MAJOR OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS: Sample sub-occupations
The federal government classifies workers into categories using the Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system. All of the SOC occupations are included in these 12 broad groups:
Management, business, and financial occupations.
Examples include logisticians, construction managers, and personal financial advisors.
Computer, engineering, and science occupations.
Examples are computer programmers, nuclear engineers, landscape architects, chemists, and political scientists.
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.
Examples include forest and conservation workers, animal breeders, and logging equipment operators. Workers who manage farms or ranches are counted in the management occupations group rather than in this group.
Construction and extraction occupations.
This group includes workers in construction and building trades, such as boilermakers and roofers. It also includes occupations in oil and gas extraction and mining, such as roustabouts and mining machine operators.
Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations.
Examples include teachers, court reporters, social workers, graphic designers, and editors.
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations.
Examples of these workers include dentists, physical therapists, and veterinarians.
Service occupations.
This group includes workers who assist the public, including healthcare support occupations. Firefighters, dental assistants, bartenders, barbers, and pest control workers are examples.
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.
Examples include home appliance repairers, millwrights, and small engine mechanics.
Production occupations.
Examples include machinists, power plant operators, welders, and tailors.
Sales and related occupations.
Office and administrative support occupations.
Examples include order clerks, customer service representatives, tellers, and medical secretaries.
Examples include cashiers, insurance sales agents, and retail salespersons.
Transportation and material moving occupations.
Examples include air traffic controllers, railroad conductors, taxi drivers, and dredge operators.
Detailed descriptions and profiles for individual occupations are available online via the Bureau of Labor Statistics’,
Occupational Outlook Handbook .
Jobs Outlook 2020 provides data for 22 smaller occupational groups in addition to data for individual occupations. The following two pages provide examples of occupations included in these smaller occupational groupings.

MAJOR OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS: Sample sub-occupations
MANAGEMENT

GENERAL & OPERATIONS MANAGERS

LEGISLATORS

COMPUTER & INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGERS

FINANCIAL MANAGERS

POSTMASTERS & MAIL SUPERINTENDENTS

PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE, & COMMUNITY
BUSINESS & FINANCIAL

WHOLESALE & RETAIL BUYERS, EXCEPT FARM PRODUCTS

CLAIMS ADJUSTERS, EXAMINERS, & INVESTIGATORS

COMPLIANCE OFFICERS

COST ESTIMATORS

LOGISTICIANS

ACCOUNTANTS & AUDITORS

APPRAISERS & ASSESSORS OF REAL ESTATE
COMPUTER & MATHEMATICAL SCIENCE

COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS

COMPUTER SOFTWARE ENGINEERS, APPLICATIONS

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYSTS

DATABASE ADMINISTRATORS

ACTUARIES

STATISTICIANS
ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

ARCHITECTS, EXCEPT L&SCAPE & NAVAL

L&SCAPE ARCHITECTS

CARTOGRAPHERS & PHOTOGRAMMETRISTS

SURVEYORS

COMPUTER HARDWARE ENGINEERS

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS

MECHANICAL DRAFTERS
LIFE, PHYSICAL, & SOCIAL SCIENCE

BIOCHEMISTS & BIOPHYSICISTS

MICROBIOLOGISTS

ECONOMISTS

MARKET RESEARCH ANALYSTS

CLINICAL, COUNSELING, & SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS

URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNERS

HISTORIANS

POLITICAL SCIENTISTS
COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES

SUBSTANCE ABUSE & BEHAVIORAL DISORDER COUNSELORS

EDUCATIONAL, GUIDANCE, SCHOOL, & VOCATIONAL
COUNSELORS

MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS

CHILD, FAMILY, & SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS

PROBATION OFFICERS & CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT
SPECIALISTS

CLERGY
LEGAL

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES, ADJUDICATORS, & HEARING
OFFICERS

ARBITRATORS, MEDIATORS, & CONCILIATORS

JUDGES, MAGISTRATE JUDGES, & MAGISTRATES

PARALEGALS & LEGAL ASSISTANTS

TITLE EXAMINERS, ABSTRACTORS, & SEARCHERS
EDUCATION, TRAINING, & LIBRARY

TEACHERS K-12; POST-SECONDARY

LIBRARIANS

INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATORS

TEACHER ASSISTANTS
ARTS, DESIGN, ENTERTAINMENT, & SPORTS MEDIA

FINE ARTISTS, INCLUDING PAINTERS, SCULPTORS, &
ILLUSTRATORS

MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS & ANIMATORS

FLORAL DESIGNERS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

PRODUCERS & DIRECTORS

ATHLETES & SPORTS COMPETITORS

UMPIRES, REFEREES, & OTHER SPORTS OFFICIALS

MUSIC DIRECTORS & COMPOSERS

REPORTERS & CORRESPONDENTS

SOUND ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS

PHOTOGRAPHERS
HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS & TECHNICAL

CHIROPRACTORS

DENTISTS, GENERAL

PODIATRISTS

REGISTERED NURSES

OPTOMETRISTS

PHARMACISTS

VETERINARIANS

HEALTH DIAGNOSING & TREATING PRACTITIONERS

MEDICAL & CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS

DENTAL HYGIENISTS

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS & PARAMEDICS

DIETETIC TECHNICIANS

MEDICAL RECORDS & HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNICIANS

ATHLETIC TRAINERS
HEALTHCARE & SUPPORT

HOME HEALTH AIDES

NURSING AIDES, ORDERLIES, & ATTENDANTS

MASSAGE THERAPISTS

DENTAL ASSISTANTS

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS

PHARMACY AIDES

PROTECTIVE SERVICE

FIREFIGHTERS

FIRE INSPECTORS & INVESTIGATORS

BAILIFFS

CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS & JAILERS

POLICE & SHERIFF'S PATROL OFFICERS

ANIMAL CONTROL WORKERS

CROSSING GUARDS

LIFEGUARDS, SKI PATROL
FOOD PREPARATION & SERVING

CHEFS & HEAD COOKS

BARTENDERS

WAITERS & WAITRESSES

DISHWASHERS
BUILDING, GROUNDS, CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

JANITORS & CLEANERS

MAIDS & HOUSEKEEPING CLEANERS

PEST CONTROL WORKERS

L&SCAPING & GROUNDSKEEPING WORKERS

TREE TRIMMERS & PRUNERS
PERSONAL CARE & SERVICE

ANIMAL TRAINERS

GAMING & SPORTS BOOK WRITERS & RUNNERS

MOTION PICTURE PROJECTIONISTS

USHERS, LOBBY ATTENDANTS, & TICKET TAKERS

AMUSEMENT & RECREATION ATTENDANTS

EMBALMERS, FUNERAL ATTENDANTS

HAIRDRESSERS, HAIRSTYLISTS, & COSMETOLOGISTS

MANICURISTS & PEDICURISTS

CONCIERGES

TOUR GUIDES & ESCORTS

CHILDCARE WORKERS

FITNESS TRAINERS & AEROBICS INSTRUCTORS

RECREATION WORKERS
SALES & RELATED

CASHIERS

RETAIL SALESPERSONS

ADVERTISING SALES AGENTS

INSURANCE SALES AGENTS

SECURITIES, COMMODITIES, & FINANCIAL SALES AGENTS

REAL ESTATE SALES AGENTS

TELEMARKETERS
OFFICE & ADMINISTRATIVE

TELEPHONE OPERATORS

BILL & ACCOUNT COLLECTORS

BILLING & POSTING CLERKS

BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTING, & AUDITING CLERKS

PROCUREMENT CLERKS

TELLERS

COURT, MUNICIPAL, & LICENSE CLERKS
MAJOR OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS: Sample sub-occupations

HOTEL, MOTEL, & RESORT DESK CLERKS

CARGO & FREIGHT AGENTS

COURIERS & MESSENGERS

POLICE, FIRE, & AMBULANCE DISPATCHERS

METER READERS, UTILITIES

POSTAL SERVICE CLERKS

COMPUTER OPERATORS
FARMING, FISHING, FORESTRY

AGRICULTURAL INSPECTORS

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

FARMWORKERS, FARM & RANCH ANIMALS
CONSTRUCTION & EXTRACTION

BRICKMASONS & BLOCKMASONS & STONEMASONS

CARPENTERS, ELECTRICIANS, ROOFERS

EARTH DRILLERS, EXCEPT OIL & GAS

EXPLOSIVES WORKERS, ORDNANCE H&LING EXPERTS, &
BLASTERS
INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, & REPAIR

TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT INSTALLERS &
REPAIRERS, EXCEPT LINE INSTALLERS

AVIONICS TECHNICIANS AIRCRAFT MECHANICS

AUTOMOTIVE BODY & RELATED REPAIRERS

MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS

MILLWRIGHTS

ELECTRICAL POWER-LINE INSTALLERS & REPAIRERS

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT REPAIRERS & TUNERS

WATCH REPAIRERS

LOCKSMITHS & SAFE REPAIRERS
PRODUCTION

BAKERS

BUTCHERS & MEAT CUTTERS

MACHINISTS

TOOL & DIE MAKERS

WELDERS, CUTTERS, SOLDERERS, & BRAZERS

PRESSERS, TEXTILE, GARMENT, & RELATED MATERIALS

SEWING MACHINE OPERATORS

COATING, PAINTING, & SPRAYING MACHINE SETTERS,
OPERATORS, & TENDERS

ETCHERS & ENGRAVERS

MOLDERS, SHAPERS, & CASTERS, EXCEPT METAL & PLASTIC
TRANSPORTATION & MATERIAL MOVING

COMMERCIAL PILOTS

BUS DRIVERS, TRANSIT & INTERCITY

TRUCK DRIVERS, HEAVY & TRACTOR-TRAILER

TAXI DRIVERS & CHAUFFEURS

SAILORS & MARINE OILERS

PARKING LOT & SERVICE STATION ATTENDANTS

CRANE & TOWER OPERATORS

LABORERS & FREIGHT, STOCK, & MATERIAL MOVERS

WELLHEAD PUMPERS

REFUSE & RECYCLABLE MATERIAL COLLEC

MAJOR OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS: Sample sub-occupations