Occupation Classifications

How the Census categorizes occupations and what each group includes

The occupation table on each district page groups employed residents into 5 broad categories (24 including sub-categories) based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Because these categories are broad, a single group can include many different kinds of work — for example, “Office & administrative support” covers customer service representatives, secretaries, postal workers, and data entry clerks alike. The table below shows what specific occupations fall into each broad category.

Management, Business, Science & Arts

Management, Business & Financial

Category Includes
Management occupations Chief executives, general managers, financial managers, human resources managers, construction managers, medical and health services managers, education administrators, and all other managers
Business & financial operations Accountants and auditors, management analysts, human resources workers, logisticians, project managers, financial analysts, personal financial advisors, insurance underwriters, tax preparers, and related business roles

Computer, Engineering & Science

Category Includes
Computer & mathematical Software developers, computer systems analysts, information security analysts, database administrators, network administrators, computer support specialists, web developers, statisticians, and operations research analysts
Architecture & engineering Civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, biomedical engineers, architects, landscape architects, aerospace engineers, environmental engineers, drafters, and engineering technicians
Life, physical & social science Biologists, chemists, environmental scientists, psychologists, economists, urban planners, medical scientists, physicists, agricultural scientists, and social science research assistants

Healthcare Practitioners & Technical

Category Includes
Health diagnosing & treating practitioners Physicians, surgeons, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physician assistants, veterinarians
Health technologists & technicians Licensed practical nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, radiologic technologists, dental hygienists, pharmacy technicians, surgical technologists, clinical laboratory technicians

Service

Category Includes
Healthcare support Home health aides, personal care aides, nursing assistants, dental assistants, medical assistants, pharmacy aides, phlebotomists, occupational and physical therapy aides
Protective service Firefighters, police officers, correctional officers, security guards, detectives, bailiffs, crossing guards, animal control workers, fire inspectors, emergency dispatchers
Food preparation & serving Cooks, chefs, food preparation workers, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, fast food workers, dishwashers, cafeteria attendants
Building & grounds cleaning & maintenance Janitors and building cleaners, maids and housekeeping cleaners, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, pest control workers, tree trimmers
Personal care & service Hairdressers and cosmetologists, barbers, childcare workers, fitness trainers, recreation workers, animal caretakers, funeral service workers, baggage porters

Sales & Office

Category Includes
Sales & related Retail salespersons, cashiers, insurance sales agents, real estate brokers and agents, securities and financial services sales agents, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, advertising sales agents, travel agents
Office & administrative support Customer service representatives, secretaries and administrative assistants, bookkeeping and accounting clerks, receptionists, data entry workers, postal service workers, shipping and receiving clerks, general office clerks, dispatchers

Natural Resources, Construction & Maintenance

Category Includes
Farming, fishing & forestry Agricultural workers and farmworkers, fishing and hunting workers, logging workers, forest and conservation workers, agricultural inspectors
Construction & extraction Carpenters, electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, construction laborers, painters, roofers, drywall installers, brickmasons, cement masons, structural iron and steel workers, sheet metal workers, construction equipment operators, boilermakers, oil and gas extraction workers
Installation, maintenance & repair Auto service technicians and mechanics, HVAC mechanics and installers, maintenance and repair workers, industrial machinery mechanics, bus and truck mechanics, electrical and electronics repairers, telecommunications line installers, millwrights, home appliance repairers

Production, Transportation & Material Moving

Category Includes
Production occupations Assemblers and fabricators, machinists, welders, food processing workers (butchers, bakers), sewing machine operators, printing press operators, CNC machine operators, packaging workers, laundry workers, tool and die makers, inspectors and testers
Transportation occupations Truck drivers and delivery workers, bus drivers, taxi drivers and rideshare chauffeurs, ambulance drivers, aircraft pilots, locomotive engineers, railroad conductors, flight attendants, parking attendants
Material moving occupations Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers; stockers and order fillers; industrial truck and forklift operators; crane and hoist operators; packers and packagers; refuse and recyclable material collectors

For the full Standard Occupational Classification system, see the BLS SOC documentation.