Fastest declining jobs in Massachusetts, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average (2024), so a Massachusetts salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Massachusetts.

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

Find high paying jobs in Massachusetts

OccupationMedian, Massachusetts · Growth 2024–34

1Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$43,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $57,980-27.7%
2Data Entry Keyers$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,250 – $58,280-27.2%
3Tellers$46,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,380 – $55,730-19.1%
4Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$63,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,110 – $86,360-16.9%
5Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$36,410
No formal educational credential
$34,000 – $43,750-15.6%
6Order Clerks$55,040
Some college, no degree
$45,750 – $72,920-15.2%
7Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$50,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,350 – $66,200-14.0%
8Cooks, Fast Food$37,870
No formal educational credential
$35,590 – $48,140-13.8%
9Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$62,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $85,260-13.4%
10Brokerage Clerks$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,480 – $93,670-12.6%
11Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$62,290
Bachelor's degree
$48,490 – $98,890-11.5%
12Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$52,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,390 – $72,180-11.3%
13File Clerks$48,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $70,210-11.1%
14Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $100,430-11.0%
15Bill and Account Collectors$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,990 – $75,560-10.8%
16Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,440 – $57,250-10.1%
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,650 – $123,260-9.7%
18Loan Interviewers and Clerks$58,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,770 – $70,760-9.5%
19Insurance Underwriters$106,640
Bachelor's degree
$70,590 – $167,590-9.4%
20Credit Analysts$97,080
Bachelor's degree
$64,530 – $173,680-9.0%
21Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,730 – $76,420-9.0%
22Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $77,920-8.2%
23Computer Programmers$128,390
Bachelor's degree
$77,060 – $168,310-8.2%
24Mechanical Drafters$75,490
Associate's degree
$52,660 – $108,020-8.1%
25Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $64,160-8.1%
26Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$40,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $79,660-8.0%
27Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$70,320
Bachelor's degree
$47,530 – $102,570-7.9%
28Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,610 – $75,340-7.8%
29Prepress Technicians and Workers$57,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,890 – $83,620-7.8%
30Locksmiths and Safe Repairers$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,230 – $100,340-7.8%
31Advertising Sales Agents$80,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,130 – $134,820-7.6%
32Tool and Die Makers$67,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,200 – $93,810-7.4%
33Cashiers$35,520
No formal educational credential
$32,180 – $44,020-7.1%
34Helpers--Production Workers$42,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,390 – $58,050-6.9%
35Packers and Packagers, Hand$34,200
No formal educational credential
$31,270 – $44,010-6.9%
36Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$59,830
Some college, no degree
$40,760 – $81,080-6.8%
37Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,580 – $66,630-6.8%
38Medical Transcriptionists$36,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,440 – $47,000-6.7%
39Customer Service Representatives$49,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,440 – $74,880-6.6%
40Cooks, Short Order$44,290
No formal educational credential
$32,550 – $53,780-6.4%
41Library Assistants, Clerical$42,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,370 – $59,940-6.4%
42Office Clerks, General$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,750 – $69,770-6.4%
43Special Effects Artists and Animators$80,640
Bachelor's degree
$57,900 – $109,820-6.3%
44Library Technicians$50,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,450 – $64,980-6.2%
45Network and Computer Systems Administrators$110,980
Bachelor's degree
$76,750 – $168,910-6.2%
46Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$55,840
Associate's degree
$42,970 – $71,130-5.9%
47Computer User Support Specialists$75,070
Some college, no degree
$48,740 – $104,950-5.8%
48Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-5.6%
49Physical Therapist Aides$37,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,070 – $48,690-5.4%
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$77,640
Associate's degree
$49,770 – $117,480-5.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMassachusetts	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,790	$36,680 – $57,980	-27.7%
2	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$35,250 – $58,280	-27.2%
3	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,900	$38,380 – $55,730	-19.1%
4	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,670	$49,110 – $86,360	-16.9%
5	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$36,410	$34,000 – $43,750	-15.6%
6	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$55,040	$45,750 – $72,920	-15.2%
7	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,340	$42,350 – $66,200	-14.0%
8	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$37,870	$35,590 – $48,140	-13.8%
9	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,040	$47,430 – $85,260	-13.4%
10	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$56,480 – $93,670	-12.6%
11	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$62,290	$48,490 – $98,890	-11.5%
12	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,910	$44,390 – $72,180	-11.3%
13	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,310	$37,430 – $70,210	-11.1%
14	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$42,220 – $100,430	-11.0%
15	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$45,990 – $75,560	-10.8%
16	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$35,440 – $57,250	-10.1%
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,740	$58,650 – $123,260	-9.7%
18	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,940	$45,770 – $70,760	-9.5%
19	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$106,640	$70,590 – $167,590	-9.4%
20	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,080	$64,530 – $173,680	-9.0%
21	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,970	$38,730 – $76,420	-9.0%
22	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$42,810 – $77,920	-8.2%
23	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$128,390	$77,060 – $168,310	-8.2%
24	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,490	$52,660 – $108,020	-8.1%
25	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$37,460 – $64,160	-8.1%
26	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,810	$31,200 – $79,660	-8.0%
27	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$70,320	$47,530 – $102,570	-7.9%
28	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,910	$39,610 – $75,340	-7.8%
29	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,250	$44,890 – $83,620	-7.8%
30	Locksmiths and Safe RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$49,230 – $100,340	-7.8%
31	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,500	$45,130 – $134,820	-7.6%
32	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,230	$47,200 – $93,810	-7.4%
33	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$35,520	$32,180 – $44,020	-7.1%
34	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,280	$34,390 – $58,050	-6.9%
35	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$34,200	$31,270 – $44,010	-6.9%
36	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$59,830	$40,760 – $81,080	-6.8%
37	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,480	$38,580 – $66,630	-6.8%
38	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,910	$36,440 – $47,000	-6.7%
39	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,120	$35,440 – $74,880	-6.6%
40	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$44,290	$32,550 – $53,780	-6.4%
41	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,520	$32,370 – $59,940	-6.4%
42	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$35,750 – $69,770	-6.4%
43	Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsBachelor's degree	$80,640	$57,900 – $109,820	-6.3%
44	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,430	$38,450 – $64,980	-6.2%
45	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$110,980	$76,750 – $168,910	-6.2%
46	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$55,840	$42,970 – $71,130	-5.9%
47	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$75,070	$48,740 – $104,950	-5.8%
48	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	-5.6%
49	Physical Therapist AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,440	$35,070 – $48,690	-5.4%
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,640	$49,770 – $117,480	-5.3%

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

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

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Massachusetts, 2024–34

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34