What sort of occupations and duties are classified as high risk?
Occupations that are commonly placed in the high-risk category include those that involve:
Working at heights, for example, as a window cleaner
Working underground, for example, as a miner
Working with firearms, such as if you are employed as a police officer
Working with explosives or dangerous chemicals, for example, if you work in the demolition industry
Serving in the armed forces
Working in any other occupation in a war zone, for example, as a journalist
Working in an occupation that exposes you to diseases, such as working as a doctor or nurse
Working with heavy machinery, for example, on large construction sites
Working in any occupation that exposes you to danger, such as if you’re a firefighter or an airline pilot
How does a high-risk occupation affect your life insurance premium?
*Risk levels are to be taken as a rough guide. Quotes are based on a 40 year old non-smoking male living in Sydney. Information last checked on November 2021 and are subject to change.
Occupation
Risk level
Average monthly premium*
Office Worker
Low risk
$82.21
Construction supervisor
Medium
$82.21
Train driver
Medium to high
$82.21
Wrecker
High
$82.21
Speak to a specialist to help you get cover for your occupation
Finding life insurance for high risk individuals can be difficult and time consuming. We've made it much easier. Enter your details below and a broker will get in touch with you about your high risk insurance options.
Why compare life insurance with Finder?
You pay the same price as buying directly from the life insurer.
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We've done 100+ hours of policy research to help you understand what you're comparing.
How do insurers usually determine high-risk occupations?
Each insurer will vary in the way it assesses the risk of your job. However, as a general guide, it usually depends on:
Overall risk of your job title
Your individual duties and the hazards they involve
The environment in which you work in
It's worth pointing out that just because you work in one of these professions it doesn't necessarily mean that you will automatically be classified as high risk.
Insurance providers will instead use further criteria to determine the likelihood of you suffering injury, illness or death as a result of your occupation, some of which include:
How hazardous your individual role is. For example, if you work in the mining industry and this sometimes involves the use of heavy machinery, the insurer will require details on the type of machinery you work with and how often you do so as part of your job. If you work at heights, you'll need to provide details on the average height where work takes place and how long you spend working at that height.
How much experience you have in your position. You may find that someone with ten years of experience pays cheaper life insurance premiums than someone who is only in their first year in the same occupation.
Here's how your occupation could be classified:
Risk
Details
How does this rating impact my policy?
Low
Low to no manual work e.g. office workers, retail supervisors
Likely no effects
Medium
Worker that involves manual labour e.g. a tradesmen
Higher premiums
Medium to high
Heavy manual work e.g. A factory machinist
Higher premiums
High
Jobs that involve dangerous activities and environments eg, a miner
Higher premiums or exclusions
Non-insurable
An extremely risky job e.g. firefighting (for some brands)
No cover
Individual consideration
An occupation that's not listed by the insurer
Further assessment of job required
What other methods (aside from job) will insurers use to determine risk?
Life insurers take several steps to assess whether or not you are a high-risk applicant. Each insurer employs a team of underwriters who determine whether or not your application for cover will be accepted and, if so, whether any terms and conditions will apply to your cover.
To determine whether an individual is high risk, the insurer may:
Ask questions about your health and lifestyle during your cover application
Require you to undergo a medical examination
Require you to provide medical reports
Take into account non-work related factors such as pastimes, lifestyle and smoking status
Once the underwriters have all the information needed to calculate your level of risk, they can then decide whether or not to offer you cover. If cover is provided there may be terms and conditions attached, such as premium loadings or specific exclusions.
Why you can trust Finder's life insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the life insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of life insurance experts have researched and rated dozens of policies as part of our Finder Awards and published 250+ guides to make it easier for you to compare.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of life insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2016, we've helped 270,000+ people find life insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Insurance companies deal with this sort of deception on a daily basis, and have a wide range of methods and checks that they employ when claims are made to discover if the policy holder failed to disclose information or was dishonest. If you are found to have lied or mislead the insurer your claim will either be rejected or your benefit amount reduced accordingly.
Yes, activities such as skydiving and bungee jumping will definitely affect your application and could lead to an insurer classifying you as high risk
As a general rule, yes. The older you are, the greater the amount of health risks you are exposed to. This leads to an increased level of risk and higher premiums
Yes, some providers specialise in offering life insurance designed to meet the needs of high-risk individuals.
Yes, this is possible in certain circumstances, for example, if you change your occupation from a hazardous job to a white-collar profession.
Yes, the increased cost reflects the fact that there is a higher chance that the insurer will have to pay a claim.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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