Fastest declining jobs in Iowa, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Iowa, 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 Iowa'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 Iowa run 12.2% below the national average (2024), so a Iowa salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Iowa.

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

Find high paying jobs in Iowa

OccupationMedian, Iowa · Growth 2024–34

1Telemarketers$33,640
No formal educational credential
$28,190 – $39,580-23.0%
2Data Entry Keyers$43,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,210 – $57,920-21.7%
3Foundry Mold and Coremakers$49,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,250 – $57,580-19.2%
4Order Clerks$44,980
Some college, no degree
$35,140 – $57,140-13.7%
5Cooks, Fast Food$28,510
No formal educational credential
$15,080 – $40,810-13.1%
6New Accounts Clerks$45,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,220 – $55,710-12.8%
7Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $70,990-12.7%
8Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$51,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $65,850-12.6%
9Tellers$38,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $48,690-12.4%
10Machine Feeders and Offbearers$45,250
No formal educational credential
$34,540 – $56,850-10.8%
11Bill and Account Collectors$46,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,350 – $74,560-10.8%
12Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$39,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,650 – $47,590-10.7%
13Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$46,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,910 – $62,450-10.7%
14Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$42,450
No formal educational credential
$39,240 – $55,740-10.2%
15Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360-8.3%
16Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,330 – $70,410-6.9%
17Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $57,490-6.3%
18Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $63,040-5.8%
19Cooks, Short Order$34,090
No formal educational credential
$24,960 – $46,650-5.6%
20Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,670 – $73,530-5.5%
21Advertising Sales Agents$58,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,250 – $92,120-5.2%
22Tool and Die Makers$65,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $80,170-5.2%
23Food Preparation Workers$30,360
No formal educational credential
$23,760 – $40,250-5.1%
24Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,530 – $69,490-5.0%
25Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,950 – $62,330-4.9%
26Computer Programmers$79,180
Bachelor's degree
$54,060 – $128,520-4.8%
27Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,590
No formal educational credential
$29,120 – $46,700-4.7%
28Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$72,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,360 – $102,900-4.4%
29Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $76,040-4.4%
30Office Clerks, General$44,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,660 – $61,410-3.9%
31Mechanical Drafters$63,330
Associate's degree
$46,760 – $95,370-3.9%
32Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-3.7%
33Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$48,180
Some college, no degree
$33,240 – $66,490-3.6%
34Library Assistants, Clerical$29,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,950 – $45,310-3.6%
35Photographers$38,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$15,080 – $77,830-3.6%
36Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$48,490
Associate's degree
$35,770 – $63,280-3.5%
37Customer Service Representatives$46,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,450 – $64,540-3.5%
38Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-3.5%
39Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$46,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $64,330-3.5%
40Library Technicians$38,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,230 – $61,570-3.4%
41Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$47,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,990 – $62,420-3.3%
42Insurance Underwriters$75,160
Bachelor's degree
$51,800 – $128,080-3.1%
43News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,540
Bachelor's degree
$33,160 – $82,950-3.1%
44Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$47,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $57,860-3.0%
45Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,210
No formal educational credential
$21,880 – $40,550-2.9%
46Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$35,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,100 – $46,840-2.8%
47Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$47,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $52,020-2.8%
48Helpers--Production Workers$45,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $54,390-2.7%
49Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$36,480
No formal educational credential
$28,950 – $50,540-2.7%
50Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,200 – $83,210-2.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianIowa	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$33,640	$28,190 – $39,580	-23.0%
2	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,640	$32,210 – $57,920	-21.7%
3	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,060	$43,250 – $57,580	-19.2%
4	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$44,980	$35,140 – $57,140	-13.7%
5	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,510	$15,080 – $40,810	-13.1%
6	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,630	$38,220 – $55,710	-12.8%
7	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,080	$39,410 – $70,990	-12.7%
8	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,360	$40,080 – $65,850	-12.6%
9	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,450	$34,920 – $48,690	-12.4%
10	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$45,250	$34,540 – $56,850	-10.8%
11	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,000	$35,350 – $74,560	-10.8%
12	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,520	$35,650 – $47,590	-10.7%
13	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,040	$42,910 – $62,450	-10.7%
14	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNo formal educational credential	$42,450	$39,240 – $55,740	-10.2%
15	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$42,600 – $76,360	-8.3%
16	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,380	$38,330 – $70,410	-6.9%
17	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,240	$36,550 – $57,490	-6.3%
18	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,300	$39,450 – $63,040	-5.8%
19	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$34,090	$24,960 – $46,650	-5.6%
20	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,040	$47,670 – $73,530	-5.5%
21	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,480	$30,250 – $92,120	-5.2%
22	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,000	$51,540 – $80,170	-5.2%
23	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$30,360	$23,760 – $40,250	-5.1%
24	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$29,530 – $69,490	-5.0%
25	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,740	$42,950 – $62,330	-4.9%
26	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$79,180	$54,060 – $128,520	-4.8%
27	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,590	$29,120 – $46,700	-4.7%
28	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,640	$50,360 – $102,900	-4.4%
29	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,990	$46,880 – $76,040	-4.4%
30	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,310	$29,660 – $61,410	-3.9%
31	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,330	$46,760 – $95,370	-3.9%
32	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	-3.7%
33	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$48,180	$33,240 – $66,490	-3.6%
34	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,480	$21,950 – $45,310	-3.6%
35	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,290	$15,080 – $77,830	-3.6%
36	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$48,490	$35,770 – $63,280	-3.5%
37	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,090	$32,450 – $64,540	-3.5%
38	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	-3.5%
39	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,590	$35,730 – $64,330	-3.5%
40	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,590	$28,230 – $61,570	-3.4%
41	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,590	$35,990 – $62,420	-3.3%
42	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$75,160	$51,800 – $128,080	-3.1%
43	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$43,540	$33,160 – $82,950	-3.1%
44	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,180	$38,180 – $57,860	-3.0%
45	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,210	$21,880 – $40,550	-2.9%
46	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,610	$26,100 – $46,840	-2.8%
47	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,900	$43,410 – $52,020	-2.8%
48	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,560	$34,850 – $54,390	-2.7%
49	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$36,480	$28,950 – $50,540	-2.7%
50	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$39,200 – $83,210	-2.7%

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

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

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Iowa, 2024–34

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34