Side hustles have become a go-to way to bring in extra cash. Whether you’re trying to pay down debt, build your savings, cover rising grocery bills, or simply give yourself a little more breathing room in the budget, earning money outside your regular job can certainly help.
But before you sign up for your next gig, there’s something besides the paycheck you may want to consider: How risky is the job?
A September 2026 study from Trujillo Gonzalez Law Firm looked at some of America’s most popular side hustles and found that several come with surprisingly high rates of injuries and fatalities.
In fact, delivery driving—something thousands of people turn to when they need flexible extra income—ranked as the most dangerous side hustle in the study.
When Extra Money Comes With Extra Risk
The researchers compared popular side hustles with the closest full-time occupations tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They considered three major factors: fatality rates per 100,000 workers, nonfatal injury rates, and total annual deaths.
Those numbers were then combined into an overall Risk Score.
The findings are a good reminder that the highest-paying opportunity isn’t always the best opportunity—and sometimes even an extra $20 or $30 an hour may not be worth putting your health and safety at risk.
Here are the 10 side hustles identified as having the greatest physical risks:
| Side Hustle | Hourly Wage | Fatality Rate | Nonfatal Injury Rate | Annual Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Driving | $26.13 | 25.7 | 250 | 950 |
| Tree Cutting / Firewood Cutting | $24.72 | 110.4 | 112 | 51 |
| Junk Removal | $25.39 | 37.4 | 259 | 36 |
| Moving & Hauling | $20.32 | 5.4 | 290 | 110 |
| Roofing / Roof Repair | $27.21 | 48.7 | 186 | 104 |
| HVAC Repair & Installation | $31.14 | 6.7 | 276 | 33 |
| Handyman / Odd-Job Work | $25.02 | 15.8 | 207 | 334 |
| Home Maintenance & Repair | $25.86 | 10.8 | 242 | 76 |
| Lawn Care & Landscaping | $20.78 | 20.9 | 190 | 239 |
| Landscaping Crew Supervisor | $29.31 | 18.5 | 199 | 33 |
1. Delivery Driving
With an estimated hourly wage of $26.13, delivery driving can look pretty appealing—especially when you can work around your own schedule.
According to the study, however, it also comes with the highest annual death toll of any side hustle analyzed.
The data associates delivery driving with approximately 950 deaths annually, along with a fatality rate of 25.7 per 100,000 workers.
The biggest danger is roadway collisions.
The more hours someone spends behind the wheel, the greater their exposure to accidents. Add traffic, unfamiliar neighborhoods, bad weather, nighttime driving, and the pressure to make deliveries quickly, and that flexible side gig may carry more risk than many people realize.
2. Tree Cutting and Firewood Cutting
Cutting trees or selling firewood might seem like a straightforward way to make some extra money, particularly if you already own the necessary equipment.
But this is definitely not a side hustle to jump into without experience.
Tree cutting had the highest fatality rate in the study at 110.4 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Falling trees, chainsaws, heavy equipment, and unpredictable conditions can make the work extremely dangerous. Professional loggers receive specialized training to handle these hazards, while someone doing occasional weekend work may not have that same experience.
For an estimated $24.72 an hour, that’s a lot of risk to consider.
3. Junk Removal
People are always getting rid of something, which makes junk removal an attractive business opportunity.
But hauling away old furniture, appliances, construction debris, and other unwanted items isn’t necessarily easy money.
The study found an estimated nonfatal injury rate of 259 per 100,000 workers, along with 36 annual deaths.
Workers can encounter heavy and awkward loads, moving vehicles, equipment, sharp objects, and cramped spaces.
With an estimated hourly wage of $25.39, you’ll want to think about more than what you can charge before turning junk removal into your weekend business.
4. Moving and Hauling
Know someone with a truck? Chances are they’ve been asked to help somebody move.
Turning those requests into a side hustle can bring in extra money, but moving and hauling recorded the highest nonfatal injury rate on the list at 290 per 100,000 workers.
Heavy furniture, stairs, awkward lifting positions, and repetitive physical strain can all contribute to injuries.
The study also associates the occupation with approximately 110 deaths annually.
At an estimated $20.32 an hour, moving and hauling is one of the lower-paying opportunities among the top five riskiest side hustles.
5. Roofing and Roof Repair
Roofing is another job where experience and proper safety equipment matter.
Roofing and roof repair came in fifth, with a fatality rate of 48.7 per 100,000 workers and approximately 104 deaths annually.
Falls are an obvious concern when you’re working several feet—or several stories—above the ground.
The estimated $27.21 hourly wage might sound attractive for someone looking for weekend work, but climbing onto a roof without professional training and appropriate safety equipment is not something to take lightly.
Other Risky Side Hustles
The risks don’t stop with the top five.
HVAC repair and installation had the highest hourly wage on the list at $31.14 but can expose workers to electrical hazards, falls, chemicals, extreme temperatures, and other dangers.
Handyman work, home maintenance, lawn care, and landscaping also made the top 10.
That’s worth remembering because these are exactly the kinds of jobs people often think they can pick up casually for a little extra cash.
Knowing how to fix something around your own house doesn’t necessarily mean you’re prepared to turn that skill into a paid side business.
Don’t Forget About the Financial Side of Your Side Hustle
There is another part of side-hustle culture that doesn’t get nearly as much attention: taxes and recordkeeping.
An attorney from Trujillo Gonzalez Law Firm noted that failing to report side-hustle income can create additional problems if a worker is later injured and needs to document lost income.
That’s on top of the potential tax consequences of failing to properly report your earnings.
If you’re making money through a side hustle, treat it like income—not “extra money” that doesn’t count.
Keep records of what you earn, track legitimate business expenses, save receipts, and set aside money for potential taxes. Depending on your situation, talking with a qualified tax professional may also be worthwhile.
Is That Side Hustle Really Worth It?
I’m all for finding creative ways to make extra money. That’s what living on a budget is about—finding ways to make what you have work for the life you want.
But not all money is good money.
Before taking on a side hustle, look beyond the hourly rate. Ask yourself what equipment you’ll need, whether you have the proper training, how much insurance might cost, what your tax obligations will be, and—most importantly—what could happen if you get hurt.
An extra $25 an hour might sound wonderful until an injury leaves you unable to work your regular job.
Sometimes the smartest financial decision isn’t figuring out how much more money you can make.
It’s knowing when the money simply isn’t worth the risk.
Meta Description: Looking for a side hustle? A September 2026 study reveals the 10 most dangerous side hustles in America, including delivery driving, moving, roofing, and landscaping.
