Original data analysis · Published October 16, 2026
Some workplace injuries and illnesses mean weeks away, not a missed shift. Team assemblers had a median 55 days away per case in 2023–24. Automotive body repairers had 42 days, sheet metal workers 41, and tree trimmers 24. The private-industry median across occupations was eight days.
This study compares the length of absence after cases involving time away. It answers a different question from how often injuries happen: once a case takes someone off the job, how long is the disruption?
55 daysmedian for team assemblers, the highest in our eligible comparison
24 daysmedian for tree trimmers and pruners
8 daysmedian across private-industry occupations
Which occupations have the longest absences?
We compare 222 detailed occupations with at least 1,000 published days-away cases across 2023–24. The threshold keeps very small case counts out of the headline table. Ties are ordered by case count; they are not broken by an invented precision in the median.
| Occupation | Median days away | Cases, 2023–24 | Cases with 31+ days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team assemblers | 55 | 7,540 | 56.9% |
| Actors | 45 | 6,180 | 59.7% |
| Automotive body and related repairers | 42 | 1,590 | 52.2% |
| Sheet metal workers | 41 | 3,140 | 55.7% |
| Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers | 40 | 1,130 | 61.9% |
| Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs | 38 | 7,170 | 53.3% |
| Extraction workers, all other | 38 | 1,900 | 55.3% |
| Home appliance repairers | 37 | 1,740 | 54.6% |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 35 | 5,750 | 52.7% |
| Telecommunications line installers and repairers | 34 | 6,630 | 51.1% |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers | 32 | 4,430 | 50.8% |
| Electrical power-line installers and repairers | 32 | 3,830 | 55.1% |
| Cargo and freight agents | 31 | 1,070 | 50.5% |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons | 29 | 1,120 | 41.1% |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters | 26 | 2,720 | 46.3% |
What this looks like in everyday service businesses
Tree trimmers’ 24-day median is three times the eight-day all-occupation median. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers have a seven-day median. Treating tree work and routine groundskeeping as the same activity hides a substantial difference in the length of reported absences.
| Occupation | Median days away | Cases, 2023–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Tree trimmers and pruners | 24 | 1,620 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 10 | 30,270 |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | 10 | 14,230 |
| Electricians | 9 | 12,340 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 9 | 11,090 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 7 | 21,430 |
| Childcare workers | 4 | 10,910 |
A cleaning crew has a different coverage decision from a tree crew. For janitorial operations, use the cleaning business insurance guide; for heating and cooling work, see HVAC insurance coverage. The occupational numbers here help explain disruption, but do not determine a premium or whether a claim is covered.
Plan for the absence, not only the accident
- Keep job-critical knowledge shareable. Site instructions, access information and customer contacts should be usable by a replacement worker.
- Know which jobs need a qualified replacement. A spare pair of hands may not replace a licensed trade worker or a trained equipment operator.
- Match insurance to the work. Employee injury coverage is a different issue from damage to a customer’s property. Describe tree work, work at height, subcontractors and payroll accurately when seeking coverage.
These are operational planning steps. The study does not estimate an injured owner’s income loss, benefit entitlement or medical recovery time.
Explore all 222 eligible occupations
| Occupation | SOC | Median days | Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team assemblers | 51-2092 | 55 | 7,540 |
| Actors | 27-2011 | 45 | 6,180 |
| Automotive body and related repairers | 49-3021 | 42 | 1,590 |
| Sheet metal workers | 47-2211 | 41 | 3,140 |
| Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers | 49-2011 | 40 | 1,130 |
| Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs | 53-3053 | 38 | 7,170 |
| Extraction workers, all other | 47-5099 | 38 | 1,900 |
| Home appliance repairers | 49-9031 | 37 | 1,740 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 47-2073 | 35 | 5,750 |
| Telecommunications line installers and repairers | 49-9052 | 34 | 6,630 |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers | 49-2022 | 32 | 4,430 |
| Electrical power-line installers and repairers | 49-9051 | 32 | 3,830 |
| Cargo and freight agents | 43-5011 | 31 | 1,070 |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons | 47-2021 | 29 | 1,120 |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters | 53-4031 | 26 | 2,720 |
| Management analysts | 13-1111 | 25 | 1,610 |
| Flight attendants | 53-2031 | 24 | 10,230 |
| Tree trimmers and pruners | 37-3013 | 24 | 1,620 |
| Transportation workers, all other | 53-6099 | 24 | 1,180 |
| Glaziers | 47-2121 | 23 | 1,150 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 53-3032 | 21 | 87,610 |
| Security and fire alarm systems installers | 49-2098 | 21 | 1,830 |
| Bus drivers, school | 53-3051 | 21 | 1,660 |
| Light truck drivers | 53-3033 | 20 | 62,380 |
| Structural iron and steel workers | 47-2221 | 20 | 1,540 |
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall | 47-2131 | 19 | 2,090 |
| Cardiovascular technologists and technicians | 29-2031 | 19 | 1,130 |
| Couriers and messengers | 43-5021 | 18 | 2,440 |
| Machine feeders and offbearers | 53-7063 | 18 | 2,030 |
| Construction and related workers, all other | 47-4099 | 18 | 1,560 |
| Sewing machine operators | 51-6031 | 17 | 1,170 |
| Millwrights | 49-9044 | 17 | 1,000 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 41-4012 | 16 | 2,560 |
| Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians | 49-3041 | 16 | 2,210 |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters | 51-7011 | 15 | 2,490 |
| Pharmacists | 29-1051 | 15 | 1,030 |
| First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | 47-1011 | 14 | 10,040 |
| Construction managers | 11-9021 | 14 | 2,810 |
| Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks | 43-4181 | 14 | 2,180 |
| Helpers, construction trades, all other | 47-3019 | 14 | 2,150 |
| Food cooking machine operators and tenders | 51-3093 | 14 | 1,030 |
| Helpers–production workers | 51-9198 | 13 | 5,340 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance | 47-2141 | 13 | 4,300 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics | 49-9041 | 13 | 4,150 |
| Roofers | 47-2181 | 13 | 3,580 |
| Bus drivers, transit and intercity | 53-3052 | 13 | 3,400 |
| Material moving workers, all other | 53-7199 | 13 | 1,860 |
| Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers | 51-2022 | 13 | 1,710 |
| Healthcare support workers, all other | 31-9099 | 13 | 1,410 |
| Motor vehicle operators, all other | 53-3099 | 13 | 1,010 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 53-7062 | 12 | 151,980 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators | 53-7051 | 12 | 11,670 |
| Food preparation and serving related workers, all other | 35-9099 | 12 | 2,860 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | 49-3011 | 12 | 2,860 |
| Sales and related workers, all other | 41-9099 | 12 | 2,570 |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers | 47-2081 | 12 | 2,560 |
| Refuse and recyclable material collectors | 53-7081 | 12 | 2,390 |
| Aircraft cargo handling supervisors | 53-1041 | 12 | 1,180 |
| Driver/sales workers | 53-3031 | 11 | 20,300 |
| Packers and packagers, hand | 53-7064 | 11 | 10,330 |
| First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers | 37-1012 | 11 | 2,770 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 53-7065 | 10 | 66,580 |
| Construction laborers | 47-2061 | 10 | 37,320 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 37-2011 | 10 | 30,270 |
| Carpenters | 47-2031 | 10 | 19,090 |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | 49-9021 | 10 | 14,230 |
| Customer service representatives | 43-4051 | 10 | 12,010 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other | 49-9099 | 10 | 5,630 |
| General and operations managers | 11-1021 | 10 | 5,510 |
| First-line supervisors of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand | 53-1042 | 10 | 3,720 |
| Occupational therapists | 29-1122 | 10 | 2,520 |
| Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-9196 | 10 | 2,450 |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines | 49-3042 | 10 | 2,170 |
| Medical equipment preparers | 31-9093 | 10 | 2,010 |
| Counselors, all other | 21-1019 | 10 | 1,760 |
| Helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers | 49-9098 | 10 | 1,640 |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | 49-9043 | 10 | 1,390 |
| Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 51-4021 | 10 | 1,300 |
| Diagnostic medical sonographers | 29-2032 | 10 | 1,260 |
| Counter and rental clerks | 41-2021 | 10 | 1,050 |
| Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-9021 | 10 | 1,000 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general | 49-9071 | 9 | 46,140 |
| Assemblers and fabricators, all other | 51-2099 | 9 | 21,170 |
| Security guards | 33-9032 | 9 | 14,660 |
| Electricians | 47-2111 | 9 | 12,340 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 47-2152 | 9 | 11,090 |
| First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | 51-1011 | 9 | 8,130 |
| Tire repairers and changers | 49-3093 | 9 | 5,460 |
| Food servers, nonrestaurant | 35-3041 | 9 | 4,790 |
| Butchers and meat cutters | 51-3021 | 9 | 4,610 |
| Orderlies | 31-1132 | 9 | 3,140 |
| Paramedics | 29-2043 | 9 | 3,130 |
| Phlebotomists | 31-9097 | 9 | 2,970 |
| Surgical technologists | 29-2055 | 9 | 2,900 |
| Parts salespersons | 41-2022 | 9 | 2,100 |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop | 35-9031 | 9 | 1,720 |
| First-line supervisors of security workers | 33-1091 | 9 | 1,180 |
| Metal workers and plastic workers, all other | 51-4199 | 8 | 12,530 |
| Home health aides | 31-1121 | 8 | 11,830 |
| Machinists | 51-4041 | 8 | 5,700 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 51-4121 | 8 | 3,310 |
| Amusement and recreation attendants | 39-3091 | 8 | 2,430 |
| Mental health counselors | 21-1014 | 8 | 1,560 |
| Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-9023 | 8 | 1,390 |
| Property, real estate, and community association managers | 11-9141 | 8 | 1,230 |
| Registered nurses | 29-1141 | 7 | 51,070 |
| Retail salespersons | 41-2031 | 7 | 50,550 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 37-2012 | 7 | 32,340 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 37-3011 | 7 | 21,430 |
| Cashiers | 41-2011 | 7 | 16,380 |
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 45-2092 | 7 | 14,110 |
| Production workers, all other | 51-9199 | 7 | 12,660 |
| Waiters and waitresses | 35-3031 | 7 | 12,500 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers | 51-9061 | 7 | 9,120 |
| Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-4122 | 7 | 8,690 |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | 49-1011 | 7 | 8,460 |
| Psychiatric technicians | 29-2053 | 7 | 8,090 |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 53-7061 | 7 | 7,950 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | 49-3031 | 7 | 7,490 |
| Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks | 43-5071 | 7 | 7,330 |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria | 35-2012 | 7 | 7,090 |
| Emergency medical technicians | 29-2042 | 7 | 6,610 |
| Medical and clinical laboratory technicians | 29-2012 | 7 | 5,150 |
| Food processing workers, all other | 51-3099 | 7 | 4,570 |
| Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 51-4031 | 7 | 3,880 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 29-2034 | 7 | 3,490 |
| Social and human service assistants | 21-1093 | 7 | 3,130 |
| Food batchmakers | 51-3092 | 7 | 3,020 |
| Physical therapists | 29-1123 | 7 | 2,630 |
| Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers | 49-2097 | 7 | 2,370 |
| Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 51-4033 | 7 | 2,210 |
| Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 51-4072 | 7 | 2,040 |
| Respiratory therapists | 29-1126 | 7 | 1,630 |
| Physical therapist assistants | 31-2021 | 7 | 1,630 |
| Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers | 51-2011 | 7 | 1,570 |
| Computer network support specialists | 15-1231 | 7 | 1,530 |
| Cooks, all other | 35-2019 | 7 | 1,510 |
| Training and development specialists | 13-1151 | 7 | 1,380 |
| Self-enrichment teachers | 25-3021 | 7 | 1,210 |
| Helpers–pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 47-3015 | 7 | 1,120 |
| Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-9032 | 7 | 1,090 |
| Rehabilitation counselors | 21-1015 | 7 | 1,080 |
| Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-9012 | 7 | 1,020 |
| Nursing assistants | 31-1131 | 6 | 69,810 |
| Personal care aides | 31-1122 | 6 | 34,370 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 41-1011 | 6 | 23,940 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 29-2061 | 6 | 14,810 |
| Medical and health services managers | 11-9111 | 6 | 7,690 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders | 51-9111 | 6 | 6,420 |
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | 51-9124 | 6 | 4,790 |
| Athletes and sports competitors | 27-2021 | 6 | 4,430 |
| Bakers | 51-3011 | 6 | 2,820 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 29-2052 | 6 | 2,690 |
| Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood | 51-7041 | 6 | 2,340 |
| Medical secretaries and administrative assistants | 43-6013 | 6 | 2,140 |
| Psychiatric aides | 31-1133 | 6 | 1,940 |
| First-line supervisors of material-moving machine and vehicle operators | 53-1043 | 6 | 1,800 |
| Teaching assistants, all other | 25-9049 | 6 | 1,560 |
| Therapists, all other | 29-1129 | 6 | 1,520 |
| Physicians, all other | 29-1229 | 6 | 1,490 |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 43-3031 | 6 | 1,450 |
| Social and community service managers | 11-9151 | 6 | 1,200 |
| Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 51-4081 | 6 | 1,050 |
| Slaughterers and meat packers | 51-3023 | 6 | 1,030 |
| Food preparation workers | 35-2021 | 5 | 28,000 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 35-3023 | 5 | 27,070 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | 49-3023 | 5 | 23,590 |
| Cooks, restaurant | 35-2014 | 5 | 19,360 |
| First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers | 35-1012 | 5 | 17,910 |
| Dishwashers | 35-9021 | 5 | 7,450 |
| Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals | 45-2093 | 5 | 6,720 |
| Medical assistants | 31-9092 | 5 | 6,660 |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 35-9011 | 5 | 6,050 |
| Office clerks, general | 43-9061 | 5 | 5,750 |
| Dietetic technicians | 29-2051 | 5 | 5,580 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers | 51-6011 | 5 | 5,160 |
| Recreation workers | 39-9032 | 5 | 4,980 |
| Bartenders | 35-3011 | 5 | 4,830 |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 43-4171 | 5 | 4,040 |
| First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers | 37-1011 | 5 | 3,970 |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive | 43-6014 | 5 | 3,610 |
| Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers | 51-3022 | 5 | 3,390 |
| Cooks, fast food | 35-2011 | 5 | 3,070 |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | 11-3071 | 5 | 2,820 |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other | 29-2099 | 5 | 2,650 |
| Financial managers | 11-3031 | 5 | 2,590 |
| Sales managers | 11-2022 | 5 | 2,580 |
| Pest control workers | 37-2021 | 5 | 2,570 |
| Office and administrative support workers, all other | 43-9199 | 5 | 2,070 |
| Parking attendants | 53-6021 | 5 | 2,040 |
| Printing press operators | 51-5112 | 5 | 1,890 |
| Nurse practitioners | 29-1171 | 5 | 1,830 |
| Billing and posting clerks | 43-3021 | 5 | 1,560 |
| Human resources specialists | 13-1071 | 5 | 1,460 |
| Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers | 33-9092 | 5 | 1,460 |
| Computer numerically controlled tool operators | 51-9161 | 5 | 1,450 |
| Mechanical door repairers | 49-9011 | 5 | 1,320 |
| First-line supervisors of personal service workers | 39-1022 | 5 | 1,270 |
| Helpers–electricians | 47-3013 | 5 | 1,260 |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks | 43-5061 | 5 | 1,060 |
| Administrative services managers | 11-3012 | 5 | 1,030 |
| Community and social service specialists, all other | 21-1099 | 5 | 1,000 |
| Childcare workers | 39-9011 | 4 | 10,910 |
| Animal caretakers | 39-2021 | 4 | 6,250 |
| First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | 43-1011 | 4 | 3,870 |
| Teaching assistants, preschool, elementary, middle, and secondary school, except special education | 25-9042 | 4 | 3,490 |
| Social workers, all other | 21-1029 | 4 | 2,400 |
| Food service managers | 11-9051 | 4 | 1,830 |
| Tellers | 43-3071 | 4 | 1,650 |
| Teachers and instructors, all other | 25-3099 | 4 | 1,630 |
| Physician assistants | 29-1071 | 4 | 1,230 |
| Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers | 31-9096 | 3 | 4,280 |
| Coaches and scouts | 27-2022 | 3 | 2,690 |
| Meeting, convention, and event planners | 13-1121 | 3 | 1,640 |
| Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing | 51-7042 | 3 | 1,600 |
| Dental assistants | 31-9091 | 3 | 1,460 |
| Teaching assistants, special education | 25-9043 | 3 | 1,150 |
| Cooks, short order | 35-2015 | 3 | 1,060 |
| First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers | 41-1012 | 3 | 1,060 |
| Chefs and head cooks | 35-1011 | 2 | 3,980 |
| Facilities managers | 11-3013 | 2 | 1,000 |
| Veterinary technologists and technicians | 29-2056 | 1 | 3,540 |
Source and calculation
Source: BLS SOII Table R66, 2023–2024. We use only private-industry days-away-from-work cases (DAFW), detailed SOC occupations with published medians, and at least 1,000 cases over the two-year reference period. Aggregate occupation groups and cases involving only restricted work or job transfer are excluded from this comparison.
Cases include nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses. The two-year counts are not annual counts. The 31-plus-day share is the published count in that bracket divided by total DAFW cases, multiplied by 100. Published counts are rounded; suppressed values stay missing. The median is published by BLS, not reconstructed from duration bins.
Under the SOII definitions, the day of injury is excluded and absence is measured in calendar days, with recordkeeping caps. A return to work can occur before full medical recovery. The survey does not cover self-employed workers; it does not measure the chance of being injured, insurance claims, or all lost income. Sampling and reporting error affect estimates, so nearby medians should not be treated as proven differences.
Checked October 16, 2026. For the separate frequency question, see our workplace injury and illness rates by industry.
Cite this study
StartBusinessByState.com. “One Injury, Weeks Off Work: Workplace Absence by Occupation.” Published October 16, 2026. https://startbusinessbystate.com/workplace-injury-recovery-time/.
Our original analysis and graphic are available under CC BY 4.0. Credit this study and link to this page when reusing them. Underlying federal data remain available from the original agencies.
Embed the chart with a credit link
<figure><a href="https://startbusinessbystate.com/workplace-injury-recovery-time/"><img src="https://startbusinessbystate.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/workplace-injury-recovery-time.png" alt="One Injury, Weeks Off Work: Workplace Absence by Occupation" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"></a><figcaption>Source: <a href="https://startbusinessbystate.com/workplace-injury-recovery-time/">StartBusinessByState.com</a></figcaption></figure>