Fastest declining jobs in Michigan, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Michigan, 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 Michigan'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 Michigan run 3.8% below the national average (2024), so a Michigan salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Michigan.

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

Find high paying jobs in Michigan

OccupationMedian, Michigan · Growth 2024–34

1Word Processors and Typists$47,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,940 – $59,470-36.4%
2Foundry Mold and Coremakers$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $59,540-29.4%
3Data Entry Keyers$38,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,370 – $52,100-26.4%
4Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $77,750-26.2%
5Telemarketers$33,040
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $38,310-24.1%
6Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,820 – $69,100-22.8%
7Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,640
Bachelor's degree
$25,960 – $130,350-22.1%
8Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$47,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,960 – $67,580-20.5%
9Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $76,720-20.3%
10Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $78,200-19.9%
11Cooks, Fast Food$29,460
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $37,240-19.5%
12Order Clerks$44,240
Some college, no degree
$34,060 – $61,830-19.2%
13Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $62,430-18.9%
14Tool and Die Makers$65,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,930 – $92,910-18.5%
15Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,400 – $51,850-18.3%
16Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,790 – $61,990-18.1%
17File Clerks$43,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,750 – $61,900-17.2%
18Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,850 – $60,090-17.0%
19Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $70,310-16.7%
20Broadcast Technicians$47,730
Associate's degree
$28,660 – $86,540-16.5%
21Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$42,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $55,830-16.4%
22Carpet Installers$48,790
No formal educational credential
$29,210 – $78,730-16.2%
23Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$59,900
Bachelor's degree
$39,600 – $78,420-16.0%
24Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$30,530
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $37,330-15.8%
25Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$36,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,150 – $50,530-15.7%
26Machine Feeders and Offbearers$42,320
No formal educational credential
$32,910 – $47,870-15.7%
27Advertising Sales Agents$64,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,180 – $134,950-15.4%
28Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$47,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $62,800-14.9%
29Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$40,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,540 – $55,560-14.6%
30Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,060 – $99,010-14.3%
31Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,570 – $63,020-14.1%
32News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,760
Bachelor's degree
$35,400 – $144,750-13.8%
33Cashiers$29,740
No formal educational credential
$26,660 – $36,560-13.5%
34New Accounts Clerks$46,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $59,430-13.2%
35Power Plant Operators$105,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,520 – $131,250-12.9%
36Tellers$39,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,330 – $47,480-12.9%
37Helpers--Production Workers$41,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $50,240-12.2%
38Computer Programmers$65,860
Bachelor's degree
$35,600 – $127,850-11.9%
39Bill and Account Collectors$47,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,930 – $62,970-11.5%
40Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,200 – $61,170-11.3%
41Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$56,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $78,510-11.1%
42Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$56,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $79,970-10.9%
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,650 – $85,090-10.9%
44Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $84,450-10.7%
45Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-10.0%
46Prepress Technicians and Workers$46,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,340 – $61,650-9.5%
47Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$44,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,840 – $62,040-9.5%
48Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$46,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,690 – $60,020-9.5%
49Labor Relations Specialists$73,760
Bachelor's degree
$36,200 – $121,500-9.5%
50Cooks, Short Order$34,510
No formal educational credential
$26,750 – $43,180-9.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMichigan	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Word Processors and TypistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,970	$36,940 – $59,470	-36.4%
2	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$38,180 – $59,540	-29.4%
3	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,080	$33,370 – $52,100	-26.4%
4	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$36,750 – $77,750	-26.2%
5	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$33,040	$25,960 – $38,310	-24.1%
6	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,620	$41,820 – $69,100	-22.8%
7	Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysBachelor's degree	$46,640	$25,960 – $130,350	-22.1%
8	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,950	$37,960 – $67,580	-20.5%
9	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,120	$36,130 – $76,720	-20.3%
10	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$38,560 – $78,200	-19.9%
11	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$29,460	$25,960 – $37,240	-19.5%
12	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$44,240	$34,060 – $61,830	-19.2%
13	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,680	$36,630 – $62,430	-18.9%
14	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,590	$46,930 – $92,910	-18.5%
15	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,600	$32,400 – $51,850	-18.3%
16	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,560	$40,790 – $61,990	-18.1%
17	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,950	$31,750 – $61,900	-17.2%
18	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,460	$35,850 – $60,090	-17.0%
19	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,400	$39,170 – $70,310	-16.7%
20	Broadcast TechniciansAssociate's degree	$47,730	$28,660 – $86,540	-16.5%
21	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,530	$35,480 – $55,830	-16.4%
22	Carpet InstallersNo formal educational credential	$48,790	$29,210 – $78,730	-16.2%
23	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$59,900	$39,600 – $78,420	-16.0%
24	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$30,530	$25,960 – $37,330	-15.8%
25	Office Machine Operators, Except ComputerHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,880	$30,150 – $50,530	-15.7%
26	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$42,320	$32,910 – $47,870	-15.7%
27	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,800	$40,180 – $134,950	-15.4%
28	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,250	$36,190 – $62,800	-14.9%
29	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,110	$36,540 – $55,560	-14.6%
30	Model Makers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$38,060 – $99,010	-14.3%
31	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,090	$37,570 – $63,020	-14.1%
32	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$62,760	$35,400 – $144,750	-13.8%
33	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$29,740	$26,660 – $36,560	-13.5%
34	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,780	$38,180 – $59,430	-13.2%
35	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,820	$74,520 – $131,250	-12.9%
36	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,240	$35,330 – $47,480	-12.9%
37	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,660	$32,240 – $50,240	-12.2%
38	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$65,860	$35,600 – $127,850	-11.9%
39	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,130	$35,930 – $62,970	-11.5%
40	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,140	$35,200 – $61,170	-11.3%
41	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,870	$36,860 – $78,510	-11.1%
42	Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,610	$37,770 – $79,970	-10.9%
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,700	$44,650 – $85,090	-10.9%
44	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,360	$47,440 – $84,450	-10.7%
45	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $75,280	-10.0%
46	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,960	$38,340 – $61,650	-9.5%
47	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,180	$36,840 – $62,040	-9.5%
48	Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,980	$36,690 – $60,020	-9.5%
49	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$73,760	$36,200 – $121,500	-9.5%
50	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$34,510	$26,750 – $43,180	-9.5%

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

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

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Michigan, 2024–34

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34