Fastest declining jobs in Montana, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Montana, 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 Montana'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 Montana run 5.4% below the national average (2024), so a Montana salary is worth about 1.06× 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 Montana.

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

Find high paying jobs in Montana

OccupationMedian, Montana · Growth 2024–34

1Cooks, Fast Food$26,770
No formal educational credential
$22,090 – $47,100-13.0%
2File Clerks$38,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,150 – $49,660-12.9%
3Tellers$38,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $45,040-12.7%
4Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,910 – $78,500-11.3%
5Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$42,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,220 – $56,270-8.2%
6Computer User Support Specialists$58,460
Some college, no degree
$41,530 – $79,000-6.1%
7Network and Computer Systems Administrators$80,950
Bachelor's degree
$60,890 – $108,290-5.5%
8Tutors$41,380
Some college, no degree
$30,580 – $58,380-5.4%
9Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants—
High school diploma or equivalent
—
— – —-5.3%
10Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $101,390-4.8%
11Packers and Packagers, Hand$34,960
No formal educational credential
$22,980 – $45,950-4.2%
12Forest and Conservation Technicians$52,420
Associate's degree
$41,660 – $80,540-3.9%
13Computer Network Support Specialists$61,150
Associate's degree
$49,520 – $93,270-3.3%
14Correctional Officers and Jailers$49,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,690 – $62,730-3.1%
15Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$110,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,760 – $155,440-2.9%
16Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$43,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $59,300-2.7%
17Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $81,420-2.6%
18Customer Service Representatives$45,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,100 – $62,250-2.2%
19Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,270
Some college, no degree
$34,270 – $63,980-2.2%
20Loan Interviewers and Clerks$48,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,040 – $59,770-2.0%
21First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,150 – $128,850-1.7%
22Office Clerks, General$46,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,200 – $65,090-1.7%
23Bus Drivers, School$46,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $57,870-1.6%
24Food Preparation Workers$33,860
No formal educational credential
$26,000 – $43,410-1.4%
25Cashiers$34,190
No formal educational credential
$23,900 – $41,590-1.1%
26Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$47,590
Bachelor's degree
$38,570 – $81,070-1.0%
27Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,550
Bachelor's degree
$39,140 – $80,290-1.0%
28Locomotive Engineers$90,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,460 – $126,950-1.0%
29Waiters and Waitresses$23,370
No formal educational credential
$21,940 – $45,420-0.8%
30Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$57,530
Bachelor's degree
$38,160 – $78,450-0.6%
31Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,910
No formal educational credential
$22,700 – $35,980-0.3%
32Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$98,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,760 – $108,160-0.3%
33Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,990
Bachelor's degree
$38,120 – $81,270-0.1%
34Dishwashers$30,130
No formal educational credential
$22,580 – $38,5500.0%
35Security Guards$38,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,800 – $57,310+0.2%
36Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,430 – $55,970+0.3%
37Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$37,840 – $150,320+0.4%
38Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$95,700
Master's degree
$63,960 – $127,800+0.4%
39Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$58,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,520 – $87,020+0.7%
40Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+0.7%
41Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$34,750
Some college, no degree
$23,950 – $45,430+0.7%
42Postal Service Clerks$58,470
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $72,950+0.8%
43Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$83,610
Bachelor's degree
$53,380 – $206,390+1.0%
44Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,290
Associate's degree
$46,140 – $76,660+1.1%
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$49,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $77,320+1.3%
46Real Estate Brokers$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,730 – $123,780+1.5%
47Loan Officers$71,570
Bachelor's degree
$48,130 – $123,130+1.8%
48Real Estate Sales Agents$79,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,010 – $194,630+1.8%
49First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$48,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,520 – $69,640+1.9%
50Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,160 – $75,440+2.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMontana	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$26,770	$22,090 – $47,100	-13.0%
2	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,370	$25,150 – $49,660	-12.9%
3	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,080	$35,830 – $45,040	-12.7%
4	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,040	$37,910 – $78,500	-11.3%
5	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,970	$37,220 – $56,270	-8.2%
6	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,460	$41,530 – $79,000	-6.1%
7	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$80,950	$60,890 – $108,290	-5.5%
8	TutorsSome college, no degree	$41,380	$30,580 – $58,380	-5.4%
9	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	—	—— – —	-5.3%
10	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,860	$46,080 – $101,390	-4.8%
11	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$34,960	$22,980 – $45,950	-4.2%
12	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$52,420	$41,660 – $80,540	-3.9%
13	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,150	$49,520 – $93,270	-3.3%
14	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,180	$44,690 – $62,730	-3.1%
15	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,250	$61,760 – $155,440	-2.9%
16	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,590	$33,280 – $59,300	-2.7%
17	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,040	$37,320 – $81,420	-2.6%
18	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,290	$35,100 – $62,250	-2.2%
19	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$47,270	$34,270 – $63,980	-2.2%
20	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,460	$40,040 – $59,770	-2.0%
21	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,030	$50,150 – $128,850	-1.7%
22	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,480	$32,200 – $65,090	-1.7%
23	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,220	$36,120 – $57,870	-1.6%
24	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,860	$26,000 – $43,410	-1.4%
25	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,190	$23,900 – $41,590	-1.1%
26	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$47,590	$38,570 – $81,070	-1.0%
27	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,550	$39,140 – $80,290	-1.0%
28	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,220	$80,460 – $126,950	-1.0%
29	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$23,370	$21,940 – $45,420	-0.8%
30	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$57,530	$38,160 – $78,450	-0.6%
31	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,910	$22,700 – $35,980	-0.3%
32	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,310	$75,760 – $108,160	-0.3%
33	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$60,990	$38,120 – $81,270	-0.1%
34	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$30,130	$22,580 – $38,550	0.0%
35	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,480	$28,800 – $57,310	+0.2%
36	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,940	$30,430 – $55,970	+0.3%
37	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$77,550	$37,840 – $150,320	+0.4%
38	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$95,700	$63,960 – $127,800	+0.4%
39	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,050	$40,520 – $87,020	+0.7%
40	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,040	+0.7%
41	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$34,750	$23,950 – $45,430	+0.7%
42	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$36,360 – $72,950	+0.8%
43	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$83,610	$53,380 – $206,390	+1.0%
44	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,290	$46,140 – $76,660	+1.1%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,300	$35,360 – $77,320	+1.3%
46	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$24,730 – $123,780	+1.5%
47	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$71,570	$48,130 – $123,130	+1.8%
48	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,100	$49,010 – $194,630	+1.8%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,300	$28,520 – $69,640	+1.9%
50	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,000	$22,160 – $75,440	+2.1%

More for Montana

Metro areas in Montana

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

By field in Montana

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Montana, 2024–34

More for Montana

Metro areas in Montana

By field in Montana

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34