Fastest declining jobs in Kentucky, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky'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 Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Kentucky salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Kentucky.

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

Find high paying jobs in Kentucky

OccupationMedian, Kentucky · Growth 2024–34

1Printing Press Operators$48,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $63,720-7.7%
2Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$47,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $68,390-5.6%
3Continuous Mining Machine Operators$50,020
No formal educational credential
$48,950 – $68,260-5.3%
4Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-4.6%
5Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-4.5%
6Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-4.5%
7Butchers and Meat Cutters$35,430
No formal educational credential
$22,890 – $47,690-4.3%
8Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,450 – $91,420-4.1%
9Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,870 – $88,320-4.1%
10Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$40,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,600 – $59,530-3.2%
11Sewing Machine Operators$29,460
No formal educational credential
$22,350 – $39,880-3.2%
12First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$40,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,360 – $69,930-3.2%
13First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,850 – $132,100-3.0%
14Prepress Technicians and Workers$45,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,240 – $58,250-2.8%
15Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $91,430-2.7%
16Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$57,240
Bachelor's degree
$42,000 – $74,920-2.6%
17Floral Designers$34,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,310 – $44,770-2.5%
18Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$31,410
No formal educational credential
$20,850 – $38,200-2.4%
19Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$52,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,000 – $74,260-2.3%
20Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$78,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,540 – $106,810-2.1%
21Cashiers$28,590
No formal educational credential
$21,720 – $35,550-1.9%
22Education Administrators, All Other$102,610
Bachelor's degree
$71,680 – $132,910-1.9%
23Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$29,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,580 – $76,170-1.2%
24Information and Record Clerks, All Other$48,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,810 – $64,940-0.6%
25Chemists$84,090
Bachelor's degree
$54,950 – $126,060-0.3%
26Retail Salespersons$29,650
No formal educational credential
$22,400 – $43,850-0.2%
27Detectives and Criminal Investigators$71,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,640 – $149,280-0.1%
28Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$38,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,650 – $48,290-0.1%
29Locomotive Engineers$77,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,820 – $98,0800.0%
30Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$36,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,880 – $46,700+0.2%
31Financial Specialists, All Other$65,690
Bachelor's degree
$47,590 – $115,920+0.3%
32Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$59,610
Bachelor's degree
$54,070 – $69,000+0.3%
33Tree Trimmers and Pruners$44,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,890 – $57,440+0.4%
34Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels—
Postsecondary nondegree award
—
— – —+0.4%
35Massage Therapists$59,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,210 – $95,290+0.4%
36Tellers$37,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,770 – $46,000+0.5%
37Financial Examiners$76,260
Bachelor's degree
$50,400 – $135,570+0.5%
38Correctional Officers and Jailers$42,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,910 – $61,820+0.6%
39Skincare Specialists$38,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$26,340 – $81,610+0.6%
40Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,460 – $63,240+0.6%
41Chemical Technicians$60,830
Associate's degree
$40,940 – $97,810+0.6%
42First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$57,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,490 – $75,080+0.7%
43Loan Officers$62,090
Bachelor's degree
$41,620 – $124,520+0.8%
44Pest Control Workers$42,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,130 – $61,670+0.9%
45Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,710
Associate's degree
$49,230 – $75,200+0.9%
46Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$31,200
No formal educational credential
$24,420 – $35,790+0.9%
47First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,280 – $87,580+0.9%
48Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$41,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,330 – $48,320+0.9%
49Labor Relations Specialists$73,550
Bachelor's degree
$39,220 – $97,860+1.0%
50Budget Analysts$76,860
Bachelor's degree
$59,960 – $112,400+1.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianKentucky	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,000	$34,920 – $63,720	-7.7%
2	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,780	$37,210 – $68,390	-5.6%
3	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$50,020	$48,950 – $68,260	-5.3%
4	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,910	$42,390 – $81,040	-4.6%
5	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	-4.5%
6	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$42,600 – $75,030	-4.5%
7	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$35,430	$22,890 – $47,690	-4.3%
8	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$42,450 – $91,420	-4.1%
9	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,700	$38,870 – $88,320	-4.1%
10	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,440	$34,600 – $59,530	-3.2%
11	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$29,460	$22,350 – $39,880	-3.2%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,080	$28,360 – $69,930	-3.2%
13	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,320	$48,850 – $132,100	-3.0%
14	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,830	$37,240 – $58,250	-2.8%
15	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,530	$39,470 – $91,430	-2.7%
16	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$57,240	$42,000 – $74,920	-2.6%
17	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,940	$21,310 – $44,770	-2.5%
18	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$31,410	$20,850 – $38,200	-2.4%
19	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,020	$42,000 – $74,260	-2.3%
20	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,670	$50,540 – $106,810	-2.1%
21	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$28,590	$21,720 – $35,550	-1.9%
22	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$102,610	$71,680 – $132,910	-1.9%
23	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$29,840	$22,580 – $76,170	-1.2%
24	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,380	$36,810 – $64,940	-0.6%
25	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$84,090	$54,950 – $126,060	-0.3%
26	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$29,650	$22,400 – $43,850	-0.2%
27	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,670	$51,640 – $149,280	-0.1%
28	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,080	$32,650 – $48,290	-0.1%
29	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,620	$61,820 – $98,080	0.0%
30	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,810	$28,880 – $46,700	+0.2%
31	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$65,690	$47,590 – $115,920	+0.3%
32	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$59,610	$54,070 – $69,000	+0.3%
33	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,410	$26,890 – $57,440	+0.4%
34	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	—	—— – —	+0.4%
35	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,790	$30,210 – $95,290	+0.4%
36	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,210	$29,770 – $46,000	+0.5%
37	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$76,260	$50,400 – $135,570	+0.5%
38	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,310	$29,910 – $61,820	+0.6%
39	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,580	$26,340 – $81,610	+0.6%
40	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,910	$34,460 – $63,240	+0.6%
41	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,830	$40,940 – $97,810	+0.6%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,670	$40,490 – $75,080	+0.7%
43	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$62,090	$41,620 – $124,520	+0.8%
44	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,310	$30,130 – $61,670	+0.9%
45	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,710	$49,230 – $75,200	+0.9%
46	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$24,420 – $35,790	+0.9%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$36,280 – $87,580	+0.9%
48	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,590	$31,330 – $48,320	+0.9%
49	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$73,550	$39,220 – $97,860	+1.0%
50	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$76,860	$59,960 – $112,400	+1.0%

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

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

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Kentucky, 2024–34

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34