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15 Dead End Jobs To Avoid at All Costs

The difference between a dead-end job and a thriving career might be how you market the skills you already have.

By Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore

Edited by Jessica Gibson

Updated Nov. 20, 2025

With the rise of automation, many career paths once seen as stable or thriving no longer guarantee that.

Because high-demand jobs often have negotiating power for skilled workers, pursuing a path with solid projected job growth over the coming years can help you find fulfillment and stop living paycheck to paycheck.

Here's a roundup of 15 gigs that data suggest may be dead-ends in the coming years, and what promising paths you might consider instead.

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Telemarketer

Telemarketers, who contact potential customers by phone and attempt to sell products or services, were once in high demand, but as more advertising and promotion is done online, projected job growth is minimal.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics named telemarketing one of the fastest declining jobs in the U.S. Pivoting to related sales roles can open many more opportunities.

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Data entry clerk

Data entry or information clerk employment is expected to drop in the coming years. Not a great job if you are looking to earn extra income.

Since these employees perform routine tasks such as maintaining company records and data, automation will make many of their jobs obsolete. However, data analysis is a thriving industry.

Bank teller

Banking is another industry in which the majority of business is done online. Some services require people to visit banks, but with a bleak job outlook for the coming years, tellers may want to consider pivoting to online support instead.

The BLS projects that teller employment will decline by 13% over the next decade.

Retail cashier

As automated checkout becomes the norm at more stores, the BLS expects the number of retail cashiers to drop by 10% between 2024 and 2034.

If you work in the industry, consider pivoting into a sales associate or customer support role that is less likely to be automated.

Print journalist

Those who work in traditional print media will likely continue to see a decline in employment opportunities. The BLS projects that employment of all news analysts, reporters, and journalists will drop 4% over the decade.

Fortunately, many editorial skills can be transferred to digital media and content creation.

Tax preparer

With sophisticated tax preparation software that is becoming increasingly user-friendly, many Americans now file their taxes using programs like H&R Block or FreeTaxUSA.

While fewer tax preparers may be needed, there's still plenty of work for accountants, with the BLS projecting 5% job growth for accountants and auditors over the decade.

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Assembly line worker

Working on an assembly line was once an excellent way to make a living, but automation has revolutionized this industry as well.

Similar career paths offer more potential, though. For example, the employment of hand laborers, who often work in warehouses, is expected to stay solid over the next decade.

Travel agent

With so much online information, many people book their own travel these days.

Even though travel agents may be less in demand, travel-related content isn't. Those interested in the industry can make money by blogging, creating content, and partnering with brands and advertisers.

Social media expert

While most companies understand the value of a strong social media presence these days, there's also an influx of employees with social media skills, so managing a company's online presence may fall under the job description of those on the PR or marketing team.

It's important to have other marketable skills if you want to work as a social media expert.

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Traditional taxi driver

Since Uber and Lyft came on the scene, traditional taxis have become significantly less popular.

But a driving job is not necessarily a dead end; you might just have to pivot. According to BLS data, the employment of shuttle drivers and chauffeurs is projected to grow 9% over the decade.

Fast food worker

With the rise of kiosk ordering, fast food restaurants are increasingly turning to automation, but that doesn't mean there's no opportunity in the industry. The BLS projects that employment of food and beverage serving and related workers will grow 5% over the decade.

Many other restaurant roles, from serving to food service management, offer growth opportunities.

Computer programmer

While computer programmers were once in high demand, AI can increasingly write, modify, and test code for computer software and applications.

The BLS projects that employment for programmers will drop by 6% over the decade. Fortunately, many tech-related skills are transferable to other industries.

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Legal assistant

Legal assistants used to handle tasks like research and documentation, but AI-powered tools can now often handle them. Employment for these workers is expected to remain the same over the decade.

Still, law firms will continue to need workers who are not lawyers, like legal technology support specialists.

Administrative assistant

Many industries are phasing out administrative assistant work as the clerical and organizational tasks these workers typically handled can now often be automated.

Those with admin experience may want to consider industries with more job security, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation.

Insurance underwriter

With the rise of AI-powered tools, the main task for underwriters, evaluating insurance applications, doesn't require the staffing it once did. The BLS projects that employment of insurance underwriters will drop 3% over the decade.

However, those with insurance experience can likely pivot into other financial and project management roles.

Bottom line

Unfortunately, many Americans feel they have to earn extra income outside of work these days.

That's why it's always a smart money move to pivot into a job with a bit more security, which gives you more bargaining power during salary talks.

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