Finding a lucrative and fulfilling career can seem like searching for a needle in a haystack at times. Though when we’re young we have some idea about what we want to do with our lives when we get older, these thoughts and ambitions change over time, even long into adulthood.

For some, living on the edge isn’t an issue with selecting a career. In fact, some would argue that to find your purpose, you really need to step outside of your comfort zone, even if it means placing yourself in harm’s way.

The world is full of both meaningful and dangerous work, and the two are often synonymous with one another along many career paths.

If you’re looking to make a change in your career, or if you’re still trying to decide which path to take, there are several choices that you can consider, but many come with significant risk.

Military Service

The men and women of our armed forces sacrifice their lives for the very freedom that we Americans so proudly hold to the highest standard. As such, the risks they take day-in and day-out are no laughing matter.

Though there are many careers within the branches of our armed forces that don’t have to face imminent danger, or aren’t as hazardous as that of an infantryman, nobody in the military has a choice when it comes to being deployed to a battlefield duty station.

Not only does joining the military come along with significant risk, even those who have gone through training and haven’t served in combat can come away with severe injuries.

For example, from 2002 to 2015, the United States Department of Defense issued 3M combat earplugs which were supposed to protect service members from loud noises. And, these 3M earplugs have been linked to tinnitus and hearing loss, a debilitating condition that many former service members are suffering from and now filing lawsuits over.

Loggers

Not many people think about what it takes to harvest the materials that we use for many of our everyday items, especially lumber for our homes and businesses.

The fact is, the logging industry is home to one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. A logger runs a huge risk of dying on the job, and the average annual fatality rate for a logger is estimated to be 23 times that of nearly all U.S. careers.

You might not think much of a logger, but these individuals deal with extremely hazardous conditions. Loggers have to work in extremely remote areas, making their jobs that much more difficult. And though there are safety protocols in place, ask any logger and they will tell you that it’s nearly impossible to predict which way a tree will fall.

In addition, loggers have to work with heavy machinery, high tension cables, and chainsaws that can back out and sever a limb. All in all, every part of this job is extremely dangerous.

Lineman

A lineman is often considered a first-responder in a disaster. These are the brave men and women who keep the power running to our homes and businesses. As such, these individuals also have to deal with high-voltage electricity.

The amount of power running through high-voltage electrical lines is nearly unfathomable. For example, if you’ve ever shocked yourself from toying with an electrical outlet of any sort, this pales in comparison to the power running in the lines to and from our homes and businesses.

Linemen work within the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the world. And these brave men and women not only risk life and limb to keep our power on, they also run the risk of serious burns and falling from extreme heights.

No matter which career path you choose, it’s imperative to learn the risks involved with any career that you might consider. Even if the job seems like it fits perfectly for you and your lifestyle, you need to ask yourself if the risks involved are worth your life.