Insurance rates are based on the risk of a payout. The higher the risk that the insurer will have to pay a claim, the higher the insurance premium. Life insurance policies pay out upon death.

      Factors Affecting Premiums

1. Factors such as heart disease, diabetes and smoking are health problems that increase one's risk of dying and thus life insurance premiums. Dangerous jobs also increase one's risk of dying prematurely, so life insurance premiums are higher for workers in those jobs.

      Job Categories With Higher Premiums

2. Unskilled and low-skill workers pay higher life insurance premiums than office workers. For example, an assembly worker on a factory floor may not be performing hazardous tasks, but the work environment has inherent dangers such as being hit by a fork lift. Service workers who handle cash, such as drivers, bartenders and convenience store clerks, are at elevated risk for being assaulted and killed, and this raises their life insurance premiums.

      Dangerous Jobs

3. Occupations can be high-risk because of the environment or the job tasks. Workers in dangerous jobs include loggers, fisherman, private pilots, construction workers and miners. Military personnel also pay high life insurance premiums due to their risk of dying in the line of duty.

Source: http://www.ehow.com