New Survey Lists Toughest Jobs in America

Construction workers, firefighters, military personnel and doctors — these are the “toughest jobs in America,” according to a new survey.

The poll included 2,000 Americans (1,000 of whom are trade workers), asking respondents what they believe the “toughest” jobs are and what comes to mind when they think of “tough jobs.”

Police officers ranked No. 5, followed by EMTs and astronauts.

While some listed unique professions, others shared descriptors of what makes a job challenging, like “solving other people’s problems all day with little to no help,” “constantly making quick decisions and being stuck in stressful situations daily” or “something that pushes my physical and mental limits.”

Commissioned by Bosch Power Tools and conducted by Talker Research, the survey revealed that, whether or not they fit into those specific categories, 40% of employed Americans believe their job is hard. Trade workers were more than twice as likely to grade their job as difficult (50% vs. 21%).

One in five employed respondents — both within and outside of the trades — emphasized the grit that goes into their daily responsibilities, believing you need to be “extremely tough” to do their job.

A majority of respondents admit that trade workers are, on average, tougher than non-trade workers (72%); 81% of all surveyed don’t think trade workers get enough credit for the work that they do.

Despite not getting enough credit, those not actively in the trades would still consider pursuing them.

Nearly half (49%) of the non-trade respondents said that they would be open to doing trade work as a career and 68% of respondents who didn’t have access to trade skills courses (wood shop, mechanics, etc.) in high school said they would have enrolled if given the option.

Additionally, the results found that 43% of those not currently in trade work have done it in the past and would do it again (70%).

As trade work continues to grow in popularity, nine in 10 respondents would encourage younger Americans to consider a trade job for a career opportunity (88%).

“Pursuing a career in the trades offers a variety of benefits with hands-on experiences that cultivate practical skills and provide a lifelong sense of purpose,” said Robert Hesse, regional president of Bosch Power Tools in North America. “Just like any job, being a trade worker has its challenges, but in a world of shifting industries, the skilled trades remain a reliable and rewarding path for more and more Americans.”

From their time on the job, trade workers agree that jobsite safety is of the utmost importance. Ahead of Construction Safety Week in May, trade workers wanted to see more support from their employers to improve jobsite safety, including making sure everyone knows how to use equipment (32%), receives safety training (29%) and emergency training for when the unexpected happens onsite (27%).

In fact, over half of trade workers have had up to four “close calls” while on the job in the past year (57%).

Of those who have experienced a close call in the past year, 31% of trade workers have prioritized their well-being and left a job or worksite because it felt unsafe.

As a result, risk assessment (27%) and promoting a culture of safety (26%) are also areas trade workers would want to see improvement from their employers.

“In the trades, every task carries weight — and so does every safety step,” said Hesse. “Wearing your safety gear, using tools and equipment correctly, following protocols and staying alert isn’t just about rules; it’s about making sure you get home safe and healthy. Safety is the foundation of every successful trade. By committing to safety, you honor the craft, protect your future and set the standard for excellence in one of the most essential — and tough — professions.”

Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 1,000 general population Americans and 1,000 American trade workers; the survey was commissioned by Bosch Power Tools and administered and conducted online by Talker Research from April 8-17.