The 50 occupations with the largest projected percentage decline in employment from 2025 to 2035. Many still have openings each year from workers who retire or leave. Only occupations with at least 10,000 jobs are ranked.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth 2025–2035 | Openings / yr | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Word Processors and Typists | $49,280 | -34.4% | 1,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 2. Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $38,630 | -26% | 3,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 3. Data Entry Keyers | $41,340 | -25.5% | 7,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 4. Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $48,110 | -23% | 800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 5. Telemarketers | $35,450 | -21.4% | 5,800 | No formal educational credential |
| 6. Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $42,660 | -19.2% | 700 | No formal educational credential |
| 7. Order Clerks | $46,170 | -17.5% | 6,300 | Some college, no degree |
| 8. Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $42,290 | -17.5% | 2,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 9. Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $53,710 | -17% | 2,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 10. Carpet Installers | $50,340 | -16.4% | 700 | No formal educational credential |
| 11. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $58,260 | -15.9% | 11,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 12. File Clerks | $43,600 | -15.8% | 5,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 13. Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,060 | -15.7% | 2,200 | No formal educational credential |
| 14. Prepress Technicians and Workers | $48,690 | -15.3% | 2,100 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 15. Sewing Machine Operators | $36,670 | -15.1% | 9,800 | No formal educational credential |
| 16. Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | -14.9% | 2,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 17. Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $61,540 | -13.9% | 3,800 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18. Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | -13.7% | 1,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 19. Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | -13.4% | 900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 20. Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,800 | -13.2% | 1,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 21. Tellers | $43,030 | -13.2% | 26,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 22. Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 | -13.1% | 4,000 | No formal educational credential |
| 23. Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | $47,550 | -11.7% | 1,100 | No formal educational credential |
| 24. Locksmiths and Safe Repairers | $51,320 | -11.7% | 1,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 25. Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,620 | -11.3% | 1,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 26. Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,550 | -10.8% | 4,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 27. Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,330 | -10.5% | 13,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 28. Meter Readers, Utilities | $48,150 | -10.5% | 1,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 29. Bill and Account Collectors | $47,030 | -10.4% | 11,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 30. Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $41,380 | -10.4% | 4,800 | No formal educational credential |
| 31. Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | $45,920 | -10.4% | 13,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 32. Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,670 | -10.3% | 2,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 33. Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,960 | -9.7% | 2,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 34. Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,750 | -9.5% | 1,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 35. Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $50,690 | -9.4% | 12,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 36. Tool and Die Makers | $64,050 | -9.2% | 4,300 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 37. Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,920 | -8.9% | 2,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 38. Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $41,640 | -8.8% | 3,700 | No formal educational credential |
| 39. Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | -8.7% | 700 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 40. Printing Press Operators | $45,780 | -8.7% | 12,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 41. Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,140 | -8.3% | 1,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 42. Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | -8.2% | 20,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 43. Procurement Clerks | $50,580 | -8.1% | 3,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 44. Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | -7.6% | 2,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| 45. Brokerage Clerks | $65,750 | -7.6% | 3,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 46. Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,260 | -7.6% | 61,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 47. Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | -7.4% | 28,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 48. Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks | $50,080 | -7.4% | 900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 49. Computer Programmers | $100,390 | -7.3% | 4,400 | Bachelor's degree |
| 50. Drafters, All Other | $63,520 | -7.3% | 1,000 | Associate's degree |
Sources: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 (growth, openings, education) and BLS OEWS May 2025 national medians. Openings are yearly averages and include replacement of workers who leave.
