Fastest declining jobs in North Dakota, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in North Dakota, 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 Dakota'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 Dakota run 11.0% below the national average (2024), so a North Dakota salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Dakota.

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

Find high paying jobs in North Dakota

OccupationMedian, North Dakota · Growth 2024–34

1Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$48,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,290 – $66,410-11.8%
2Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $97,470-11.0%
3Tellers$39,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,100 – $47,780-10.3%
4Packers and Packagers, Hand$31,440
No formal educational credential
$22,240 – $42,480-9.4%
5Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-7.5%
6Cooks, Fast Food$30,220
No formal educational credential
$23,060 – $38,480-7.3%
7Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$31,080
No formal educational credential
$26,380 – $39,530-7.2%
8Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$40,320
No formal educational credential
$32,950 – $46,550-6.8%
9Correctional Officers and Jailers$52,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,580 – $62,870-6.4%
10Customer Service Representatives$44,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,190 – $68,350-4.2%
11Cashiers$31,460
No formal educational credential
$27,870 – $37,330-3.9%
12Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$54,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $81,340-3.9%
13Clergy$60,680
Bachelor's degree
$35,740 – $86,840-3.7%
14Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,250 – $78,940-3.7%
15Gambling Dealers$27,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$16,960 – $50,430-3.6%
16Wellhead Pumpers$79,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,530 – $98,570-3.6%
17Insurance Sales Agents$71,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $161,130-3.3%
18Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$46,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $65,370-3.1%
19Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$49,710
Some college, no degree
$37,340 – $66,040-2.5%
20Office Clerks, General$50,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,590 – $74,740-2.1%
21First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$49,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,710 – $77,790-1.9%
22Network and Computer Systems Administrators$86,450
Bachelor's degree
$60,980 – $120,650-1.3%
23Cost Estimators$73,280
Bachelor's degree
$52,730 – $104,050-1.3%
24Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,660
No formal educational credential
$22,020 – $37,670-0.5%
25Compliance Officers$79,440
Bachelor's degree
$56,260 – $116,370-0.2%
26Loan Interviewers and Clerks$51,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,730 – $69,800-0.2%
27Waiters and Waitresses$30,890
No formal educational credential
$18,470 – $60,570+0.5%
28Real Estate Sales Agents$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $115,920+0.6%
29Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,430
Associate's degree
$45,300 – $78,430+0.8%
30Butchers and Meat Cutters$40,080
No formal educational credential
$22,390 – $57,160+1.0%
31Computer User Support Specialists$61,310
Some college, no degree
$45,310 – $92,430+1.1%
32Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$34,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,130 – $77,800+1.2%
33Food Preparation Workers$36,800
No formal educational credential
$28,400 – $43,840+1.2%
34Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$57,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $82,030+1.3%
35Lawyers$106,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,500 – $194,840+1.3%
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$68,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,220 – $103,210+1.8%
37Retail Salespersons$36,040
No formal educational credential
$28,140 – $49,820+2.0%
38Dishwashers$29,980
No formal educational credential
$22,570 – $38,440+2.0%
39Teachers and Instructors, All Other$60,420
Bachelor's degree
$41,250 – $96,220+2.0%
40Computer Network Support Specialists$73,550
Associate's degree
$55,590 – $111,490+2.4%
41Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $60,780+2.4%
42Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$53,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $74,790+2.6%
43Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $131,750+2.7%
44Receptionists and Information Clerks$39,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $52,220+2.8%
45Graphic Designers$56,470
Bachelor's degree
$37,610 – $75,700+2.9%
46Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,050
No formal educational credential
$29,520 – $44,650+3.4%
47Education Administrators, Postsecondary$101,600
Master's degree
$64,420 – $233,160+3.5%
48Managers, All Other$126,440
Bachelor's degree
$77,750 – $190,420+3.6%
49Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,500
Bachelor's degree
$51,870 – $131,620+3.7%
50Production Workers, All Other$45,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $61,930+3.8%

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

#	Occupation	MedianNorth Dakota	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,390	$39,290 – $66,410	-11.8%
2	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,460	$47,960 – $97,470	-11.0%
3	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,300	$37,100 – $47,780	-10.3%
4	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$31,440	$22,240 – $42,480	-9.4%
5	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,040	-7.5%
6	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$30,220	$23,060 – $38,480	-7.3%
7	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$31,080	$26,380 – $39,530	-7.2%
8	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$40,320	$32,950 – $46,550	-6.8%
9	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,460	$47,580 – $62,870	-6.4%
10	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,670	$34,190 – $68,350	-4.2%
11	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$31,460	$27,870 – $37,330	-3.9%
12	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,200	$38,520 – $81,340	-3.9%
13	ClergyBachelor's degree	$60,680	$35,740 – $86,840	-3.7%
14	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$47,250 – $78,940	-3.7%
15	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,370	$16,960 – $50,430	-3.6%
16	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,820	$61,530 – $98,570	-3.6%
17	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,220	$46,770 – $161,130	-3.3%
18	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,730	$35,710 – $65,370	-3.1%
19	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$49,710	$37,340 – $66,040	-2.5%
20	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,160	$33,590 – $74,740	-2.1%
21	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,350	$37,710 – $77,790	-1.9%
22	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$86,450	$60,980 – $120,650	-1.3%
23	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$73,280	$52,730 – $104,050	-1.3%
24	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,660	$22,020 – $37,670	-0.5%
25	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$79,440	$56,260 – $116,370	-0.2%
26	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,290	$42,730 – $69,800	-0.2%
27	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$30,890	$18,470 – $60,570	+0.5%
28	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$36,500 – $115,920	+0.6%
29	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,430	$45,300 – $78,430	+0.8%
30	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$40,080	$22,390 – $57,160	+1.0%
31	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,310	$45,310 – $92,430	+1.1%
32	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,850	$24,130 – $77,800	+1.2%
33	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,800	$28,400 – $43,840	+1.2%
34	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,580	$38,560 – $82,030	+1.3%
35	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$106,880	$70,500 – $194,840	+1.3%
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,720	$43,220 – $103,210	+1.8%
37	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$36,040	$28,140 – $49,820	+2.0%
38	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,980	$22,570 – $38,440	+2.0%
39	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$60,420	$41,250 – $96,220	+2.0%
40	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,550	$55,590 – $111,490	+2.4%
41	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,480	$34,920 – $60,780	+2.4%
42	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,850	$38,790 – $74,790	+2.6%
43	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,250	$45,060 – $131,750	+2.7%
44	Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,530	$29,570 – $52,220	+2.8%
45	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$56,470	$37,610 – $75,700	+2.9%
46	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,050	$29,520 – $44,650	+3.4%
47	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$101,600	$64,420 – $233,160	+3.5%
48	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$126,440	$77,750 – $190,420	+3.6%
49	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,500	$51,870 – $131,620	+3.7%
50	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,100	$38,090 – $61,930	+3.8%

More for North Dakota

Metro areas in North Dakota

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 Dakota

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in North Dakota, 2024–34

More for North Dakota

Metro areas in North Dakota

By field in North Dakota

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34