1. Locomotive firers
They monitor locomotive instruments and watch for dragging equipment, obstacles on rights-of-way, and train signals during run. They also watch for and relay traffic signals from yard workers to yard engineers in railroad yards.
Projected decline: 78.6%
Median annual pay: $58,230
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 1,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 300
2. Respiratory therapy technicians
They provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
Projected decline: 56.3%
Median annual pay: $49,780
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 10,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 4,700
3. Parking enforcement workers
They patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
Projected decline: 35.3%
Median annual pay: $37,950
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 9,400
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 6,100
4. Word processors and typists
They use a word processor, computer, or typewriter to type letters, reports, forms, or other material from rough draft, corrected copy, or voice recording.
Projected decline: 33.4%
Median annual pay: $38,740
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 74,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 49,900
5. Watch repairers
They repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks.
Projected decline: 28.7%
Median annual pay: $36,740
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 1,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 1,300
6. Motor vehicle electronic equipment installers and repairers
They install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles.
Projected decline: 25.2%
Median annual pay: $32,220
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 12,100
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 9,000
7. Foundry mold and coremakers
They make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Projected decline: 24.0%
Median annual pay: $34,790
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 12,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 9,500
8. Metal pourers and casters
They operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Projected decline: 23.4%
Median annual pay: $36,180
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 8,400
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 6,500
9. Computer operators
They monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral electronic data processing equipment to process business, scientific, engineering, and other data according to operating instructions.
Projected decline: 22.9%
Median annual pay: $42,270
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 51,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 39,700
10. Telephone operators
They provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories.
Projected decline: 22.6%
Median annual pay: $37,000
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 9,100
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 7,000
11. Mine shuttle car operators
They operate diesel or electric-powered shuttle car in underground mine to transport materials from working face to mine cars or conveyor.
Projected decline: 21.9%
Median annual pay: $56,450
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 1,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 1,200
12. Electromechanical equipment assemblers
They assemble or modify electromechanical equipment or devices, such as servomechanisms, gyros, dynamometers, magnetic drums, tape drives, brakes, control linkage, actuators, and appliances.
Projected decline: 21.3%
Median annual pay: $33,350
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 45,700
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 36,000
13. Data entry keyers
They operate data entry devices, such as keyboards or photo composing perforators.
Projected decline: 21.1%
Median annual pay: $30,100
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 203,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 160,800
14. Postmasters and mail superintendents
They plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a US post office, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in an assigned post office.
Projected decline: 20.9%
Median annual pay: $71,670
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 14,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 11,200
15. Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
They assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment, such as computers, test equipment telemetering systems, electric motors, and batteries.
Projected decline: 20.7%
Median annual pay: $31,310
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 218,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 173,600
16. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
They wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments, such as field cores, bobbins, armature cores, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.
Projected decline: 20.6%
Median annual pay: $33,940
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 14,100
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 11,200
17. Hand-grinding and -polishing workers
They grind, sand, or polish using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects.
Projected decline: 20.5%
Median annual pay: $28,720
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 26,600
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 21,100