Landscaping and groundskeeping jobs have become more dangerous over the last decade, with fatal injury rates rising significantly since 2014. According to a MoneyGeek analysis of federal labor data, the occupation now ranks as the 10th most dangerous job in the United States.
The fatal injury rate for groundskeepers and landscapers rose from 13 per 100,000 workers in 2014 to 21 per 100,000 in 2024. During the 2024 calendar year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—a federal agency that tracks labor market activity and working conditions—reported that 239 grounds maintenance workers died from work-related injuries.
Data indicates that these deaths are primarily caused by transportation incidents, falls, and contact with heavy equipment. A 2008 fact sheet from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) noted that workers are frequently killed while using machinery to trim or cut trees. More recently, heat exposure has emerged as an increasing source of fatal injuries in the field.
For the hundreds of thousands of people employed in this sector, these figures translate to concrete changes in workplace safety risks. A worker in this industry would notice that the leading causes of death—transportation incidents and equipment contact—involve the everyday tools of their trade, such as vehicles and tree-trimming machinery. Additionally, the rise in heat-related fatalities suggests that outdoor workers face evolving environmental hazards that directly impact their health and safety during standard shifts.
The data also highlights shifting safety trends across the U.S. labor market. While landscaping, security guarding, and carpentry have become more hazardous, other professions have seen improvements. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers experienced the largest drop in fatal injuries between 2014 and 2024, while electricians, farmers, and power-line installers also saw improved safety outcomes. These federal findings provide the basis for safety regulators and insurance analysts to evaluate which industries require updated safety protocols or equipment standards. The BLS continues to monitor and publish these figures annually to track these shifts in workplace hazards.