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13 Dying Jobs That Aren't Worth Pursuing at This Point

These roles still pay steady wages, but the hiring trend is pointed down, so it pays to look before you leap.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Nov. 14, 2026

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Not every job with decent pay is a job worth chasing right now. Some fields that used to feel dependable are quietly shrinking, even when the paychecks still look fine on paper.

That matters if you are weighing whether to spend months or years training for work that may have fewer openings by the time you are ready. Going in with clear eyes beats finding out the hard way, and it never hurts to line up ways to make extra money on the side while you decide.

Editor's note: All salary and employment data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025.

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Word processors and typists

Median annual salary: $49,280

Word processors and typists type letters, reports, and forms from drafts, corrected copy, or voice recordings, along with other clerical tasks as needed. Employment is projected to fall 34% from 2025 to 2035, the steepest drop on this list.

Typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience is required, and the role is learned through short-term on-the-job training.

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Telephone operators

Median annual salary: $41,740

Telephone operators look up directory information, help with billing issues like incorrectly dialed numbers, and sometimes handle emergency calls or assist callers with disabilities. Employment is projected to fall 28% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training are the standard path in, with no prior related experience necessary.

Switchboard operators

Median annual salary: $38,630

Switchboard operators run business phone systems, relaying incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls and passing along messages or information to callers. Employment is projected to fall 26% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically all that is required, and new hires learn the job through short-term on-the-job training without needing prior experience.

Data entry keyers

Median annual salary: $41,340

Data entry keyers input information using a keyboard or other device, verifying data and preparing materials for printing. Employment is projected to fall 26% from 2025 to 2035, a loss of about 33,600 jobs over the decade.

Workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, no prior experience is required, and training happens on the job in a matter of weeks.

Printing press operators

Median annual salary: $45,780

Printing press operators set up and run digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, and other printing machines to produce everything from books to packaging. Employment is projected to fall 9% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry requirement, and workers go through moderate-term on-the-job training to learn the equipment.

Nuclear power reactor operators

Median annual salary: $122,890

Nuclear power reactor operators control reactors, monitor turbines and cooling systems, and direct maintenance and testing to keep plants running safely. Employment is projected to fall 6% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent gets you in the door, but operators must be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, usually starting as unlicensed operators before passing the licensing exam.

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Floral designers

Median annual salary: $37,360

Floral designers arrange fresh, dried, and silk flowers into displays, help customers pick out containers and accessories, and manage incoming shipments and orders. Employment is projected to fall 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings a year.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical starting point, and most designers learn through moderate-term, hands-on training beside an experienced colleague.

Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Median annual salary: $55,570

Legal secretaries and administrative assistants prepare documents like motions and subpoenas under an attorney's or paralegal's supervision and help with legal research. Employment is projected to fall 5% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent plus several months of on-the-job training is the usual path, though some workers add community college or technical school coursework in legal secretarial studies.

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Median annual salary: $89,900

These managers oversee crop production or livestock operations, making calls on planting, harvesting, and herding based on market conditions, disease risk, and soil quality. Employment is projected to fall 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 70,800 openings a year.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry requirement, and most people step in after years of related work experience or with postsecondary coursework in agriculture.

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Woodworkers

Median annual salary: $45,310

Woodworkers build items like cabinets and furniture from wood, veneers, and laminates, running saws and sanding machines and reading blueprints to assemble finished pieces. Employment is projected to fall 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,100 openings a year.

A high school diploma or equivalent is enough to get started, most skills are picked up on the job, and CNC machine certification can help with advancement.

Parking enforcement workers

Median annual salary: $46,730

Parking enforcement workers patrol lots and city streets to monitor parked vehicles and write tickets for overtime or illegal parking. Employment is projected to decline slightly, about 1% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training are typically all that is needed, with no prior experience required.

Mail carriers and postal service workers

Median annual salary: $59,880

Postal service workers collect, sort, and deliver mail along established routes and answer customer questions about postal rules and forms. Employment is projected to decline about 1% from 2025 to 2035 as sorting technology and centralized delivery reduce the need for workers.

No formal educational credential is typically required, though candidates must pass a written exam covering address comparison, forms completion, memory and coding, and personal traits.

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Watch and clock repairers

Median annual salary: $67,230

Watch and clock repairers clean, adjust, and repair the mechanisms inside timepieces, a niche trade with roughly 1,400 workers nationwide. Employment is projected to show little or no change, 0% from 2025 to 2035.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry requirement, and no prior experience is needed, but the fine precision skills take long-term on-the-job training to build.

Bottom line

A shrinking national outlook does not mean every local employer stops hiring tomorrow. Plenty of these roles will still post openings for years, especially in smaller markets or at businesses that need those exact skills.

Still, if you are weighing the cost of a training program or a certification, be honest about the math. Time and tuition deserve a field that is expanding, not one that is slowly thinning out.

Look hard at your own budget and goals before you commit, and try to avoid wasting money on a path you may walk away from in a few years. A little research now can save a lot of regret later.

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