- Description
- Codes
- Comparability
- Universe
- Availability
- Questionnaire Text
- Flags
- Source Variables
- Editing Procedure
Description
ERSCOR90 is a constructed variable that assigns a measure of the median earned income for each occupation using the modified version of the 1990 occupational classification scheme available in the OCC1990 variable.
In order to maximize comparability over time, the median earned income reported in ERSCOR90 is standardized as a "z-score" and then converted to a percentile rank. ERSCOR90 reports the percentage of persons in occupations having lower standardized median earnings than the respondent's occupation. The scores were based on the earnings levels of the employed civilian labor force aged 16 and above, excluding persons who did not work in the past one year.
ERSCOR90 values were created in two steps. The first step was to derive a standardized z-score for earnings in each occupational category. These scores indicated the number of standard deviations by which each occupational category differed from the mean earnings of all occupations. The second step in creating ERSCOR90 was to convert these standardized z-scores to a percentile rank. For example, the median earned income for occupation category 808 (Bus drivers) was $11,748 in 1990. This occupational category's ERSCOR90 value of 17 indicates that 17% of workers are in occupations having lower standardized median earned incomes than that of bus drivers.
From 1990 onward, these calculations rely in the INCEARN variable. From 1950-1980, these calculations rely on the sum of the variables specified below:
1950 |
1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
INCWAGE |
INCWAGE |
INCWAGE |
INCWAGE |
INCBUSFM |
INCBUSFM |
INCBUS |
INCBUS |
INCFARM |
INCFARM |
Alternative measures of occupational standing that are based on OCC1990 are available in EDSCOR90, HWSEI, NPBOSS90, and PRENT. For information on occupational standing measures, see see "Integrated Occupation and Industry Codes and Occupational Standing Variables in the IPUMS."
User caution: There is significant debate about the usefulness of composite measures of occupational standing (in the IPUMS, these variables include SEI, HWSEI, NPBOSS50, and NPBOSS90). We strongly urge researchers to read our user note on this issue and to familiarize themselves with the debates surrounding the use of these variables.
ERSCOR90 is a constructed 4-digit numeric variable which assigns a measure of the median earned income for each occupation using the 1990 occupational classification scheme available in the OCC1990 variable. To maximize comparability over time, the median earned income reported in ERSCOR90 is standardized as a "z-score" and then converted to a percentile rank. ERSCOR90 reports the percentage of persons in occupations having lower standardized median earnings than the respondent's occupation. The scores were based on the earnings levels of the employed civilian labor force aged 16 and above, excluding persons who did not work in the past one year. ERSCOR90 has one implied decimal. For example, an ERSCOR90 value of 0061 should be interpreted as 6.1. This division is performed automatically in the extract setup files. ERSCOR90 specific variable codes for missing, edited, or unidentified observations, observations not applicable (N/A), observations not in universe (NIU), top and bottom value coding, etc. are provided below if applicable by Census year (and data sample if specified).
User Note: There is significant debate about the usefulness of composite measures of occupational standing (in the IPUMS, these variables include SEI, HWSEI, NPBOSS50, and NPBOSS90). We strongly urge researchers to read our user note on this issue and to familiarize themselves with the debates surrounding the use of these variables.
ERSCOR90 Specific Variable Codes
9999 = N/A
Comparability
This variable is comparable across years.
ERSCOR50 offers a similar variable that is based on the occupational classification scheme available in OCC1950.
Persons under age 16 were not included in the calculation of ERSCOR90 values in any year. Prior to 1980, when occupational information was collected for some persons under age 16, we have assigned ERSCOR90 values to all workers, even though the incomes of those under age 16 were not included in the construction of the variable.
Universe
- Persons with an occupational response (codes 003-889) recorded in OCC1990. Not available for Puerto Rico.
Availability
- 2023: All samples
- 2022: All samples
- 2021: All samples
- 2020: All samples
- 2019: All samples
- 2018: All samples
- 2017: All samples
- 2016: All samples
- 2015: All samples
- 2014: All samples
- 2013: All samples
- 2012: All samples
- 2011: All samples
- 2010: ACS; ACS 3yr; ACS 5yr
- 2009: All samples
- 2008: All samples
- 2007: All samples
- 2006: All samples
- 2005: All samples
- 2004: All samples
- 2003: All samples
- 2002: All samples
- 2001: All samples
- 2000: All samples
- 1990: All samples
- 1980: All samples
- 1970: All samples
- 1960: All samples
- 1950: All samples
- 1940: --
- 1930: --
- 1920: --
- 1910: --
- 1900: --
- 1880: --
- 1870: --
- 1860: --
- 1850: --
- 2023: --
- 2022: --
- 2021: --
- 2020: --
- 2019: --
- 2018: --
- 2017: --
- 2016: --
- 2015: --
- 2014: --
- 2013: --
- 2012: --
- 2011: --
- 2010: --
- 2009: --
- 2008: --
- 2007: --
- 2006: --
- 2005: --
- 2000: --
- 1990: --
- 1980: --
- 1970: --
- 1930: --
- 1920: --
- 1910: --
Questionnaire Text
2023 ACS | 2011 ACS | 1980 1% | 1950 1% |
2022 ACS | 2006 ACS | 1970 Form 2 Metro | |
2021 ACS | 2000 1% | 1970 Form 1 Metro | |
2016 ACS | 1990 1% | 1960 1% |
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Enter descriptions like the following: registered nurse, personnel manager, supervisor of order department, secretary, accountant, high school teacher, etc.
If possible, avoid single words such as: nurse, manager, and teacher.
____________________________________
Enter descriptions like the following: registered nurse, personnel manager, supervisor of order department, secretary, accountant, high school teacher, etc.
Do not enter single words such as: nurse, manager, teacher, etc.
____________________________________
Enter descriptions like the following: registered nurse, personnel manager, supervisor of order department, secretary, accountant, high school teacher, etc.
Do not enter single words such as: nurse, manager, teacher, etc.
____________________________________
(For example: registered nurse, personnel manager, supervisor of order department,
gasoline engine assembler, cake icer)
"Print two or more words to describe the kind of work the person did. If the person was a trainee, apprentice, or helper, include that in the description. Some examples of what to enter:
Enter a description like the following
Production clerk
Carpenter's helper
Auto engine mechanic
Registered nurse
- Do not enter ?
Clerk
Helper
Mechanic
Nurse
__________________________________
(For example: patient care, directing hiring policies, supervising order clerks, assembling engines, icing cakes)
Describe clearly this person's chief job activity or business last week. If this person had more than one job, describe the one at which this person worked the most hours. If this person had no job or business last week, give information for last job or business since 1975.
a. What kind of work was this person doing?
___________________________________________________________________________
(For example: Registered nurse, personnel manager, supervisor of order department, gasoline engine assembler, grinder operator)
"Print two or more words to describe the kind of work the person does. If the person is a trainee, apprentice, or helper, include that in the description. Some examples of what is needed to make an answer acceptable are shown on the census form and here.
Clerk Production clerk
Helper Carpenter's helper
Mechanic Auto engine mechanic
Nurse Registered nurse
_____________________________________________________________________
(For example: Patient care, directing hiring policies, supervising order clerks. assembling engines, operating grinding mill)
"Print the most important things that the person does on the job. Some examples are shown on the census form."
34. Occupation
a. What kind of work was he doing?
(For example: TV repairman, sewing machine operator, spray painter, civil engineer, farm operator, farm hand, junior high English teacher)
"Write two or more words to tell the kind of work he does. If he is a trainee, apprentice, or helper, write that down too. See examples of acceptable answers on the Census form and here.
Sales clerk Clerk
Carpenter's helper Helper
Practical nurse Nurse
(For example: Types, keeps account books, files, sells cars, operates printing press, cleans buildings, finishes concrete)
"Write the most important things that he does on the job. Some examples are shown on the Census form."
"Print his job title (what his employer calls his job). If he has no job title, print None."
34. Occupation
a. What kind of work was he doing?
(For example: TV repairman, sewing machine operator, spray painter, civil engineer, farm operator, farm hand, junior high English teacher)
"Write two or more words to tell the kind of work he does. If he is a trainee, apprentice, or helper, write that down too. See examples of acceptable answers on the Census form and here.
Sales clerk Clerk
Carpenter's helper Helper
Practical nurse Nurse
(For example: Types, keeps account books, files, sells cars, operates printing press, cleans buildings, finishes concrete)
"Write the most important things that he does on the job. Some examples are shown on the Census form."
"Print his job title (what his employer calls his job). If he has no job title, print None."
___________________________________________________________
(For example: 8th grade English teacher, paint sprayer, repairs TV sets, grocery checker, civil engineer, farmer, farm hand)
All three parts of the item (20a, 20b, and 20c) must refer to the same particular job or business.
Item 20a. Occupation
164. Item 20a. What kind of work was he doing?-Specific answer.-The answer should tell clearly and specifically the kind of work or nature of duties performed by the person. General or vague entries are not satisfactory.
165. How to obtain a satisfactory occupation entry.-The best short description of a person's occupation is usually the title of his job; so, wherever possible, enter the title of the person's occupation. For example, "Auto mechanic" is satisfactory; you do not have to enter a description of his duties.
In some cases, the respondent will not give you enough information in answering the question, "What kind of work was he doing?" You should ask additional questions until you are satisfied that you have obtained the specific occupation of the person. For example, the respondent may say, "Teaching." You should then ask, "What subject did he teach?" For another example, the respondent says, "My daughter is a nurse " You should then ask, "What kind of a nurse is she, a registered nurse, practical nurse, nursemaid, or some other kind?"
Sometimes, the respondent will give you a lengthy explanation of the person's job duties. You should condense such statements into a few words which give the most important points about the kind of work the person is doing. For example, the respondent may say, "My husband runs a machine that takes dough and cuts it up before the dough is put into the oven." Your entry in the schedule should be "Dough cutting machine operator."
Another type of problem you may find is an answer for which you cannot think up a simple title. For example, the respondent may say, "He nails heels on shoes." It is satisfactory for you to enter on the schedule the words "Nails heels on shoes."
166. Unusual occupations.-You may run across occupations which sound strange or funny to you. Accept such reports if the respondent is sure that the title is correct. For example, "sand hog" is the title for certain workers engaged in the construction of under-water tunnels, and "printer's devil" is sometimes used for an apprentice printer.
167. Caution on occupations of young persons.-Professional, technical, and skilled occupations usually require lengthy periods of training or education which a young person normally cannot have. It may be found, upon further inquiry, that the young person is really only a trainee, apprentice, or helper (for example, accountant trainee, electrician trainee, apprentice electrician, electrician's helper).
168. Occupations for which special care is necessary.-The following are occupations for which you must take special care to get satisfactory entries:
169. Additional examples of occupation entries.-The following list shows, for a number of other occupations, what is meant by clear and exact entries:
b. Apprentice.-An apprentice is under a contract during his training period while a trainee is not. Note that the return should include both the occupation and the word "apprentice" or "trainee" (for example, apprentice plumber, plumber trainee).
c. Caretaker.-Wherever possible, specify servant, janitor, guard, building superintendent, gardener, groundskeeper, sexton, property clerk, locker attendant, vault attendant, etc.
d. Contractor.-A "contractor" is engaged principally in obtaining building or other contracts and supervising the work. A skilled worker who works with his own tools should be returned as carpenter, plasterer, plumber, electrician, etc.
e. Custodian.-See "Caretaker," above.
f. Doctor.-Specify physician, dentist,. veterinarian, osteopath, chiropractor, etc.
g. Entertainer.-Specify singer, dancer, acrobat, musician, etc.
h. Factory worker.-Specify assembler, heater, turret-lathe operator, weaver, loom fixer, knitter, stitcher, punch press operator, spray painter, riveter, etc.
i. Foremen.-Wherever possible, specify the trade, as foreman-carpenter, foreman-electrician, etc.
j. Housekeeper (paid).-A "housekeeper" employed in a private home for wages has the full responsibility for the management of the household. Do not confuse this occupation with housemaid (general housework), hired girl, or kitchen maid.
k. Interior decorator.-An "interior decorator" designs the decoration plans for the interiors of homes, hotels, offices, etc., and supervises the placement of the furniture and other decorations. Do not confuse this occupation with painter or paperhanger.
l. Laborer.-Wherever possible, specify sweeper, charwoman, porter, janitor, stevedore, window washer, car cleaner, section hand, gardener, hand trucker, etc.
m. Lay-out man.-Specify patternmaker, sheet-metal worker) compositor, commercial artist, structural steel worker, boilermaker, draftsman, coppersmith, etc.
n. Machinist.-A "machinist" is a skilled craftsman who constructs and repairs all kinds of metal parts, tools, and machines through the use of blueprints, machine and hand tools, and precision measuring instruments. A person who merely operates a factory machine (for example, drill press operator, winder, etc.) or who does simple repair work (for example) welder, machine adjuster, etc.) is not a machinist.
o. Nun.-Wherever possible, specify the type of work done, as housekeeper, art teacher, organist, cook, laundress, registered nurse, etc.
p. Office worker.-Specify typist, receptionist, comptometer operator, file clerk, bookkeeper, physician's attendant, etc.
q. Salesman.-Wherever possible, specify advertising salesman, insurance salesman, bond salesman, canvasser) traveling salesman, driver-salesman (routeman), peddler, newsboy, etc.
r. Secretary.-The title "secretary" should be used for persons doing secretarial work in an office. The secretary who is an elected or appointed officer of a business, lodge, or other organization should be reported in occupation as "official.
s. Sister.-See "Nun," above.
t. Supervisor.-Whenever possible, specify typing supervisor, chief bookkeeper, steward, kitchen supervisor, section foreman) buyer, forelady, sales instructor, route foreman, etc.
u. Tester.-Specify, the particular item tested, as cement tester, instrument tester, engine tester, battery tester, etc.
v. Trainee.-See "Apprentice, above.
w. Trucker.-Specify truck driver, trucking contractor, electric trucker, hand trucker, etc.
Flags
This variable has no flags.Editing Procedure
There is no editing procedure available for this variable.