Fastest declining jobs in Pennsylvania, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average (2024), so a Pennsylvania salary is worth about 1.02× 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 Pennsylvania.

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

Find high paying jobs in Pennsylvania

OccupationMedian, Pennsylvania · Growth 2024–34

1Word Processors and Typists$41,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,400 – $60,060-33.8%
2Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$36,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,270 – $46,590-25.7%
3Data Entry Keyers$38,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,740 – $51,710-25.2%
4Foundry Mold and Coremakers$44,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,280 – $57,900-23.0%
5Telemarketers$28,430
No formal educational credential
$20,800 – $38,140-21.5%
6Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,630 – $76,980-16.6%
7Order Clerks$46,840
Some college, no degree
$36,030 – $58,910-16.5%
8File Clerks$42,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,270 – $60,180-16.0%
9Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$51,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $67,860-15.4%
10Cooks, Fast Food$28,810
No formal educational credential
$22,610 – $42,380-14.3%
11Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$29,880
No formal educational credential
$27,220 – $37,390-14.0%
12Tellers$40,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $49,160-13.0%
13New Accounts Clerks$47,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $58,700-13.0%
14Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$57,230
Bachelor's degree
$42,990 – $86,320-12.8%
15Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$44,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,520 – $65,580-12.7%
16Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$52,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,120 – $64,090-12.5%
17Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$81,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $112,300-12.4%
18Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$36,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,790 – $48,420-11.9%
19Meter Readers, Utilities$78,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,310 – $99,940-11.8%
20Power Plant Operators$95,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,010 – $128,180-11.5%
21Prepress Technicians and Workers$49,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,080 – $61,190-11.3%
22Machine Feeders and Offbearers$41,220
No formal educational credential
$32,230 – $58,920-11.0%
23Bill and Account Collectors$46,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,520 – $64,720-10.4%
24Brokerage Clerks$60,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,770 – $98,610-10.4%
25Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$57,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,570 – $66,500-10.1%
26Carpet Installers$46,030
No formal educational credential
$36,390 – $66,820-9.4%
27Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $62,870-9.3%
28Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,150 – $60,490-9.1%
29Print Binding and Finishing Workers$43,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,750 – $55,730-8.4%
30Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,540 – $60,040-8.3%
31Helpers--Production Workers$41,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $54,550-8.3%
32Advertising Sales Agents$58,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,770 – $115,950-8.0%
33Locksmiths and Safe Repairers$52,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $82,380-8.0%
34Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$45,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $61,620-8.0%
35Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$48,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,640 – $71,970-7.9%
36Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$54,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $74,420-7.7%
37Cashiers$29,220
No formal educational credential
$22,270 – $36,280-7.6%
38Correctional Officers and Jailers$63,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $85,630-7.6%
39Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $63,890-7.5%
40Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$66,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $70,310-7.4%
41Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,680 – $84,570-7.3%
42Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,130 – $70,590-7.3%
43Procurement Clerks$53,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,400 – $71,550-7.3%
44Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,380 – $62,590-7.1%
45Gas Plant Operators$80,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,060 – $102,060-6.8%
46Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,640 – $61,420-6.6%
47Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,270 – $71,570-6.6%
48Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$48,800
Associate's degree
$37,780 – $63,810-6.5%
49Office Clerks, General$44,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,640 – $62,480-6.4%
50Mechanical Drafters$63,480
Associate's degree
$47,700 – $95,130-6.4%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPennsylvania	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Word Processors and TypistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,000	$30,400 – $60,060	-33.8%
2	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,890	$22,270 – $46,590	-25.7%
3	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,810	$29,740 – $51,710	-25.2%
4	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,750	$38,280 – $57,900	-23.0%
5	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$28,430	$20,800 – $38,140	-21.5%
6	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,690	$39,630 – $76,980	-16.6%
7	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,840	$36,030 – $58,910	-16.5%
8	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,920	$32,270 – $60,180	-16.0%
9	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,640	$41,870 – $67,860	-15.4%
10	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,810	$22,610 – $42,380	-14.3%
11	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$29,880	$27,220 – $37,390	-14.0%
12	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,200	$34,750 – $49,160	-13.0%
13	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,330	$38,780 – $58,700	-13.0%
14	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$57,230	$42,990 – $86,320	-12.8%
15	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,070	$30,520 – $65,580	-12.7%
16	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,000	$39,120 – $64,090	-12.5%
17	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,680	$45,000 – $112,300	-12.4%
18	Office Machine Operators, Except ComputerHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,720	$27,790 – $48,420	-11.9%
19	Meter Readers, UtilitiesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,450	$39,310 – $99,940	-11.8%
20	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,800	$64,010 – $128,180	-11.5%
21	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,100	$36,080 – $61,190	-11.3%
22	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$41,220	$32,230 – $58,920	-11.0%
23	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,660	$35,520 – $64,720	-10.4%
24	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,390	$49,770 – $98,610	-10.4%
25	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,020	$43,570 – $66,500	-10.1%
26	Carpet InstallersNo formal educational credential	$46,030	$36,390 – $66,820	-9.4%
27	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,580	$35,710 – $62,870	-9.3%
28	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,590	$36,150 – $60,490	-9.1%
29	Print Binding and Finishing WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,010	$35,750 – $55,730	-8.4%
30	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,650	$36,540 – $60,040	-8.3%
31	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,060	$31,110 – $54,550	-8.3%
32	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,350	$35,770 – $115,950	-8.0%
33	Locksmiths and Safe RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,160	$35,980 – $82,380	-8.0%
34	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,350	$36,080 – $61,620	-8.0%
35	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,170	$29,640 – $71,970	-7.9%
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,590	$40,410 – $74,420	-7.7%
37	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$29,220	$22,270 – $36,280	-7.6%
38	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,460	$46,840 – $85,630	-7.6%
39	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,800	$37,770 – $63,890	-7.5%
40	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,970	$48,240 – $70,310	-7.4%
41	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,280	$31,680 – $84,570	-7.3%
42	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,390	$32,130 – $70,590	-7.3%
43	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,800	$41,400 – $71,550	-7.3%
44	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,860	$35,380 – $62,590	-7.1%
45	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,810	$62,060 – $102,060	-6.8%
46	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,780	$34,640 – $61,420	-6.6%
47	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,550	$38,270 – $71,570	-6.6%
48	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$48,800	$37,780 – $63,810	-6.5%
49	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,950	$29,640 – $62,480	-6.4%
50	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,480	$47,700 – $95,130	-6.4%

More for Pennsylvania

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

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

By field in Pennsylvania

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Pennsylvania, 2024–34

More for Pennsylvania

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

By field in Pennsylvania

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34