Fastest declining jobs in California, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in California, 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 California'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 California run 10.7% above the national average (2024), so a California salary is worth about 0.90× 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 California.

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

Find high paying jobs in California

OccupationMedian, California · Growth 2024–34

1Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$36,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,610 – $45,280-40.0%
2Word Processors and Typists$56,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,760 – $65,720-34.5%
3Print Binding and Finishing Workers$45,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $59,290-31.2%
4Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$44,450
No formal educational credential
$36,050 – $64,710-26.3%
5Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$36,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $48,260-26.3%
6Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$48,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $79,260-23.9%
7Sewing Machine Operators$37,940
No formal educational credential
$34,950 – $49,040-23.8%
8Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$62,580
No formal educational credential
$46,030 – $104,900-23.3%
9Telemarketers$46,000
No formal educational credential
$34,320 – $60,400-22.5%
10Data Entry Keyers$47,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $61,520-21.6%
11New Accounts Clerks$52,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $72,690-20.0%
12Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$59,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,420 – $84,340-20.0%
13Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$57,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,140 – $76,110-20.0%
14Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles$48,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $88,330-20.0%
15Printing Press Operators$46,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,580 – $63,910-20.0%
16Tellers$46,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $58,660-18.1%
17Order Clerks$47,290
Some college, no degree
$37,170 – $66,580-17.9%
18Semiconductor Processing Technicians$48,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,550 – $61,030-16.7%
19Prepress Technicians and Workers$53,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,870 – $76,420-16.7%
20Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$46,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $73,990-16.7%
21Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,730 – $59,610-16.1%
22Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,130 – $69,760-16.0%
23Drafters, All Other$73,390
Associate's degree
$49,200 – $104,290-15.8%
24Power Plant Operators$105,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,510 – $171,800-15.4%
25Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,480 – $79,690-15.4%
26Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,510 – $62,630-14.1%
27Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$65,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,120 – $92,080-13.8%
28Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,120 – $94,280-13.3%
29File Clerks$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,780 – $78,100-13.3%
30Furniture Finishers$49,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $70,280-13.3%
31Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$47,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,870 – $70,540-13.0%
32Carpet Installers$54,440
No formal educational credential
$38,380 – $80,560-12.9%
33Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,260 – $106,230-12.8%
34Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$39,300
No formal educational credential
$36,570 – $45,100-12.8%
35Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$58,280
Some college, no degree
$38,660 – $75,570-12.7%
36Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$102,030
Bachelor's degree
$55,930 – $131,510-11.8%
37Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,090 – $68,500-11.7%
38Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$56,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,670 – $76,840-11.5%
39Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$103,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,930 – $128,840-11.4%
40Tool and Die Makers$77,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,710 – $104,260-11.1%
41Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-11.0%
42Cooks, Fast Food$42,050
No formal educational credential
$35,750 – $48,750-10.3%
43Machine Feeders and Offbearers$40,380
No formal educational credential
$36,900 – $58,050-10.2%
44Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$47,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,430 – $70,990-10.0%
45Electrical and Electronics Drafters$78,310
Associate's degree
$50,620 – $146,810-10.0%
46Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$49,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,740 – $67,780-9.8%
47News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists—
Bachelor's degree
—
— – —-9.8%
48Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers$44,360
No formal educational credential
$35,820 – $64,340-9.6%
49Helpers--Production Workers$43,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,640 – $62,130-9.5%
50Credit Analysts$97,860
Bachelor's degree
$61,380 – $194,760-9.4%

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

#	Occupation	MedianCalifornia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,670	$36,610 – $45,280	-40.0%
2	Word Processors and TypistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,380	$40,760 – $65,720	-34.5%
3	Print Binding and Finishing WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,390	$35,900 – $59,290	-31.2%
4	Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,450	$36,050 – $64,710	-26.3%
5	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,740	$34,320 – $48,260	-26.3%
6	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,840	$37,380 – $79,260	-23.9%
7	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$37,940	$34,950 – $49,040	-23.8%
8	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$62,580	$46,030 – $104,900	-23.3%
9	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$46,000	$34,320 – $60,400	-22.5%
10	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,010	$37,490 – $61,520	-21.6%
11	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,100	$45,680 – $72,690	-20.0%
12	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,050	$45,420 – $84,340	-20.0%
13	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,590	$45,140 – $76,110	-20.0%
14	Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor VehiclesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,500	$34,320 – $88,330	-20.0%
15	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,110	$36,580 – $63,910	-20.0%
16	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,900	$38,030 – $58,660	-18.1%
17	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$47,290	$37,170 – $66,580	-17.9%
18	Semiconductor Processing TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,030	$40,550 – $61,030	-16.7%
19	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,860	$38,870 – $76,420	-16.7%
20	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,810	$36,080 – $73,990	-16.7%
21	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,760	$36,730 – $59,610	-16.1%
22	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,940	$40,130 – $69,760	-16.0%
23	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$73,390	$49,200 – $104,290	-15.8%
24	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,210	$63,510 – $171,800	-15.4%
25	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$43,480 – $79,690	-15.4%
26	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,890	$36,510 – $62,630	-14.1%
27	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,340	$46,120 – $92,080	-13.8%
28	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$48,120 – $94,280	-13.3%
29	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$36,780 – $78,100	-13.3%
30	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,080	$37,490 – $70,280	-13.3%
31	Office Machine Operators, Except ComputerHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,150	$36,870 – $70,540	-13.0%
32	Carpet InstallersNo formal educational credential	$54,440	$38,380 – $80,560	-12.9%
33	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,980	$60,260 – $106,230	-12.8%
34	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$39,300	$36,570 – $45,100	-12.8%
35	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$58,280	$38,660 – $75,570	-12.7%
36	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$102,030	$55,930 – $131,510	-11.8%
37	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,450	$37,090 – $68,500	-11.7%
38	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,510	$39,670 – $76,840	-11.5%
39	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,250	$72,930 – $128,840	-11.4%
40	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,030	$45,710 – $104,260	-11.1%
41	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $75,280	-11.0%
42	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,050	$35,750 – $48,750	-10.3%
43	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$40,380	$36,900 – $58,050	-10.2%
44	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,380	$39,430 – $70,990	-10.0%
45	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,310	$50,620 – $146,810	-10.0%
46	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,030	$38,740 – $67,780	-9.8%
47	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	—	—— – —	-9.8%
48	Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom SewersNo formal educational credential	$44,360	$35,820 – $64,340	-9.6%
49	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,970	$36,640 – $62,130	-9.5%
50	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,860	$61,380 – $194,760	-9.4%

More for California

Metro areas in California

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

By field in California

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in California, 2024–34

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34