The world of Star Trek is extremely organized and is a society in and of itself. Creator Gene Roddenberry was inspired by his time in the military and as a cop, and hence created the United Federation of Planets, similarly organized.
While the human race is advanced and less in conflict with each other, there is still hierarchy in the jobs they have, and the risks each position entails. From the captain to the lower-decks officers, the jobs on Star Trek are not without severe risks, as there is heavy machinery, interplanetary diplomacy, and sometimes even the prospect of war involved.
10. Captain
The position of captain is the most important one on a USS ship. Captains are not only expected to maintain diplomacy and follow multiple directives when making contact with other worlds, but they are also expected to maintain the morale of the crew, take important (and often bold) decisions during crises, and are responsible for hundreds of people.
There are various types of captains, and the risk depends on the type. Captain Kirk would go headfirst into any crisis, even though the captain was supposed to be level-headed and delegate. His job was far riskier as he would put himself in danger first before the crew.
However, Captain Picard was more diplomatic and delegatory in his approach, making his job slightly less risky. The reason the position is ranked 10th is that the captain has the support of the entire crew and can delegate key tasks to their bridge officers.
9. Ambassador
The Enterprise-E crew on a diplomatic mission in Star Trek: Picard | Credits: Paramount+
An ambassador or a diplomat may seem like a cushy job, even in our world. They get to travel to places, make important decisions, and can quite literally make or break policies just under one roof. Similarly, in the Star Trek universe, diplomats travel to multiple planets and interact with various cultures, different from the Federation’s own.
The role of a diplomat is different and much calmer during peacetime. But the risk comes when there is war. During the Dominion War, the diplomats had the most risk, with them trying to stop it or rally up more forces, like the Romulans and Klingons. Still, they are not on the battlefield, and hence, the deadly level is much lower.
8. Chief Medical Officer
The chief medical officer is one of the most important crew members on the USS ships. When traveling across galaxies, the ships are exposed to all kinds of alien viruses, diseases, and even engage in battles. It is the job of the chief medical officer (and his nurse) to make sure that the problem is identified and treated before things get tragic.
Most doctors in Star Trek have been exposed to some illness or another due to their proximity to them. Dr. Beverly Crusher was also trapped inside a shrinking warp bubble of her own creation, in which crew members vanished one by one until she was entirely alone (‘Remember Me’).
7. Science Officer (Away Missions)
Science Officer 0718 in Star Trek Into Darkness | Credits: Paramount Pictures
The science officer of a ship has similar risks to the chief medical officer. They are usually exposed to alien beings, viruses, bacteria, and more, and have to be constantly in contact with these things to understand and evaluate them. A science officer is always taken during away missions to understand the new world’s physiology, and risks are aplenty.
Spock has been exposed to weird spores that have altered his behavior (like in ‘This Side of Paradise), while Data has been remotely controlled, hacked, and even been put in the line of fire due to his responsibilities as an operations and science officer. The position is as dangerous as it is interesting.
6. Transport Operator
Chief Engineer and Transport operator Scotty in Star Trek: TOS | Credits: Paramount Television
Beaming up is not as simple as Scotty makes it out to be. A transport operator has to make sure that the beings being transported from the bay reach the intended location in one piece. The machine itself is dangerous in theory: it dematerializes a person, converts them into energy, and beams them to a location, where they rematerialize.
Things go wrong all the time with the transporter, and it is the operator’s responsibility to make sure it does not mess anything up. In Star Trek, the ttransporter malfunctions have split Captain Kirk into two halves, one good but indecisive, the other impulsive and aggressive (‘The Enemy Within’) and created a stranded duplicate of William Riker who had been living alone on a planet for eight years (‘Second Chances’), and created a merging of two characters, Tuvok and Neelix (‘Tuvix’).
5. Warp Core Engineer
The Warp Core and its engineers in Star Trek: The Motion Picture | Credits: Paramount Pictures
Warp drive is one of the most important pieces of tech in the Star Trek universe. It runs the ship, and keeping the warp core stable is an important part of the engineer’s job. Any kind of instability can lead to the total annihilation of the crew and the ship. It might be more technical than most jobs, but it is extremely important.
4. Shuttle Pilot
Shutlle pilot flies in Star Trek: TNG | Credits: Paramount Television
Shuttles are smaller vessels carried aboard larger ships like Voyager or Enterprise that are frequently used for quick and precise missions. But they are usually disposable and are chosen for that specific purpose. Many shuttles have perished during battles, have been stranded with a percentage of crew members, and have sustained heavy damage. Being a shuttle pilot usually means certain death or no turning back.
3. Miner
Ensigns at a mining colony in Star Trek: Lower Decks | Credits: Paramount+
Mining in our world is an extremely dangerous job. It involves heavy machinery, dealing with dangerous elements, and the risk of heavy injury and even death. And this is still Earth. In Star Trek, miners work on different moons, planets, and alien worlds. Federation stations are there for protection, but they are constantly exposed to alien materials and risk death or worse.
2. Lower Decks Ensign
Lower Decks Ensigns in Star Trek: Lower Decks | Credits: Paramount+
The lower deck officers are given extremely high-risk jobs. They have maintenance jobs on the ship and are exposed to dangerous wires, machines, and more, putting them in danger all the time. Lower-ranking officers are again among the first line of defence when anything goes wrong. The lower decks have dreams and aspirations, and they will do anything to make it work, but is Starfleet really worth the risk? It is up to the individual.
1. Red Shirt Security
Captain Kirk and Red Shirt Security Officers Star Trek: TOS | Credits: Paramount Television
Every Trekkie knows the saying, ‘Red Shirts always die’. It has been a running gag that the red shirt officers on the USS ships usually become the first casualties during an attack. The joke became so common that the term redshirt was applied to anyone who was introduced in a film or episode only to be killed off. A comic based on the Red Shirts was also released, showing the risks that the job entails.
A red shirt already comes with risk, but if you are a red shirt security officer, then you are definitely dying on the job. It is the riskiest position on a Starfleet ship and usually means that you are disposable. Avoid this job at all costs.
RankDangerous Star Trek PositionsPossible Risks10 CaptainInjury, hostage, death, disease9AmbassadorWartime risks, situated in dangerous zones, and diplomacy gone wrong8Chief medical officerDisease, exposure to alien viruses, bacteria, etc.7Science officerExposure to alien materials, parasites, and more6Transport OfficerRisk during dematerialization and rematerialization5Warp Core EngineerAn unstable core can blow up the ship4Shuttle PilotCasualties during battles, stranded during away missions3MinerExposure to alien materials, heavy machinery, and death2Lower Decks EnsignFirst line of defence, high-risk maintenance job1Red Shirt SecurityAlways in the line of fire, certain death
Refer to the questions below if you have any queries regarding jobs in Star Trek.
Which is the most dangerous job in Star Trek?
While most positions come with risk, a red-shirt security officer faces certain death due to being the first line of defence and an ongoing joke that ‘red shirts always die’.
Have captains ever faced severe danger?
Captains have been in the face of danger many times, with captains like Kirk being held hostage, hit, manipulated, psychologically, and risking diseases. Even Picard and Janeway have come close to death, as has Benjamin Sisko.
Which is the safest job in Star Trek?
Any job that is not on Starfleet ships (or mines) is safer. But the role of an archivist is probably the safest option.
Which job do you think is the most dangerous in Star Trek? Comment below.
Star Trek is available to stream on Paramount+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
