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13 Dying Jobs That Could Disappear in the Next Few Years

See which roles are shrinking fastest and which skills from them could carry you into something steadier

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Nov. 13, 2026

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Some lines of work do not vanish overnight. They fade as technology, habits, and business models shift, and as employers quietly stop replacing the people who leave.

If your field is one of them, your skills are not suddenly worthless. Plenty of workers treat the early warning signs as a reason to find an online side hustle or move into a related role while they plan the next step.

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

Postal service mail carriers

Median annual salary: $60,550

Mail carriers deliver to homes and businesses along established routes on foot or by vehicle, and many also sell stamps, collect postage due, and answer customer questions. Employment is projected to show 0% change from 2025 to 2035, as package volume growth offsets the long slide in letter mail.

No formal educational credential is required, but applicants must pass a written exam, a criminal background check, a medical assessment, and a drug screening, and carriers need a driver's license and a safe driving record.

Switchboard operators

Median annual salary: $38,630

Switchboard operators run telephone systems that relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls, and they often take messages or give callers basic information. Employment is projected to fall 26% from 2025 to 2035, a net loss of roughly 9,200 jobs, as automated call routing replaces the console.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, no related experience is required, and most operators learn the equipment through short-term on-the-job training.

Data entry keyers

Median annual salary: $41,340

Data entry keyers use a keyboard or similar device to move information from source documents into computer systems and other media. Employment is projected to drop 26% from 2025 to 2035, a net loss of about 33,600 jobs, as scanning, form capture, and software integrations handle the typing.

A high school diploma or equivalent is enough to start, with no prior experience needed and short-term on-the-job training covering the employer's systems.

Word processors and typists

Median annual salary: $49,280

These workers type letters, reports, forms, and other documents from rough drafts, corrected copy, or voice recordings, and they often pick up other clerical tasks. Employment is projected to decline 34% from 2025 to 2035, the steepest drop on this list, as professionals draft their own documents.

A high school diploma or equivalent is standard, with no related experience required and short-term on-the-job training once hired.

Parking enforcement workers

Median annual salary: $46,730

Parking enforcement workers patrol lots and city streets, ticketing overtime violators and illegally parked vehicles. Employment is projected to slip 1% from 2025 to 2035 as cameras, license plate readers, and app-based payment systems take over parts of the job.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, no prior experience is required, and new hires get short-term on-the-job training on local codes and ticketing procedures.

Print binding and finishing workers

Median annual salary: $42,290

These workers bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine, and some set up the binding and finishing equipment. Employment is projected to fall 17% from 2025 to 2035 as print runs shrink and digital reading keeps gaining ground.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, with no prior experience in a related occupation required and moderate-term on-the-job training to learn the role.

Prepress technicians and workers

Median annual salary: $48,690

Prepress technicians format and proof the text and images that designers and clients submit, turning them into finished pages ready to print, and some produce printing plates. Employment is projected to decline 15% from 2025 to 2035, a loss of roughly 3,800 jobs, as design software handles more of the prep work.

Workers typically enter with a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a vocational certificate in graphic arts or printing technology, and need no prior related experience.

Telemarketers

Median annual salary: $35,450

Telemarketers call potential customers to solicit orders or donations, working from scripts and recording responses. Employment is projected to drop 21% from 2025 to 2035, roughly 13,000 fewer jobs, as call blocking, do-not-call rules, and automated outreach cut into the work.

No formal educational credential or prior experience is required, just short-term on-the-job training to learn the scripts and phone systems.

Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers

Median annual salary: $41,380

These workers sell goods and services door-to-door or on the street, demonstrating products, explaining prices, and collecting payment on the spot. Employment is projected to fall 10% from 2025 to 2035, about 5,300 fewer jobs, as online shopping and digital subscriptions replace the doorstep pitch.

No formal educational credential, experience, or license is required, and workers typically learn the job through short-term on-the-job training.

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Median annual salary: $89,900

Farmers and ranchers oversee crop production and livestock, making calls on planting, fertilizing, harvesting, and herding while buying supplies and handling sales records. Employment is projected to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035 as operations consolidate, though about 70,800 openings a year are expected as older operators exit.

A high school diploma or equivalent plus five or more years of related work experience is typical, and coursework in agriculture, natural resources, or business can substitute for some of that experience.

Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Median annual salary: $55,570

These workers prepare summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas under the supervision of an attorney or paralegal, and they help with legal research such as verifying quotes and citations. Employment is projected to decline 5% from 2025 to 2035 as document automation absorbs routine drafting.

A high school diploma or equivalent plus several months of on-the-job training is typical, and some workers take community college or technical school courses in legal office practices.

Floral designers

Median annual salary: $37,360

Floral designers arrange live, dried, and silk flowers into displays, help customers choose containers and accessories, and buy stock from wholesalers. Employment is projected to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035 as the number of florist shops shrinks, though about 5,200 openings a year are still expected.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, with skills learned through moderate-term on-the-job training alongside an experienced designer, and certification is voluntary.

Nuclear power reactor operators

Median annual salary: $122,890

These operators control reactors, adjust power output, and monitor turbines, generators, and cooling systems, responding immediately to anything abnormal. Employment is projected to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035 as older plants retire and newer control systems require fewer people per shift.

A high school diploma or equivalent gets you in the door, but operators must be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, typically starting unlicensed to gain experience before passing a medical exam and the licensing exam.

Bottom line

There is no single villain behind these declines. Automation explains some of them, while consolidation, digital alternatives, and changing spending habits chip away at the rest.

Many of these roles still pay a solid wage and do not require a four-year degree, so a shrinking outlook is not an emergency. It is a reason to take stock and look for ways to grow your money more while the paychecks are steady.

Customer service, attention to detail, logistics, and technical licensing all travel well into fields that are expanding. Treat a fading job title as a cue to plan ahead rather than a reason to panic.

Author Details

Chris Lewis, CEPF

Chris Lewis has spent his career turning data into answers. As the Head of Research at FinanceBuzz and a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, he oversees the data journalism and media relations teams, digging into the personal finance topics that shape Americans' lives at every stage, from Social Security and retirement income to 401(k) strategies, jobs, and real estate.