Fastest declining jobs in District of Columbia, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in District of Columbia, 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 District of Columbia'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 District of Columbia run 9.9% above the national average (2024), so a District of Columbia salary is worth about 0.91× 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 District of Columbia.

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

Find high paying jobs in District of Columbia

OccupationMedian, District of Columbia · Growth 2024–34

1Data Entry Keyers$55,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,930 – $73,090-25.7%
2Computer Programmers—
Bachelor's degree
—
— – —-23.4%
3Cooks, Fast Food$44,670
No formal educational credential
$36,480 – $51,260-12.1%
4Network and Computer Systems Administrators$110,970
Bachelor's degree
$80,850 – $150,580-12.0%
5Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$59,050
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $80,330-11.7%
6Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$55,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,070 – $58,390-10.9%
7Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$72,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $99,870-9.8%
8Buyers and Purchasing Agents$124,090
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $182,310-9.8%
9Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$49,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,910 – $71,530-8.7%
10Computer User Support Specialists$80,950
Some college, no degree
$59,980 – $120,840-8.7%
11Physical Scientists, All Other$156,730
Bachelor's degree
$101,400 – $195,190-7.8%
12Office Clerks, General$55,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $75,960-7.7%
13Engineers, All Other$151,920
Bachelor's degree
$101,990 – $195,190-7.1%
14Political Scientists$152,530
Master's degree
$114,920 – $195,190-6.8%
15Technical Writers$117,810
Bachelor's degree
$74,720 – $148,770-6.8%
16Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$45,700
No formal educational credential
$37,510 – $62,400-6.6%
17Purchasing Managers$175,720
Bachelor's degree
$147,220 – $195,190-6.6%
18Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$128,440
Bachelor's degree
$83,890 – $170,980-6.4%
19Managers, All Other$175,720
Bachelor's degree
$134,950 – $221,750-6.2%
20Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $99,120-6.2%
21Information and Record Clerks, All Other$70,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,440 – $91,790-6.1%
22Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$65,180
Some college, no degree
$47,140 – $94,320-6.1%
23Writers and Authors$129,300
Bachelor's degree
$74,990 – $172,480-6.0%
24Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$157,040
Bachelor's degree
$113,300 – $195,190-5.9%
25Transportation Workers, All Other$51,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,800 – $98,410-5.7%
26Cashiers$38,880
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $51,640-5.6%
27Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$103,340
Bachelor's degree
$65,210 – $144,820-5.5%
28Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$37,920
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $54,650-5.2%
29Economists$167,590
Master's degree
$98,350 – $299,110-5.2%
30Computer Systems Analysts$116,820
Bachelor's degree
$89,190 – $168,270-5.1%
31Database Architects$150,010
Bachelor's degree
$82,220 – $225,110-5.0%
32Financial Specialists, All Other$125,110
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $195,190-5.0%
33Computer Network Support Specialists$91,370
Associate's degree
$67,700 – $151,420-4.7%
34Customer Service Representatives$48,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $77,120-4.7%
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,040-4.4%
36Budget Analysts$124,590
Bachelor's degree
$82,060 – $156,750-4.3%
37Architectural and Engineering Managers$185,220
Bachelor's degree
$138,470 – $225,080-4.3%
38Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$49,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,210 – $91,990-4.2%
39Natural Sciences Managers$156,730
Bachelor's degree
$79,390 – $195,190-4.2%
40Graphic Designers$87,920
Bachelor's degree
$62,240 – $136,660-3.9%
41Web Developers$114,690
Bachelor's degree
$76,160 – $172,520-3.9%
42Business Operations Specialists, All Other$108,160
Bachelor's degree
$64,110 – $194,420-3.8%
43Physicists$157,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,820 – $202,360-3.3%
44Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$132,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,910 – $195,190-2.8%
45Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$132,620
Bachelor's degree
$78,270 – $185,220-2.7%
46Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$90,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,890 – $121,000-2.6%
47News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$105,390
Bachelor's degree
$64,600 – $222,040-2.3%
48Legal Support Workers, All Other$88,480
Associate's degree
$63,290 – $173,920-2.2%
49Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$99,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,680 – $123,060-1.8%
50Compliance Officers$111,030
Bachelor's degree
$69,140 – $156,750-1.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianDistrict of Columbia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,170	$48,930 – $73,090	-25.7%
2	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	—	—— – —	-23.4%
3	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$44,670	$36,480 – $51,260	-12.1%
4	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$110,970	$80,850 – $150,580	-12.0%
5	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$59,050	$38,990 – $80,330	-11.7%
6	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,580	$50,070 – $58,390	-10.9%
7	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,260	$45,000 – $99,870	-9.8%
8	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$124,090	$69,910 – $182,310	-9.8%
9	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,660	$41,910 – $71,530	-8.7%
10	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$80,950	$59,980 – $120,840	-8.7%
11	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$156,730	$101,400 – $195,190	-7.8%
12	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,040	$39,350 – $75,960	-7.7%
13	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$151,920	$101,990 – $195,190	-7.1%
14	Political ScientistsMaster's degree	$152,530	$114,920 – $195,190	-6.8%
15	Technical WritersBachelor's degree	$117,810	$74,720 – $148,770	-6.8%
16	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$45,700	$37,510 – $62,400	-6.6%
17	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$175,720	$147,220 – $195,190	-6.6%
18	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$128,440	$83,890 – $170,980	-6.4%
19	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$175,720	$134,950 – $221,750	-6.2%
20	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,600	$47,330 – $99,120	-6.2%
21	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,490	$51,440 – $91,790	-6.1%
22	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$65,180	$47,140 – $94,320	-6.1%
23	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$129,300	$74,990 – $172,480	-6.0%
24	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$157,040	$113,300 – $195,190	-5.9%
25	Transportation Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,730	$43,800 – $98,410	-5.7%
26	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$38,880	$36,400 – $51,640	-5.6%
27	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$103,340	$65,210 – $144,820	-5.5%
28	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$37,920	$36,400 – $54,650	-5.2%
29	EconomistsMaster's degree	$167,590	$98,350 – $299,110	-5.2%
30	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$116,820	$89,190 – $168,270	-5.1%
31	Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$150,010	$82,220 – $225,110	-5.0%
32	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$125,110	$69,910 – $195,190	-5.0%
33	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$91,370	$67,700 – $151,420	-4.7%
34	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,250	$37,440 – $77,120	-4.7%
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$44,160 – $81,040	-4.4%
36	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$124,590	$82,060 – $156,750	-4.3%
37	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$185,220	$138,470 – $225,080	-4.3%
38	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,730	$46,210 – $91,990	-4.2%
39	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$156,730	$79,390 – $195,190	-4.2%
40	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$87,920	$62,240 – $136,660	-3.9%
41	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$114,690	$76,160 – $172,520	-3.9%
42	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,160	$64,110 – $194,420	-3.8%
43	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$157,040	$86,820 – $202,360	-3.3%
44	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,180	$79,910 – $195,190	-2.8%
45	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$132,620	$78,270 – $185,220	-2.7%
46	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,850	$64,890 – $121,000	-2.6%
47	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$105,390	$64,600 – $222,040	-2.3%
48	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$88,480	$63,290 – $173,920	-2.2%
49	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,280	$60,680 – $123,060	-1.8%
50	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$111,030	$69,140 – $156,750	-1.7%

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

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

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in District of Columbia, 2024–34

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34