Standard Occupational Classification System
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is a federal statistical standard used by U.S. federal agencies to classify workers into occupational categories based on the work they perform, rather than job titles, education, or certification, for the purpose of collecting, calculating, analyzing, and disseminating occupational data.[1] Introduced in 1977 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the SOC provides a hierarchical, numerical coding framework that ensures comparability of occupational statistics across government programs, supporting labor market analysis, policy development, workforce planning, and services for employers, educators, jobseekers, and researchers.[2] The SOC system has evolved through periodic revisions to reflect changes in the economy, technology, and workforce composition, with major updates occurring approximately every decade.[2] Key revisions include those in 1980, 2000, 2010, and 2018, each managed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in collaboration with the SOC Policy Committee, involving input from federal agencies, subject matter experts, and public comments solicited via Federal Register notices.[2][3] The OMB oversees the final approval of these revisions, ensuring the system remains a universal tool for all paid occupations in the national economy while excluding military-specific roles.[2] The current 2018 version, the most recent as of 2025, incorporates advancements such as new detailed occupations for emerging fields like data science.[2][4] Structurally, the 2018 SOC organizes occupations into a four-level hierarchy: 23 major groups (e.g., 11-0000 Management Occupations, 15-0000 Computer and Mathematical Occupations), 98 minor groups, 459 broad occupations, and 867 detailed occupations, each assigned a six-digit code where the digits indicate the level of aggregation.[2] For instance, the detailed occupation "Software Developers" is coded 15-1252 within the major group 15-0000.[2] This design groups similar jobs by duties, skills, education, and training, with tools like crosswalks and the Direct Match Title File aiding transitions between revisions and mappings from other systems.[2] The system underpins major BLS programs, including the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey and Current Population Survey, and is integral to national efforts like the decennial census.[2] A revision process for the 2028 SOC is underway, with planning beginning in late 2023 to address ongoing labor market shifts.[5]Purpose and Overview
Objectives and Scope
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System serves as the federal standard for categorizing workers into occupational groups based on their job duties, skills, education, training, and credentials, enabling consistent collection, analysis, and dissemination of occupational data across U.S. government agencies.[2] This classification framework supports a wide range of applications, including labor market analysis, policy development, and resource allocation by federal statistical agencies, as well as practical uses by employers for salary setting, jobseekers for career planning, and educational institutions for program design.[2] By providing a standardized structure, the SOC ensures comparability of workforce data over time and across different surveys and programs.[2] The scope of the SOC encompasses all civilian occupations within the U.S. economy, covering both public and private sector roles performed for pay or profit, while excluding military-specific occupations—such as those in Major Group 55-0000—and unpaid volunteer work.[2] It is integral to major federal surveys, including the Current Population Survey (CPS) for employment estimates and the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program for wage data, which rely on SOC categories to produce reliable national and regional labor statistics.[2] This broad applicability makes the SOC a foundational tool for understanding occupational trends and workforce composition in the civilian labor market.[2] Unlike industry classification systems such as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which categorize establishments based on the type of goods or services produced, the SOC focuses exclusively on the work performed by individuals, regardless of the industry or organization where it occurs.[2] Core principles guiding the SOC include basing classifications on job tasks and duties rather than worker characteristics like age, gender, or personal attributes, thereby promoting objectivity in data categorization.[2] Additionally, the system adheres to mutual exclusivity, assigning each worker to a single detailed occupation out of 867 total categories, and exhaustiveness, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the civilian workforce through inclusive groupings and "All Other" categories for emerging or niche roles.[2]Development and Governance
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is administered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as the lead federal agency responsible for its implementation and coordination across statistical programs.[1] This administration occurs under the oversight of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which establishes the SOC as a federal statistical standard through Statistical Policy Directive No. 10, originally issued in 1977 and revised periodically to ensure consistent occupational data collection.[6] The directive mandates the use of the SOC by federal agencies for classifying workers based on job duties, promoting comparability in labor market statistics.[6] Governance of the SOC is primarily managed by the Standard Occupational Classification Policy Committee (SOCPC), a standing interagency body established by OMB in 2005 and chaired by the BLS.[5] The SOCPC comprises representatives from approximately 16 to 18 federal statistical agencies, including the Census Bureau and Department of Labor, tasked with reviewing the existing classification structure and recommending updates to maintain its accuracy and utility.[6][5] These recommendations are submitted to OMB for approval, with revisions occurring on a roughly decennial cycle to reflect significant shifts in the economy; the current 2018 SOC represents the most recent full revision.[1] The development and revision process emphasizes collaboration and transparency, incorporating public input through formal notices published in the Federal Register, which invite comments on proposed changes such as the addition or consolidation of occupational categories.[6] The SOCPC also conducts expert consultations with stakeholders from industry, academia, and labor organizations to evaluate emerging occupations, ensuring alignment with evolving labor market trends like advancements in technology and sustainable practices.[5] This iterative approach, guided by established classification principles, allows the system to adapt without disrupting ongoing data collection efforts.[5] Maintenance of the SOC is handled by the BLS, which develops and distributes practical tools to support users, including an online SOC search engine for identifying occupations and crosswalk files that facilitate mapping between SOC versions for longitudinal analysis.[1] These resources, along with updated manuals and coding guidelines, are periodically refreshed by the SOCPC to address interim changes and sustain the system's relevance amid ongoing economic transformations.[5]Hierarchical Structure
Classification Levels
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system organizes occupations into a four-tiered hierarchy designed to reflect similarities in work performed, required skills, education, training, and credentials. This structure ensures comprehensive coverage of the U.S. workforce by aggregating detailed job titles upward into progressively broader categories, facilitating data collection, analysis, and comparison across federal statistical programs.[7] At the broadest level, there are 23 major groups, which represent the highest aggregation of occupations based on shared characteristics such as industry, skill level, and functional purpose. Examples include 11-0000 Management Occupations and 15-0000 Computer and Mathematical Occupations. These major groups form the foundational divisions, with codes ranging from 11-0000 to 55-0000, excluding military-specific occupations.[7] The next level consists of 98 minor groups, which subdivide the major groups into more specific clusters of related occupations. For instance, within 15-0000 Computer and Mathematical Occupations, the minor group 15-1200 Computer Occupations encompasses roles involving programming, systems analysis, and related technical tasks. Minor groups provide an intermediate layer for analyzing occupational trends without the granularity of individual jobs.[7] Broad occupations represent the third tier, with 459 categories that group similar detailed occupations based on closely aligned duties and qualifications. An example is 15-1250 Software and Web Developers, Programmers, and Testers, which falls under the minor group 15-1200 and major group 15-0000. This level balances specificity and aggregation, aiding in labor market projections and policy development.[7] The most detailed level includes 867 specific occupations, each defined by a unique set of primary duties, worker functions, and organizational settings. For example, 15-1251 Software Developers is a detailed occupation within the broad category 15-1250, focusing on designing, coding, and testing software applications. Every detailed occupation belongs to exactly one hierarchical path, with no overlaps between levels, ensuring unambiguous classification and exhaustive workforce representation.[7]Coding System and Assignment
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system employs a six-digit numerical code in the format XX-XXXX to uniquely identify occupations across its hierarchical levels. The first two digits denote the major group, of which there are 23 (e.g., 11-0000 for Management Occupations); the third and fourth digits specify the minor group (98 total) or broad occupation (459 total); and the final two digits identify the detailed occupation (867 total), with codes ending in 00 typically representing aggregate categories like "All Other" within a group. This structure allows for precise classification while enabling aggregation at higher levels, such as 11-0000 encompassing all management roles.[7] SOC code assignment relies on the primary duties and work activities performed in a job, as defined in the official occupation descriptions issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Coders use BLS classification principles and coding guidelines, which prioritize the tasks central to the role over job titles alone, and consult resources like the SOC structure page for reference. For workers with multiple roles, assignment is to the primary occupation—defined as the one demanding the highest skill level or consuming the most time—ensuring consistent categorization across surveys and data collection efforts.[8][9] To support continuity during system revisions, BLS maintains crosswalk files that map 2018 SOC codes to prior versions, such as the 2010 SOC, by linking detailed occupations and noting any splits or consolidations. These crosswalks extend to integrated systems like O*NET-SOC, which aligns occupational data for career guidance and aligns 923 data-level occupations with the SOC framework. Emerging or unclassified jobs are accommodated in residual "All Other" categories (e.g., codes ending in -9099), providing a placeholder until formal inclusion in future updates.[10][11] Assignment challenges frequently stem from vague or overlapping job titles, which BLS guidelines address by requiring detailed descriptions of duties, industry context, and illustrative examples within occupation definitions to ensure accurate matching. To enhance precision, BLS conducts periodic reviews and additions to definitions, such as the incorporation of 50 newly defined occupations in the 2018 SOC with employment data released in 2021, reflecting evolving labor market dynamics ahead of the next major revision in 2028.[8][12]Occupational Categories
Major Groups
The major groups in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system form the highest level of the hierarchy, comprising 23 broad categories that aggregate all detailed occupations based on similarities in work performed, required skills, and educational preparation. These groups enable high-level aggregation for statistical purposes, such as analyzing broad labor market trends by sector or skill type. The rationale for grouping centers on shared occupational characteristics and alignment with economic sectors, allowing for consistent cross-agency data collection and comparison; for instance, healthcare-related professions are clustered together to reflect common regulatory and training requirements. In the 2018 SOC revision, the structure retained 23 major groups with minor refinements to accommodate emerging occupations.[2][13] The following table lists the 23 major groups, including their codes and brief summaries of the types of occupations they encompass:| Code | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 11-0000 | Management Occupations | Encompasses executive and administrative roles that plan, direct, and coordinate organizational activities.[2] |
| 13-0000 | Business and Financial Operations Occupations | Includes professionals handling financial analysis, management, and operational support for businesses.[2] |
| 15-0000 | Computer and Mathematical Occupations | Covers computing specialists and mathematicians involved in programming, data analysis, and systems development.[2] |
| 17-0000 | Architecture and Engineering Occupations | Groups architects, engineers, and related surveyors focused on design, construction, and technical problem-solving.[2] |
| 19-0000 | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | Involves scientists and researchers in biological, physical, and social fields conducting experiments and analysis.[2] |
| 21-0000 | Community and Social Service Occupations | Comprises social workers, counselors, and community organizers providing support services to individuals and groups.[2] |
| 23-0000 | Legal Occupations | Includes lawyers, judges, and paralegals engaged in legal practice, adjudication, and support.[2] |
| 25-0000 | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations | Encompasses teachers, instructors, and librarians responsible for education delivery and information management.[2] |
| 27-0000 | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations | Covers artists, performers, designers, and media producers in creative and entertainment fields.[2] |
| 29-0000 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | Includes physicians, nurses, and technicians providing direct medical diagnosis, treatment, and care.[2] |
| 31-0000 | Healthcare Support Occupations | Involves aides and assistants supporting patient care and healthcare operations.[2] |
| 33-0000 | Protective Service Occupations | Groups law enforcement officers, firefighters, and security personnel ensuring public safety.[2] |
| 35-0000 | Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | Covers chefs, servers, and food service workers preparing and distributing meals.[2] |
| 37-0000 | Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | Includes janitors, groundskeepers, and maintenance staff keeping facilities clean and operational.[2] |
| 39-0000 | Personal Care and Service Occupations | Encompasses childcare workers, personal attendants, and service providers for individuals.[2] |
| 41-0000 | Sales and Related Occupations | Involves retail salespersons, wholesalers, and representatives promoting and selling goods.[2] |
| 43-0000 | Office and Administrative Support Occupations | Covers clerks, secretaries, and administrative assistants handling office tasks and records.[2] |
| 45-0000 | Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | Includes agricultural workers, fishers, and foresters managing natural resources and production.[2] |
| 47-0000 | Construction and Extraction Occupations | Groups construction laborers, builders, and extractors working on infrastructure and resource extraction.[2] |
| 49-0000 | Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | Encompasses technicians repairing and installing equipment, vehicles, and systems.[2] |
| 51-0000 | Production Occupations | Includes assemblers, machinists, and operators in manufacturing and production processes.[2] |
| 53-0000 | Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | Covers drivers, pilots, and laborers transporting goods and people.[2] |
| 55-0000 | Military Specific Occupations | Specific to armed forces roles, such as tactical operations and aircraft crew, generally excluded from civilian labor statistics.[2] |