Fastest declining jobs in Texas, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Texas, 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 Texas'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 Texas run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Texas salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Texas.

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

Find high paying jobs in Texas

OccupationMedian, Texas · Growth 2024–34

1Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$76,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,500 – $100,450-20.4%
2Telephone Operators$41,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,550 – $56,900-20.3%
3Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$38,170
No formal educational credential
$28,430 – $49,370-20.3%
4Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$33,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,140 – $44,100-18.5%
5Data Entry Keyers$38,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,020 – $56,920-17.8%
6Telemarketers$34,290
No formal educational credential
$23,420 – $51,520-16.8%
7Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$48,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $70,950-15.6%
8News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$48,470
Bachelor's degree
$28,990 – $95,830-14.1%
9Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$49,050
Bachelor's degree
$22,990 – $157,830-13.5%
10Power Plant Operators$102,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,500 – $127,710-13.2%
11Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters$39,630
No formal educational credential
$35,990 – $44,460-12.0%
12Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,440 – $56,210-11.5%
13Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$29,680
No formal educational credential
$22,560 – $38,430-11.3%
14Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,110 – $106,740-9.6%
15Power Distributors and Dispatchers$102,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,990 – $126,920-9.4%
16Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$46,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $73,930-9.2%
17Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,750 – $55,390-9.2%
18Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,380 – $52,260-9.2%
19Order Clerks$44,280
Some college, no degree
$33,230 – $61,690-9.0%
20Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,610 – $56,930-8.7%
21Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $75,850-8.3%
22Broadcast Technicians$49,440
Associate's degree
$29,580 – $97,330-8.1%
23Carpet Installers$43,610
No formal educational credential
$31,510 – $81,220-7.9%
24Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$36,090
No formal educational credential
$29,280 – $42,910-7.6%
25File Clerks$39,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,380 – $61,800-7.5%
26Meter Readers, Utilities$43,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,030 – $60,360-7.5%
27Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,600 – $75,730-7.0%
28Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$49,490
Bachelor's degree
$38,640 – $63,790-6.8%
29Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$45,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,710 – $59,830-6.8%
30Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,340 – $57,370-6.5%
31Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$47,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $65,050-6.4%
32New Accounts Clerks$44,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,910 – $54,920-5.6%
33Tellers$38,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,360 – $47,770-5.0%
34Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$37,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,990 – $51,350-5.0%
35Fish and Game Wardens$85,980
Bachelor's degree
$55,430 – $98,070-4.9%
36Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,940 – $69,760-4.9%
37Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles$48,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,640 – $68,410-4.8%
38Correctional Officers and Jailers$52,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,870 – $60,550-4.5%
39Chemical Plant and System Operators$102,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,460 – $124,220-4.2%
40Helpers--Production Workers$36,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,420 – $47,840-3.8%
41Cooks, Fast Food$28,280
No formal educational credential
$20,800 – $39,140-3.1%
42Bill and Account Collectors$45,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,730 – $60,130-2.8%
43Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $64,430-2.6%
44Floral Designers$35,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,900 – $45,240-2.3%
45Tool and Die Makers$55,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,350 – $85,500-2.0%
46Prepress Technicians and Workers$38,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,590 – $57,210-1.9%
47Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$41,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,440 – $76,160-1.8%
48Dental Laboratory Technicians$46,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,160 – $73,400-1.7%
49Logging Equipment Operators$62,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,280 – $72,770-1.2%
50Library Technicians$38,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,840 – $49,210-1.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianTexas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,640	$43,500 – $100,450	-20.4%
2	Telephone OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,250	$34,550 – $56,900	-20.3%
3	Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNo formal educational credential	$38,170	$28,430 – $49,370	-20.3%
4	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,620	$24,140 – $44,100	-18.5%
5	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,880	$28,020 – $56,920	-17.8%
6	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$34,290	$23,420 – $51,520	-16.8%
7	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,490	$36,470 – $70,950	-15.6%
8	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$48,470	$28,990 – $95,830	-14.1%
9	Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysBachelor's degree	$49,050	$22,990 – $157,830	-13.5%
10	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,510	$55,500 – $127,710	-13.2%
11	Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble SettersNo formal educational credential	$39,630	$35,990 – $44,460	-12.0%
12	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,390	$24,440 – $56,210	-11.5%
13	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsNo formal educational credential	$29,680	$22,560 – $38,430	-11.3%
14	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,840	$37,110 – $106,740	-9.6%
15	Power Distributors and DispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,890	$75,990 – $126,920	-9.4%
16	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,670	$38,250 – $73,930	-9.2%
17	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,060	$26,750 – $55,390	-9.2%
18	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,250	$29,380 – $52,260	-9.2%
19	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$44,280	$33,230 – $61,690	-9.0%
20	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,020	$26,610 – $56,930	-8.7%
21	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,090	$36,040 – $75,850	-8.3%
22	Broadcast TechniciansAssociate's degree	$49,440	$29,580 – $97,330	-8.1%
23	Carpet InstallersNo formal educational credential	$43,610	$31,510 – $81,220	-7.9%
24	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNo formal educational credential	$36,090	$29,280 – $42,910	-7.6%
25	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,480	$27,380 – $61,800	-7.5%
26	Meter Readers, UtilitiesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,030	$31,030 – $60,360	-7.5%
27	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,660	$35,600 – $75,730	-7.0%
28	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$49,490	$38,640 – $63,790	-6.8%
29	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,560	$34,710 – $59,830	-6.8%
30	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,720	$34,340 – $57,370	-6.5%
31	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,210	$35,710 – $65,050	-6.4%
32	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,040	$35,910 – $54,920	-5.6%
33	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,050	$30,360 – $47,770	-5.0%
34	Office Machine Operators, Except ComputerHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,060	$24,990 – $51,350	-5.0%
35	Fish and Game WardensBachelor's degree	$85,980	$55,430 – $98,070	-4.9%
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,480	$34,940 – $69,760	-4.9%
37	Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor VehiclesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,730	$32,640 – $68,410	-4.8%
38	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,670	$44,870 – $60,550	-4.5%
39	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,750	$52,460 – $124,220	-4.2%
40	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,610	$28,420 – $47,840	-3.8%
41	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,280	$20,800 – $39,140	-3.1%
42	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,710	$30,730 – $60,130	-2.8%
43	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,320	$31,110 – $64,430	-2.6%
44	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,080	$26,900 – $45,240	-2.3%
45	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,470	$36,350 – $85,500	-2.0%
46	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,410	$30,590 – $57,210	-1.9%
47	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,690	$24,440 – $76,160	-1.8%
48	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,330	$31,160 – $73,400	-1.7%
49	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,890	$32,280 – $72,770	-1.2%
50	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,640	$28,840 – $49,210	-1.1%

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

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

By field in Texas

Without a degree

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

Fastest declining jobs in Texas, 2024–34

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

By field in Texas

Without a degree

Fastest declining jobs in each state, 2024–34