These are the jobs that are disappearing fastest in the US

Thanks in part to email, Facebook, and Twitter, mail carriers may be all but obsolete in the not-so-distant future.

By 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 28% decline in postal-service jobs, about 136,000 fewer positions than 2014.

But mail carriers aren't the only ones whose jobs are disappearing. Technology and market shifts have affected a variety of fields.

Based on the BLS's occupational outlook data, here are 37 jobs that could be on their way out:

37. 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.

Median annual pay: $42,270

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 61,100

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 49,500

Projected decline: 19%

36. Respiratory therapy technicians

They provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

Median annual pay: $49,780

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 10,700

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 8,700

Projected decline: 19.2%

35. Metal and plastic heat-treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend heating-equipment like heat-treating furnaces, induction machines, and vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat-treat metal or plastic objects.

Median annual pay: $37,180

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 21.3

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 17.2

Projected decline: 19.6%

34. Metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

Median annual pay: $38,480

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 42,900

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 34,300

Projected decline: 20%

33. Metal and plastic layout workers

They lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces like sheets, plates, tubes, castings, or machine parts for further processing.

Median annual pay: $45,820

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 13,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 10,700

Projected decline: 20.1%

32. Metal and plastic drilling and boring machine-tool setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic workpieces.

Median annual pay: $36,410

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 17,800

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 14,100

Projected decline: 20.5%

31 (tie). Metal and plastic milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic workpieces.

Median annual pay: $39,840

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 22,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 17,8

Projected decline: 20.6%

30 (tie). Metal and plastic cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Median annual pay: $31,280

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 192,200

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 152,700

Projected decline: 20.6%

29. 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.

Median annual pay: $36,530

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 9,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 7,400

Projected decline: 20.8%

28. Desktop publishers

They format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.

Median annual pay: $39,840

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 14,800

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 11,700

Projected decline: 21%

27 (tie). Metal and plastic model makers

They set up and operate machines like lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects.

Median annual pay: $45,980

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 6,200

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 4,900

Projected decline: 21.5%

26 (tie). Metal and plastic forging machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

Median annual pay: $35,070

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 21,600

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 17,000

Projected decline: 21.5%

25. Textile-winding, -twisting, and drawing-out machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles, or draw out and combine sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers.

Median annual pay: $26,870

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 26,000

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 20,300

Projected decline: 21.7%

24. Metal and plastic grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic workpieces.

Median annual pay: $32,840

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 71,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 55,800

Projected decline: 21.9%

23. Metal and plastic pattern-makers

They lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.

Median annual pay: $40,960

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 3,800

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 2,900

Projected decline: 23.4%

22. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders

They operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.

Median annual pay: $26,340

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 11,700

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 8,900

Projected decline: 23.9%

21. Metal and plastic extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

Median annual pay: $33,120

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 73,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 55,500

Projected decline: 24.4%

20. Prepress technicians and workers

They format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed.

Median annual pay: $38,270

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 36,500

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 27,500

Projected decline: 24.6%

19. Metal and plastic molding, core making, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or core-making machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Median annual pay: $29,340

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 129,500

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 97,200

Projected decline: 25%

17 (tie). Watch repairers

They repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks.

Median annual pay: $34,750

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 2,700

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 2,000

Projected decline: 25.7

17 (tie). Textile cutting-machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.

Median annual pay: $25,490

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 14,300

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 10,600

Projected decline: 25.7%

16. Fabric and apparel pattern-makers

They draw and construct sets of precision master-fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.

Median annual pay: $43,900

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 5,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 4,000

Projected decline: 26%

12 (tie). 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.

Median annual pay: $70,640

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 17,300

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 12,800

Projected decline: 26.2%

12 (tie). Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders

They set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.

Median annual pay: $27,220

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 27,900

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 20,600

Projected decline: 26.2%

12 (tie). Postal-service clerks

They perform any combination of tasks in a post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; place mail in pigeon holes of a mail rack or in bags; and examine mail for correct postage.

Median annual pay: $56,790

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 69,600

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 51,300

Projected decline: 26.2%

12 (tie). Postal-service mail carriers

They sort mail for delivery and deliver mail on an established route by vehicle or on foot.

Median annual pay: $58,280

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 297,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 219,400

Projected decline: 26.2%

11. 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.

Median annual pay: $33,850

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 9,800

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 7,200

Projected decline: 26.6%

10. Sewing-machine operators

They operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.

Median annual pay: $22,550

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 153,900

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 112,200

Projected decline: 27.1%

9. Foundry mold and core makers

They make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

Median annual pay: $32,680

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 12,000

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 8,700

Projected decline: 27.7%

8. Manufactured building and mobile-home installers

They move or install mobile homes or prefabricated buildings.

Median annual pay: $30,050

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 4,000

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 2,800

Projected decline: 30%

7. Shoe-machine operators and tenders

They operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.

Median annual pay: $25,190

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 3,500

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 2,500

Projected decline: 30.5%

5 (tie). Photographic-process workers and processing-machine operators

They perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. They may also perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

Median annual pay: $26,590

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 28,800

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 19,400

Projected decline: 32.9%

5 (tie). Switchboard operators, including answering service

They operate telephone business-systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.

Median annual pay: $27,440

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 112,400

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 75,400

Projected decline: 32.9%

4. Postal-service mail sorters, processors, and processing-machine operators

They prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. They also examine, sort, and route mail; load, operate, and occasionally adjust and repair mail processing, sorting, and canceling machinery; keep records of shipments, pouches, and sacks; and perform other duties related to mail handling within the postal service.

Median annual pay: $56,740

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 117,600

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 78,000

Projected decline: 33.7%

3. Telephone operators

They provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. They assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.

Median annual pay: $35,880

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 13,100

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 7,500

Projected decline: 42.4%

2. Motor vehicle electronic-equipment installers and repairers

They install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles.

Median annual pay: $31,360

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 11,500

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 5,800

Projected decline: 50%

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.

Median annual pay: $48,470

Number of people who held this job in the US in 2014: 1,700

Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2024: 500

Projected decline: 69.9%