Fastest declining jobs in Puerto Rico, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Puerto Rico, most negative first. A declining projection does not mean a job is disappearing — most of these still hire steadily to replace people who leave.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

Find high paying jobs in Puerto Rico

OccupationMedian, Puerto Rico · Growth 2024–34

1Word Processors and Typists$32,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,850 – $44,680-37.9%
2Sewing Machine Operators$21,840
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $22,550-22.9%
3Data Entry Keyers$23,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $34,420-22.8%
4Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$24,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $37,000-21.1%
5Telemarketers$28,580
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $29,440-16.0%
6Tellers$30,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,650 – $33,220-15.9%
7Packers and Packagers, Hand$21,840
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $23,120-15.8%
8Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$34,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,290 – $48,580-13.9%
9Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$31,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,920 – $47,570-13.5%
10Helpers--Production Workers$22,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $30,320-11.9%
11Cooks, Fast Food$22,640
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $29,000-11.2%
12Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$31,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $46,490-10.6%
13Cashiers$22,140
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $31,940-7.1%
14Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$29,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $40,290-6.9%
15Bill and Account Collectors$25,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $35,690-6.6%
16Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$36,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,650 – $54,450-6.5%
17Printing Press Operators$26,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $47,930-6.0%
18Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$22,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $39,370-6.0%
19Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$31,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,560 – $44,440-5.6%
20Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$21,960
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $53,060-5.6%
21Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$29,080
Associate's degree
$21,840 – $49,870-4.9%
22Office Clerks, General$23,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $38,040-4.7%
23Helpers--Carpenters$24,530
No formal educational credential
$22,240 – $34,180-4.7%
24Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$26,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $45,560-4.6%
25Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$29,000
No formal educational credential
$22,360 – $37,000-4.6%
26Computer Programmers$51,310
Bachelor's degree
$31,980 – $100,110-4.4%
27Cooks, Short Order$22,500
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $23,350-3.9%
28Procurement Clerks$30,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $48,220-3.6%
29Childcare Workers$22,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $30,370-3.3%
30Farm and Home Management Educators$53,160
Master's degree
$49,060 – $67,220-3.1%
31Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$51,540
Bachelor's degree
$28,600 – $73,930-3.1%
32First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$30,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,660 – $51,330-3.0%
33Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$53,160
Bachelor's degree
$49,260 – $65,270-2.6%
34Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$27,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $46,650-2.6%
35Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$52,530
Bachelor's degree
$46,090 – $69,170-2.6%
36Food Preparation Workers$22,400
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $27,550-2.4%
37Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$22,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $37,620-2.4%
38Network and Computer Systems Administrators$54,200
Bachelor's degree
$36,150 – $90,710-2.3%
39Special Education Teachers, Middle School$58,270
Bachelor's degree
$50,490 – $65,170-2.2%
40Bailiffs$37,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,770 – $47,580-2.1%
41Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$28,700
Some college, no degree
$22,900 – $44,830-2.0%
42Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$58,220
Bachelor's degree
$50,700 – $62,780-2.0%
43Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$80,130
Master's degree
$50,780 – $96,740-1.9%
44Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$58,080
Bachelor's degree
$50,670 – $61,530-1.9%
45Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$61,760
Bachelor's degree
$51,230 – $74,830-1.9%
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,100
Bachelor's degree
$39,150 – $73,410-1.9%
47Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,750 – $86,810-1.8%
48Gambling Dealers$22,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $29,910-1.7%
49Customer Service Representatives$26,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $36,310-1.7%
50Food Batchmakers$22,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $28,060-1.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPuerto Rico	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Word Processors and TypistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,270	$22,850 – $44,680	-37.9%
2	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$21,840	$21,840 – $22,550	-22.9%
3	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$23,940	$21,840 – $34,420	-22.8%
4	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$24,960	$21,840 – $37,000	-21.1%
5	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$28,580	$21,840 – $29,440	-16.0%
6	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,430	$22,650 – $33,220	-15.9%
7	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$21,840	$21,840 – $23,120	-15.8%
8	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,200	$24,290 – $48,580	-13.9%
9	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,410	$21,920 – $47,570	-13.5%
10	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,780	$21,840 – $30,320	-11.9%
11	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$22,640	$21,840 – $29,000	-11.2%
12	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,770	$21,840 – $46,490	-10.6%
13	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$22,140	$21,840 – $31,940	-7.1%
14	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,220	$21,840 – $40,290	-6.9%
15	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$25,570	$21,840 – $35,690	-6.6%
16	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,450	$25,650 – $54,450	-6.5%
17	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$26,100	$21,840 – $47,930	-6.0%
18	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,810	$21,840 – $39,370	-6.0%
19	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,000	$23,560 – $44,440	-5.6%
20	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$21,960	$21,840 – $53,060	-5.6%
21	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$29,080	$21,840 – $49,870	-4.9%
22	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$23,860	$21,840 – $38,040	-4.7%
23	Helpers--CarpentersNo formal educational credential	$24,530	$22,240 – $34,180	-4.7%
24	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$26,050	$21,840 – $45,560	-4.6%
25	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$29,000	$22,360 – $37,000	-4.6%
26	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$51,310	$31,980 – $100,110	-4.4%
27	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$22,500	$21,840 – $23,350	-3.9%
28	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,940	$21,840 – $48,220	-3.6%
29	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,600	$21,840 – $30,370	-3.3%
30	Farm and Home Management EducatorsMaster's degree	$53,160	$49,060 – $67,220	-3.1%
31	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$51,540	$28,600 – $73,930	-3.1%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,090	$22,660 – $51,330	-3.0%
33	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$53,160	$49,260 – $65,270	-2.6%
34	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,970	$21,840 – $46,650	-2.6%
35	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$52,530	$46,090 – $69,170	-2.6%
36	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$22,400	$21,840 – $27,550	-2.4%
37	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,530	$21,840 – $37,620	-2.4%
38	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$54,200	$36,150 – $90,710	-2.3%
39	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,270	$50,490 – $65,170	-2.2%
40	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,770	$35,770 – $47,580	-2.1%
41	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$28,700	$22,900 – $44,830	-2.0%
42	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,220	$50,700 – $62,780	-2.0%
43	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$80,130	$50,780 – $96,740	-1.9%
44	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,080	$50,670 – $61,530	-1.9%
45	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$61,760	$51,230 – $74,830	-1.9%
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$59,100	$39,150 – $73,410	-1.9%
47	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,050	$51,750 – $86,810	-1.8%
48	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,930	$21,840 – $29,910	-1.7%
49	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$26,700	$21,840 – $36,310	-1.7%
50	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,270	$21,840 – $28,060	-1.6%

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Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Puerto Rico, 2024–34

More for Puerto Rico

Other metro areas in PR

By field in Puerto Rico

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34