Fastest declining jobs in Arkansas, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Arkansas, most negative first. A declining projection does not mean a job is disappearing — most of these still hire steadily to replace people who leave.

State projections are produced by Arkansas's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average (2024), so a Arkansas salary is worth about 1.15× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Arkansas.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Arkansas

OccupationMedian, Arkansas · Growth 2024–34

1Telemarketers$29,060
No formal educational credential
$28,450 – $37,130-36.1%
2Data Entry Keyers$33,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,140 – $49,950-23.2%
3Machine Feeders and Offbearers$45,250
No formal educational credential
$33,280 – $49,760-15.4%
4Bill and Account Collectors$39,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,990 – $54,690-11.3%
5Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$46,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,270 – $71,280-11.2%
6Tellers$35,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,020 – $44,950-10.6%
7Cooks, Fast Food$27,710
No formal educational credential
$23,770 – $32,720-9.9%
8Sewing Machine Operators$35,630
No formal educational credential
$27,810 – $45,660-9.0%
9Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$45,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,640 – $52,000-8.6%
10Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,050 – $54,960-8.2%
11Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-7.8%
12Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$43,780
No formal educational credential
$33,890 – $57,260-7.6%
13Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,800 – $56,860-7.0%
14Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$40,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,310 – $58,390-6.0%
15Printing Press Operators$46,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,540 – $64,060-6.0%
16Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $61,770-5.9%
17Psychiatric Aides$36,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,030 – $39,950-5.9%
18Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,180 – $69,250-5.7%
19Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$35,310
No formal educational credential
$32,750 – $38,190-5.4%
20Correctional Officers and Jailers$40,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $49,360-5.3%
21Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$41,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,230 – $56,990-5.2%
22Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$38,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,140 – $56,620-4.9%
23Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$37,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,170 – $48,370-4.8%
24Helpers--Production Workers$35,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,270 – $44,600-4.8%
25Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$41,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,250 – $58,060-4.4%
26Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,690 – $50,490-4.0%
27Customer Service Representatives$37,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,150 – $56,630-3.7%
28Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,670 – $64,200-3.5%
29Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $58,940-3.3%
30Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-3.0%
31Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-3.0%
32First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$49,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,610 – $66,330-2.9%
33Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $64,920-2.4%
34Cashiers$27,670
No formal educational credential
$23,320 – $34,630-2.2%
35Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$46,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $59,170-2.1%
36Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$50,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $104,530-1.9%
37Logging Equipment Operators$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,990 – $65,000-1.9%
38Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $99,150-1.7%
39Computer Programmers$111,840
Bachelor's degree
$63,520 – $167,020-1.5%
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$49,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,620 – $68,580-1.5%
41Office Clerks, General$37,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,400 – $55,050-1.3%
42First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$36,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $69,020-1.2%
43Network and Computer Systems Administrators$81,590
Bachelor's degree
$52,190 – $131,140-1.1%
44Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$63,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,610 – $121,260-0.8%
45Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$46,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,470 – $55,080-0.8%
46Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $61,760-0.7%
47Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,760 – $136,730-0.4%
48Loan Interviewers and Clerks$45,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,220 – $61,410-0.1%
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $85,600+0.1%
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$44,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,480 – $61,780+0.1%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianArkansas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$29,060	$28,450 – $37,130	-36.1%
2	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,860	$29,140 – $49,950	-23.2%
3	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$45,250	$33,280 – $49,760	-15.4%
4	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,110	$27,990 – $54,690	-11.3%
5	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,110	$34,270 – $71,280	-11.2%
6	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,710	$29,020 – $44,950	-10.6%
7	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$27,710	$23,770 – $32,720	-9.9%
8	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$35,630	$27,810 – $45,660	-9.0%
9	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,490	$35,640 – $52,000	-8.6%
10	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,080	$31,050 – $54,960	-8.2%
11	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	-7.8%
12	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$43,780	$33,890 – $57,260	-7.6%
13	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,580	$32,800 – $56,860	-7.0%
14	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,500	$29,310 – $58,390	-6.0%
15	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,470	$28,540 – $64,060	-6.0%
16	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,630	$35,870 – $61,770	-5.9%
17	Psychiatric AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,270	$27,030 – $39,950	-5.9%
18	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,280	$35,180 – $69,250	-5.7%
19	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNo formal educational credential	$35,310	$32,750 – $38,190	-5.4%
20	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,330	$31,200 – $49,360	-5.3%
21	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,260	$32,230 – $56,990	-5.2%
22	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,530	$31,140 – $56,620	-4.9%
23	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,150	$31,170 – $48,370	-4.8%
24	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,540	$34,270 – $44,600	-4.8%
25	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,410	$31,250 – $58,060	-4.4%
26	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,590	$33,690 – $50,490	-4.0%
27	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,840	$30,150 – $56,630	-3.7%
28	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,650	$35,670 – $64,200	-3.5%
29	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,790	$31,110 – $58,940	-3.3%
30	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	-3.0%
31	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,700	$42,390 – $81,040	-3.0%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,590	$39,610 – $66,330	-2.9%
33	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$38,590 – $64,920	-2.4%
34	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$27,670	$23,320 – $34,630	-2.2%
35	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,290	$35,340 – $59,170	-2.1%
36	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,070	$35,170 – $104,530	-1.9%
37	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$28,990 – $65,000	-1.9%
38	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$36,160 – $99,150	-1.7%
39	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$111,840	$63,520 – $167,020	-1.5%
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,740	$34,620 – $68,580	-1.5%
41	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,050	$25,400 – $55,050	-1.3%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,950	$28,600 – $69,020	-1.2%
43	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$81,590	$52,190 – $131,140	-1.1%
44	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree	$63,660	$45,610 – $121,260	-0.8%
45	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,200	$32,470 – $55,080	-0.8%
46	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,150	$39,110 – $61,760	-0.7%
47	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$36,760 – $136,730	-0.4%
48	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,140	$34,220 – $61,410	-0.1%
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,350	$38,130 – $85,600	+0.1%
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,320	$31,480 – $61,780	+0.1%

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Arkansas to rank honestly.

Fastest declining jobs in Arkansas, 2024–34

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34