materials into new products, physically, mechanically, or chemically.

#4 - Business and Professional Services - 1

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Professional and business services have 3.4 fatal injuries for every 100,000 workers in Minnesota, the Hansford Law survey noted. There is a wide range of roles that fall within this sector, including management of companies and enterprises and accounting.

According to Hansford Law, the construction sector and its occupations have a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 workers here in Minnesota. Examples of jobs that fall within this category are carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and general construction jobs.

The Hansford Law survey said the transportation and utilities sector reported 7.8 fatal injuries for every 100,000 workers in Minnesota. These professions can involve transporting passengers and cargo, working with electricity, and gas and sewage removal.

What Is the Most Dangerous Job in Minnesota?

So what is THE most dangerous job sector in Minnesota? That would be agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting jobs. Jobs in this sector have a much higher fatality rate of 28.7 per 100,000 workers in the Gopher State, according to the Hansford Law survey. This occupation involves growing crops, raising livestock, and gathering timber.

Speaking of jobs, now that we know which occupations are the most dangerous, which jobs pay the most? Keep scrolling to check out the highest-paying jobs here in Minnesota as well.