As media coverage tends to favor the latest trends and innovation, some careers find themselves in the shadows, lacking the spotlight that high-growth industries receive.
Everyone wants to know what the most prestigious and fastest-growing jobs are. But the slowest growing jobs are also worthy of attention. And remember, the slowest growing doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the lowest paying or least exciting career choices.
Hold onto your hats as we delve into the careers that might need a few rays of hope to brighten their future.
Here’s how we made our list:
- Our primary source was the US Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment projections for 2021–2031 and 2022 wage data.
- We only looked at jobs that showed positive growth in their projections. This is a list of the slowest-growing jobs rather than the fastest-declining ones that are experiencing negative growth.
- We took the geometric mean of median annual wages and projected employment growth for each occupation.
- The lower the geometric mean, the lower the job in our ranking.
- Each profession included in our ranking pays above $46,310 (the median US annual salary) and has the lowest geometric mean.
- Catchall occupation titles such as “computer occupations, all other” were excluded.
The BLS estimates total employment to grow by 8.3 million jobs from 2021 to 2031.
However, not all jobs were created equal, as growth is not uniform across all occupations and industries. The pace of job development can vary significantly, and this divergence can be caused by several factors.
On the one hand, the reason may be extensive specialization and stringent prerequisites. On the other hand, the culprits may be the decline or extinction of certain professions due to technological advancements, shifts in market demand, or changes in business practices.
1. Dredge operators
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +2.9%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $47,090
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
2. Sailors and marine oilers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.4%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $47,490
- Typical educational requirements: No formal educational credential
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
3. Statistical assistants
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.7%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $48,880
- Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
4. Embalmers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +3.5%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $49,910
- Typical educational requirements: Associate’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Long-term on-the-job training
5. Farm and home management educators
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.5%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $53,450
- Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
6. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +2.1%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $56,340
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
7. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.5%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $56,670
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: Less than 5 years
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Long-term on-the-job training
8. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.1%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $59,860
- Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Short-term on-the-job training
9. Historians
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +4.5%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $64,540
- Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
10. Zoologists and wildlife biologists
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.7%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $67,430
- Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
11. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.2%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $67,540
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
12. Transit and railroad police
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +3.2%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $69,150
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
13. Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +8.3%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $96,500
- Typical educational requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
14. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0,1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.9%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $97,490
- Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
15. Traffic technicians
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +2.3%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $50,050
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
16. Continuous mining machine operators
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $57,360
- Typical educational requirements: No formal educational credential
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
17. Crane and tower operators
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.4%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $61,340
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: Less than 5 years
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
18. Astronomers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +5.6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $128,330
- Typical educational requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
19. Pile driver operators
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $64,310
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
20. Medical dosimetrists
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +2.6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $128,970
- Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
21. Air traffic controllers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $132,250
- Typical educational requirements: Associate’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Long-term on-the-job training
22. Industrial-organizational psychologists
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +3.8%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $139,280
- Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Internship/residency
23. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.3
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $48,810
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: Less than 5 years
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
24. Farm labor contractors
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.3
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +22.3%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $49,330
- Typical educational requirements: No formal educational credential
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: Less than 5 years
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Short-term on-the-job training
25. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +6.6%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $76,440
- Typical educational requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
26. Signal and track switch repairers
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +3.7%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $81,300
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
27. Calibration technologists and technicians
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.3
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +3.9%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $62,050
- Typical educational requirements: Associate’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
28. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.3
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.4%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $63,560
- Typical educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Short-term on-the-job training
29. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.3
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.7%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $64,810
- Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training
30. Sociologists
- Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.2
- Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +5.4%
- Median annual wage in 2022: $98,590
- Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree
- Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None
Key takeaways
That’s how the situation on the market looks like for the slowest growing jobs.
If you found your job on the list, don’t despair, remember that the labor market is a dynamic canvas, subject to constant change.
Who knows, maybe in a few years, with more NASA or SpaceX missions and flights to Mars, an astronomer will become one of the fastest-growing jobs. Or maybe, with the invention of new cancer treatments, medical dosimetrists would be one of the most sought-after professions.
Remember that whether your profession grows slow or fast doesn’t matter; your job satisfaction depends on whether you like your job, feel appreciated, and find avenues for continuous growth. When you genuinely enjoy what you do, a sense of fulfillment infuses your daily tasks, transforming them into meaningful contributions.
Feeling valued for your efforts and contributions boosts morale and cultivates a positive work environment where your potential can flourish. Yet, the journey doesn’t stop there – the opportunity for ongoing personal and professional development ensures that you remain engaged, challenged, and ready to seize new prospects.
Sources
- Resume Genius, “Top 30 Fastest-Growing, High-Paying Jobs: 2024 Ranking”
- Gallup, “State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report”
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment Projections 2021–2031”
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