Fastest declining jobs in North Carolina, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina'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 North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average (2024), so a North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

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

Find high paying jobs in North Carolina

OccupationMedian, North Carolina · Growth 2024–34

1Data Entry Keyers$39,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,780 – $52,620-24.9%
2Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$38,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,510 – $46,340-23.6%
3Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$47,910
No formal educational credential
$33,330 – $60,070-21.9%
4Telemarketers$34,380
No formal educational credential
$27,380 – $52,500-21.8%
5Order Clerks$46,060
Some college, no degree
$34,510 – $61,580-16.1%
6Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$45,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,980 – $95,660-15.9%
7Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$53,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,620 – $74,480-15.8%
8Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$44,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $49,680-15.0%
9File Clerks$43,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,520 – $56,790-14.9%
10Power Plant Operators$108,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,580 – $132,040-14.2%
11Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$29,300
No formal educational credential
$23,230 – $36,030-13.6%
12Machine Feeders and Offbearers$37,370
No formal educational credential
$30,260 – $48,130-13.0%
13Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$51,810
Bachelor's degree
$40,440 – $72,130-12.8%
14Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$37,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,190 – $46,460-12.7%
15Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$36,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,650 – $47,870-12.5%
16Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$48,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $68,790-11.9%
17New Accounts Clerks$49,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,690 – $71,300-11.4%
18Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,260 – $57,770-11.3%
19Tellers$44,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,550 – $50,450-11.0%
20Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters$39,230
No formal educational credential
$35,530 – $47,420-10.8%
21Bill and Account Collectors$42,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,960 – $58,720-10.8%
22Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$36,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,370 – $44,130-10.6%
23Meter Readers, Utilities$41,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,730 – $62,200-10.4%
24Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$39,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,710 – $51,000-9.8%
25Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$51,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,240 – $70,060-9.5%
26Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,160 – $55,290-9.2%
27Nuclear Engineers$131,850
Bachelor's degree
$96,300 – $166,200-9.2%
28Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,580 – $75,660-8.8%
29Procurement Clerks$50,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,990 – $64,330-8.3%
30Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers$37,370
No formal educational credential
$36,180 – $44,290-8.2%
31Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,180 – $62,120-8.1%
32Cooks, Fast Food$27,190
No formal educational credential
$21,890 – $34,860-8.0%
33Upholsterers$50,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,270 – $74,490-8.0%
34Correctional Officers and Jailers$50,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,850 – $63,150-7.7%
35Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $80,770-7.5%
36Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$43,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,570 – $58,980-7.5%
37Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,780 – $50,900-7.5%
38Locksmiths and Safe Repairers$45,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,020 – $71,040-7.5%
39Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,910
Bachelor's degree
$22,540 – $176,730-7.5%
40Helpers--Production Workers$39,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,350 – $50,580-7.4%
41Sewing Machine Operators$35,160
No formal educational credential
$26,560 – $48,570-7.3%
42Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$51,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $78,380-7.3%
43Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,690 – $58,950-7.2%
44Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $62,780-7.0%
45Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$34,720
No formal educational credential
$23,830 – $40,930-6.8%
46Chemical Plant and System Operators$62,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,790 – $78,580-6.8%
47Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $73,840-6.7%
48Logging Equipment Operators$48,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $78,010-6.5%
49Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$35,980
No formal educational credential
$27,230 – $77,980-6.3%
50Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$48,190
Associate's degree
$35,270 – $62,780-6.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianNorth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,610	$31,780 – $52,620	-24.9%
2	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,520	$30,510 – $46,340	-23.6%
3	Cutters and Trimmers, HandNo formal educational credential	$47,910	$33,330 – $60,070	-21.9%
4	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$34,380	$27,380 – $52,500	-21.8%
5	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,060	$34,510 – $61,580	-16.1%
6	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,750	$37,980 – $95,660	-15.9%
7	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,550	$36,620 – $74,480	-15.8%
8	Office Machine Operators, Except ComputerHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,480	$31,200 – $49,680	-15.0%
9	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,260	$31,520 – $56,790	-14.9%
10	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,300	$62,580 – $132,040	-14.2%
11	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$29,300	$23,230 – $36,030	-13.6%
12	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$37,370	$30,260 – $48,130	-13.0%
13	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$51,810	$40,440 – $72,130	-12.8%
14	Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,610	$30,190 – $46,460	-12.7%
15	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,700	$28,650 – $47,870	-12.5%
16	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,990	$35,480 – $68,790	-11.9%
17	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,480	$43,690 – $71,300	-11.4%
18	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,540	$30,260 – $57,770	-11.3%
19	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,830	$37,550 – $50,450	-11.0%
20	Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble SettersNo formal educational credential	$39,230	$35,530 – $47,420	-10.8%
21	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,910	$24,960 – $58,720	-10.8%
22	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,580	$30,370 – $44,130	-10.6%
23	Meter Readers, UtilitiesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,830	$33,730 – $62,200	-10.4%
24	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,200	$31,710 – $51,000	-9.8%
25	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,930	$47,240 – $70,060	-9.5%
26	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,460	$30,160 – $55,290	-9.2%
27	Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree	$131,850	$96,300 – $166,200	-9.2%
28	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,700	$36,580 – $75,660	-8.8%
29	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,390	$37,990 – $64,330	-8.3%
30	Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related WorkersNo formal educational credential	$37,370	$36,180 – $44,290	-8.2%
31	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,400	$35,180 – $62,120	-8.1%
32	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$27,190	$21,890 – $34,860	-8.0%
33	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,600	$38,270 – $74,490	-8.0%
34	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,550	$38,850 – $63,150	-7.7%
35	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,440	$37,410 – $80,770	-7.5%
36	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,040	$32,570 – $58,980	-7.5%
37	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,280	$27,780 – $50,900	-7.5%
38	Locksmiths and Safe RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,900	$29,020 – $71,040	-7.5%
39	Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysBachelor's degree	$47,910	$22,540 – $176,730	-7.5%
40	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,410	$30,350 – $50,580	-7.4%
41	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$35,160	$26,560 – $48,570	-7.3%
42	Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,180	$38,780 – $78,380	-7.3%
43	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,770	$34,690 – $58,950	-7.2%
44	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,020	$36,380 – $62,780	-7.0%
45	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNo formal educational credential	$34,720	$23,830 – $40,930	-6.8%
46	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,920	$50,790 – $78,580	-6.8%
47	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,140	$36,120 – $73,840	-6.7%
48	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,420	$37,800 – $78,010	-6.5%
49	Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$35,980	$27,230 – $77,980	-6.3%
50	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$48,190	$35,270 – $62,780	-6.3%

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

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

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in North Carolina, 2024–34

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34