The Vanishing Middle-Class Job: Then vs. Now

Written by Rachel Schneider on May 8, 2025 updated May 10, 2025

A teacher sits on a desk at the front of a classroom, engaging with four students seated at their desks. The classroom has a whiteboard, bookshelves, and educational posters on the walls.

LumiNola/istockphoto

Middle-class jobs used to come with a simple promise: Show up, work hard, and you’d earn a decent living, maybe even a pension. But economic shifts, automation, globalization, and digital disruption have changed the game over the past few decades. Some roles have vanished. Others still exist, but the pay, security, or path to climb the ladder no longer add up to “middle class.” Here’s a look at jobs that used to define the American middle class — and how they’ve changed.

1. Coal Miner

A man in a beanie and worn jacket sits holding a pickaxe, seen from above in black and white. Behind him are wooden planks and a metal colander filled with rocks. — Tinatin1 / istockphoto

Tinatin1 / istockphoto

Then: A tough but reliable job with union wages and community respect
Now: Industry collapse from environmental shifts, automation, and cheaper energy alternatives

2. Auto Assembly Line Worker

A mechanic wearing overalls and gloves inspects the underside of a vehicle, holding a bright flashlight while working in an automotive repair shop. — dusanpetkovic / istockphoto

dusanpetkovic / istockphoto

Then: High-paying, union-backed job with strong benefits
Now: Still exists, but many positions are non-union, temp-based, or moved abroad, so there’s less security and class mobility

3. Travel Agent

A woman in business attire presents travel packages on a whiteboard in a travel agency office, surrounded by posters, brochures, and storage shelves. — South_agency / istockphoto

South_agency / istockphoto

Then: Specialized role with commissions and industry perks
Now: Mostly obsolete outside of niche markets and replaced by DIY travel platforms

4. Traveling Sales Rep

A woman in a blue dress smiles as she greets a man in a suit holding a briefcase at her front door. They are on a porch with black railings, and the house has red brick walls. — Harold M Lambert / Getty Images

Harold M Lambert / Getty Images

Then: White-collar job with commissions, perks, and independence
Now: Many replaced by e-commerce and digital marketing — this role is often downgraded or absorbed into hybrid positions

5. Public School Teacher

A teacher sits at a desk in front of a chalkboard, smiling while writing in a notebook. The desk has a globe, a stack of books, an apple, and a container with pens and pencils. — RichVintage / istockphoto

RichVintage / istockphoto

Then: Cornerstone of the middle class with a secure pension and summers off
Now: Overworked and underpaid in many states — still critical, but often financially strained (leading many to get a summer job)

6. Journalist

A smiling man in vintage attire sits at a desk with a typewriter, surrounded by papers and office items, in a room with Venetian blinds and a city view in the background. — cyano66 / istockphoto

cyano66 / istockphoto

Then: Prestigious, salaried newsroom role with a clear career path
Now: Often freelance, underpaid, and unstable — middle-class status replaced by precarious gig work

7. Bank Teller

A woman behind a glass partition assists a man at a bank counter. Both are engaged in conversation; she is seated at a computer while he stands holding a slip of paper. The background shows typical bank office equipment. — Fly View Productions / istockphoto

Fly View Productions / istockphoto

Then: Entry into a respected, upwardly mobile financial career
Now: Lower wages, fewer positions, and a minimal career ladder — this is often seen as transitional work (or a job, not a career)

8. Retail Store Manager

Two supermarket employees stand in an aisle, one gesturing and explaining something to the other, who listens attentively. Shelves filled with products and price tags are visible on the right. — jacoblund / istockphoto

jacoblund / istockphoto

Then: Solid, salaried position with upward mobility in major chains
Now: Increased pressure, stagnant wages, and job instability — this role often leans working-class now

9. Secretary/Administrative Assistant

A woman with blonde hair and glasses smiles at the camera while sitting at a desk with a computer monitor, paperwork, and office supplies in a brightly lit office. — Silvrshootr / istockphoto

Silvrshootr / istockphoto

Then: Stable, respected office role with room for advancement
Now: Often devalued, multitasked across departments, and typically the lowest-paid person in the office

10. Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent shows a smiling couple around a bright, modern dining and living area with large windows, wooden furniture, and greenery visible outside. — andresr / istockphoto

andresr / istockphoto

Then: Local expert with high commissions and a flexible lifestyle
Now: Oversaturation, commission splits, and tech platforms make this increasingly a side hustle or a high-risk, high-reward gamble

Want to do a deeper dive into the middle class?

Then don’t miss 10 Retro Photos of the Middle-Class American Dream and 10 Middle-Class Cars That Defined the American Family. You should also check out 11 Signs You Grew Up in a Middle-Class Household.