Fastest declining jobs in Colorado, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Colorado, 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 Colorado'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 Colorado run 3.1% above the national average (2024), so a Colorado salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Colorado.

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

Find high paying jobs in Colorado

OccupationMedian, Colorado · Growth 2024–34

1Transportation Security Screeners$71,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $78,690-30.1%
2Air Traffic Controllers$177,380
Associate's degree
$76,310 – $213,950-22.2%
3Forest and Conservation Technicians$57,550
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $84,150-21.3%
4Data Entry Keyers$43,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,920 – $61,070-20.4%
5Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$43,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,490 – $46,920-19.8%
6Physical Scientists, All Other$134,440
Bachelor's degree
$82,760 – $225,810-17.9%
7Tellers$46,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,730 – $56,060-16.7%
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$62,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,370 – $87,690-15.0%
9Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$61,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,400 – $94,930-14.4%
10Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,960 – $58,460-12.8%
11Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,690 – $71,800-12.4%
12Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$55,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,450 – $77,260-11.7%
13Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$105,390
Bachelor's degree
$66,010 – $152,730-11.0%
14First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$81,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,610 – $118,710-10.9%
15Dental Laboratory Technicians$61,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $99,630-10.3%
16Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$69,740
Bachelor's degree
$52,050 – $118,720-10.0%
17Telemarketers$47,670
No formal educational credential
$33,940 – $77,000-9.8%
18Order Clerks$49,530
Some college, no degree
$37,850 – $63,980-9.2%
19Biological Scientists, All Other$93,970
Bachelor's degree
$63,930 – $128,440-9.1%
20Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,030 – $88,660-8.8%
21Printing Press Operators$47,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,400 – $63,270-8.5%
22Psychologists, All Other$120,660
Master's degree
$50,220 – $156,870-8.0%
23Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $67,080-7.5%
24Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$50,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $73,620-7.2%
25Bill and Account Collectors$50,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $66,930-6.3%
26File Clerks$46,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $62,550-5.9%
27Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$49,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $64,890-5.9%
28Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,210 – $64,590-5.8%
29Sewing Machine Operators$43,840
No formal educational credential
$35,250 – $55,050-5.7%
30Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$71,680
Bachelor's degree
$51,940 – $96,770-5.7%
31Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,670 – $59,220-5.6%
32Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$64,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,590 – $88,050-5.6%
33Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$198,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$170,080 – $219,580-5.6%
34Detectives and Criminal Investigators$105,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,010 – $161,550-4.9%
35Procurement Clerks$55,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,270 – $71,100-4.7%
36Helpers--Production Workers$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,810 – $54,910-4.6%
37Machine Feeders and Offbearers$48,400
No formal educational credential
$36,740 – $57,110-4.5%
38Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$38,170
No formal educational credential
$33,210 – $53,360-4.5%
39Cooks, Fast Food$36,900
No formal educational credential
$31,970 – $46,610-4.1%
40Credit Analysts$81,270
Bachelor's degree
$61,950 – $176,230-4.0%
41Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,400 – $60,150-3.2%
42Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $76,360-2.9%
43Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$71,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,300 – $112,700-2.8%
44Budget Analysts$97,100
Bachelor's degree
$70,660 – $130,180-2.8%
45Highway Maintenance Workers$52,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,940 – $66,780-2.1%
46Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$57,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $83,420-2.0%
47Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$49,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,250 – $63,760-1.9%
48Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$43,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,120 – $58,240-1.9%
49Loan Interviewers and Clerks$56,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $75,010-1.5%
50Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,550 – $123,360-1.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianColorado	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,530	$58,530 – $78,690	-30.1%
2	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$177,380	$76,310 – $213,950	-22.2%
3	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,550	$44,950 – $84,150	-21.3%
4	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,910	$33,920 – $61,070	-20.4%
5	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,720	$35,490 – $46,920	-19.8%
6	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$134,440	$82,760 – $225,810	-17.9%
7	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,060	$37,730 – $56,060	-16.7%
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,140	$52,370 – $87,690	-15.0%
9	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,020	$49,400 – $94,930	-14.4%
10	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,120	$37,960 – $58,460	-12.8%
11	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,790	$41,690 – $71,800	-12.4%
12	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,270	$44,450 – $77,260	-11.7%
13	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,390	$66,010 – $152,730	-11.0%
14	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,460	$70,610 – $118,710	-10.9%
15	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,220	$47,690 – $99,630	-10.3%
16	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$69,740	$52,050 – $118,720	-10.0%
17	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$47,670	$33,940 – $77,000	-9.8%
18	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$49,530	$37,850 – $63,980	-9.2%
19	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$93,970	$63,930 – $128,440	-9.1%
20	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,410	$51,030 – $88,660	-8.8%
21	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,860	$37,400 – $63,270	-8.5%
22	Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree	$120,660	$50,220 – $156,870	-8.0%
23	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,460	$37,430 – $67,080	-7.5%
24	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,370	$42,630 – $73,620	-7.2%
25	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,090	$37,380 – $66,930	-6.3%
26	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,490	$35,140 – $62,550	-5.9%
27	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,610	$38,500 – $64,890	-5.9%
28	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,950	$39,210 – $64,590	-5.8%
29	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$43,840	$35,250 – $55,050	-5.7%
30	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$71,680	$51,940 – $96,770	-5.7%
31	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,200	$41,670 – $59,220	-5.6%
32	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,140	$46,590 – $88,050	-5.6%
33	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesDoctoral or professional degree	$198,790	$170,080 – $219,580	-5.6%
34	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,480	$73,010 – $161,550	-4.9%
35	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,210	$39,270 – $71,100	-4.7%
36	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$35,810 – $54,910	-4.6%
37	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$48,400	$36,740 – $57,110	-4.5%
38	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$38,170	$33,210 – $53,360	-4.5%
39	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$36,900	$31,970 – $46,610	-4.1%
40	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$81,270	$61,950 – $176,230	-4.0%
41	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,750	$40,400 – $60,150	-3.2%
42	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $76,360	-2.9%
43	Insurance Appraisers, Auto DamagePostsecondary nondegree award	$71,600	$59,300 – $112,700	-2.8%
44	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,100	$70,660 – $130,180	-2.8%
45	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,350	$44,940 – $66,780	-2.1%
46	Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,120	$37,020 – $83,420	-2.0%
47	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,530	$39,250 – $63,760	-1.9%
48	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,430	$32,120 – $58,240	-1.9%
49	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,760	$37,020 – $75,010	-1.5%
50	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,620	$59,550 – $123,360	-1.1%

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

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

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Colorado, 2024–34

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34