1990 Occupation Codes

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This page presents the 1990 census occupational classification system recorded in the IPUMS variable OCC. The occupations are organized into several large groupings of roughly descending socioeconomic status (e.g. professionals and managers listed first). In addition to this contemporary system, the IPUMS codes all census years into the 1950 occupation classification scheme, recording them in the variable OCC1950. The census occupation classification system changed markedly in 1980, so the correspondence of 1990 occupations to the 1950 categories is more problematic than for earlier census years. Researchers interested in the period from 1980 to the present should consider using OCC1990. OCC1990 codes occupations into a simplified version of the 1990 occupational coding scheme. The OCC1950 and OCC1990 classifications have corresponding occupational standing measures recorded in the variables SEI, HWSEI, NPBOSS50, NPBOSS90, PRESGL, PRENT, EDSCOR50, EDSCOR90, ERSCOR50, ERSCOR90, and OCCSCORE. Our essay on "Integrated Occupation and Industry codes and Occupational Standing Variables in the IPUMS" describes how we construct harmonized occupational variables as well as occupational standing variables.

Occupation Category
MANAGERIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SPECIALTY OCCUPATIONS FARMING, FORESTRY, AND FISHING OCCUPATIONS MILITARY OCCUPATIONS
TECHNICAL, SALES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OCCUPATIONS PRECISION PRODUCTION, CRAFT, AND REPAIR OCCUPATIONS EXPERIENCED UNEMPLOYED NOT CLASSIFIED BY OCCUPATION
SERVICE OCCUPATIONS OPERATORS, FABRICATORS, AND LABORERS
OCC Occupation
Not Applicable
000 N/A (not applicable)
Managerial and Professional Specialty Occupations
Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations:
003 Legislators
004 Chief executives and general administrators, public administration
005 Administrators and officials, public administration
006 Administrators, protective services
007 Financial managers
008 Personnel and labor relations managers
009 Purchasing managers
013 Managers, marketing, advertising, and public relations
014 Administrators, education and related fields
015 Managers, medicine and health
016 Postmasters and mail superintendents
017 Managers, food serving and lodging establishments
018 Managers, properties and real estate
019 Funeral directors
021 Managers, service organizations, n.e.c.
022 Managers and administrators, n.e.c.
Management Related Occupations:
023 Accountants and auditors
024 Underwriters
025 Other financial officers
026 Management analysts
027 Personnel, training, and labor relations specialists
028 Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products
029 Buyers, wholesale and retail trade, except farm products
033 Purchasing agents and buyers, n.e.c.
034 Business and promotion agents
035 Construction inspectors
036 Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction
037 Management related occupations, n.e.c.
Professional Specialty Occupations
Engineers, Architects, and Surveyors:
043 Architects
Engineers:
044 Aerospace
045 Metallurgical and materials
046 Mining
047 Petroleum
048 Chemical
049 Nuclear
053 Civil
054 Agricultural
055 Electrical and electronic
056 Industrial
057 Mechanical
058 Marine and naval architects
059 Engineers, n.e.c.
063 Surveyors and mapping scientists
Mathematical and Computer Scientists:
064 Computer systems analysts and scientists
065 Operations and systems researchers and analysts
066 Actuaries
067 Statisticians
068 Mathematical scientists, n.e.c.
Natural Scientists:
069 Physicists and astronomers
073 Chemists, except biochemists
074 Atmospheric and space scientists
075 Geologists and geodesists
076 Physical scientists, n.e.c.
077 Agricultural and food scientists
078 Biological and life scientists
079 Forestry and conservation scientists
083 Medical scientists
Health Diagnosing Occupations:
084 Physicians
085 Dentists
086 Veterinarians
087 Optometrists
088 Podiatrists
089 Health diagnosing practitioners, n.e.c.
Health Assessment and Treating Occupations:
095 Registered nurses
096 Pharmacists
097 Dietitians
Therapists:
098 Respiratory therapists
099 Occupational therapists
103 Physical therapists
104 Speech therapists
105 Therapists, n.e.c.
106 Physicians' assistants
Teachers, Postsecondary:
113 Earth, environmental, and marine science teachers
114 Biological science teachers
115 Chemistry teachers
116 Physics teachers
117 Natural science teachers, n.e.c.
118 Psychology teachers
119 Economics teachers
123 History teachers
124 Political science teachers
125 Sociology teachers
126 Social science teachers, n.e.c.
127 Engineering teachers
128 Mathematical science teachers
129 Computer science teachers
133 Medical science teachers
134 Health specialties teachers
135 Business, commerce, and marketing teachers
136 Agriculture and forestry teachers
137 Art, drama, and music teachers
138 Physical education teachers
139 Education teachers
143 English teachers
144 Foreign language teachers
145 Law teachers
146 Social work teachers
147 Theology teachers
148 Trade and industrial teachers
149 Home economics teachers
153 Teachers, postsecondary, n.e.c.
154 Postsecondary teachers, subject n.s.
Teachers, Except Postsecondary:
155 Teachers, prekindergarten and kindergarten
156 Teachers, elementary school
157 Teachers, secondary school
158 Teachers, special education
159 Teachers, n.e.c.
163 Counselors, educational and vocational
Librarians, Archivists, and Curators:
164 Librarians
165 Archivists and curators
Social Scientists and Urban Planners:
166 Economists
167 Psychologists
168 Sociologists
169 Social scientists, n.e.c.
173 Urban planners
Social, Recreation, and Religious Workers
174 Social workers
175 Recreation workers
176 Clergy
177 Religious workers, n.e.c.
Lawyers and Judges:
178 Lawyers
179 Judges
Writers, Artists, Entertainers, and Athletes:
183 Authors
184 Technical writers
185 Designers
186 Musicians and composers
187 Actors and directors
188 Painters, sculptors, craft-artists, and artist printmakers
189 Photographers
193 Dancers
194 Artists, performers, and related workers, n.e.c.
195 Editors and reporters
197 Public relations specialists
198 Announcers
199 Athletes
Technical Sales and Administrative Support Occupations
Technicians and Related Support Occupations
- Health Technologists and Technicians:
203 Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
204 Dental hygienists
205 Health record technologists and technicians
206 Radiologic technicians
207 Licensed practical nurses
208 Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c.
Technologists and Technicians, Except Health
- Engineering and Related Technologists and Technicians:
213 Electrical and electronic technicians
214 Industrial engineering technicians
215 Mechanical engineering technicians
216 Engineering technicians, n.e.c.
217 Drafting occupations
218 Surveying and mapping technicians
- Science Technicians:
223 Biological technicians
224 Chemical technicians
225 Science technicians n.e.c.
- Technicians, Except Health, Engineering, and Science:
226 Airplane pilots and navigators
227 Air traffic controllers
228 Broadcast equipment operators
229 Computer programmers
233 Tool programmers, numerical control
234 Legal assistants
235 Technician, n.e.c.
Sales Occupations
243 Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations
- Sales Representatives, Finance and Business Services:
253 Insurance sales occupations
254 Real estate sales occupations
255 Securities and financial services sales occupations
256 Advertising and related sales occupations
257 Sales occupations, other business services
- Sales Representatives, Commodities Except Retail:
258 Sales engineers
259 Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing, and wholesale
- Sales Workers, Retail and Personal Services:
263 Sales workers, motor vehicles and boats
264 Sales workers, apparel
265 Sales workers, shoes
266 Sales workers, furniture and home furnishings
267 Sales workers, radio, TV, hi-fi, and appliances
268 Sales workers, hardware and building supplies
269 Sales workers, parts
274 Sales workers, other commodities
275 Sales counter clerks
276 Cashiers
277 Street and door-to-door sales workers
278 News vendors
- Sales Related Occupations:
283 Demonstrators, promoters and models, sales
284 Auctioneers
285 Sales support occupations, n.e.c.
290 Sales workers -- allocated
Administrative Support Occupations, Including Clerical
- Supervisors, Administrative Support Occupations:
303 Supervisors, general office
304 Supervisors, computer equipment operators
305 Supervisors, financial records processing
306 Chief communications operators
307 Supervisors; distribution, scheduling, and adjusting clerks
- Computer Equipment Operators:
308 Computer operators
309 Peripheral equipment operators
- Secretaries, Stenographers, and Typists:
313 Secretaries
314 Stenographers
315 Typists
- Information Clerks:
316 Interviewers
317 Hotel clerks
318 Transportation ticket and reservation agents
319 Receptionists
323 Information clerks, n.e.c.
- Records Processing Occupations, Except Financial:
325 Classified-ad clerks
326 Correspondence clerks
327 Order clerks
328 Personnel clerks, except payroll and timekeeping
329 Library clerks
335 File clerks
336 Records clerks
- Financial Records Processing Occupations:
337 Bookkeepers, accounting, and auditing clerks
338 Payroll and timekeeping clerks
339 Billing clerks
343 Cost and rate clerks
344 Billing, posting, and calculating machine operators
- Duplicating, Mail, and Other Office Machine Operators:
345 Duplicating machine operators
346 Mail preparing and paper handling machine operators
347 Office machine operators, n.e.c.
- Communications Equipment Operators:
348 Telephone operators
353 Communications equipment operators, n.e.c.
- Mail and Message Distributing Occupations:
354 Postal clerks except mail carriers
355 Mail carriers, postal service
356 Mail clerks, except postal service
357 Messengers
- Material Recording, Scheduling, and Distributing Clerks:
359 Dispatchers
363 Production coordinators
364 Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks
365 Stock and inventory clerks
366 Meter readers
368 Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers
373 Expediters
374 Material recording, scheduling, and distributing clerks, n.e.c.
- Adjusters and Investigators:
375 Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators
376 Investigators and adjusters, except insurance
377 Eligibility clerks, social welfare
378 Bill and account collectors
- Miscellaneous Administrative Support Occupations:
379 General office clerks
383 Bank tellers
384 Proofreaders
385 Data-entry keyers
386 Statistical clerks
387 Teachers' aides
389 Administrative support occupations, n.e.c.
390 Professional, technical, and kindred workers -- allocated
391 Clerical and kindred workers -- allocated
Service Occupations
Private Household Occupations
403 Launderers and ironers
404 Cooks, private household
405 Housekeepers and butlers
406 Child care workers, private household
407 Private household cleaners and servants
408 Private household workers -- allocated
Protective Service Occupations
- Supervisors, Protective Service Occupations:
413 Supervisors, firefighting and fire prevention occupations
414 Supervisors, police and detectives
415 Supervisors, guards
- Firefighting and Fire Prevention Occupations:
416 Fire inspection and fire prevention occupations
417 Firefighting occupations
- Police and Detectives:
418 Police and detectives, public service
423 Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement officers
424 Correctional institution officers
- Guards:
425 Crossing guards
426 Guards and police, except public service
427 Protective service occupations, n.e.c.
Service Occupations, Except Protective and Household
- Food Preparation and Service Occupations:
433 Supervisors, food preparation and service occupations
434 Bartenders
435 Waiters and waitresses
436 Cooks
438 Food counter, fountain and related occupations
439 Kitchen workers, food preparation
443 Waiters'/waitresses' assistants
444 Miscellaneous food preparation occupations
- Health Service Occupations:
445 Dental assistants
446 Health aides, except nursing
447 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
- Cleaning and Building Service Occupations, Except Household:
448 Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers
449 Maids and housemen
453 Janitors and cleaners
454 Elevator operators
455 Pest control occupations
- Personal Service Occupations:
456 Supervisors, personal service occupations
457 Barbers
458 Hairdressers and cosmetologists
459 Attendants, amusement and recreation facilities
461 Guides
462 Ushers
463 Public transportation attendants
464 Baggage porters and bellhops
465 Welfare service aides
466 Family child care providers
467 Early childhood teachers' assistants
468 Child care workers, n.e.c.
469 Personal service occupations, n.e.c.
Farming, Forestry, and Fishing Occupations
Farm Operators and Managers:
473 Farmers, except horticultural
474 Horticultural specialty farmers
475 Managers, farms, except horticultural
476 Managers, horticultural specialty farms
Other Agricultural and Related Occupations
- Farm Occupations, Except Managerial:
477 Supervisors, farm workers
479 Farm workers
480 Farm laborers and farm foremen -- allocated
483 Marine life cultivation workers
484 Nursery workers
- Related Agricultural Occupations:
485 Supervisors, related agricultural occupations
486 Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm
487 Animal caretakers, except farm
488 Graders and sorters, agricultural products
489 Inspectors, agricultural products
- Forestry and Logging Occupations:
494 Supervisors, forestry, and logging workers
495 Forestry workers except logging
496 Timber cutting and logging occupations
- Fishers, Hunters, and Trappers:
497 Captains and other officers, fishing vessels
498 Fishers
499 Hunters and trappers
PRECISION PRODUCTION, CRAFT, AND REPAIR OCCUPATIONS
Mechanics and Repairers
503 Supervisors, mechanics and repairers
Mechanics and Repairers, Except Supervisors
- Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics and Repairers:
505 Automobile mechanics
506 Automobile mechanic apprentices
507 Bus, truck, and stationary engine mechanics
508 Aircraft engine mechanics
509 Small engine repairers
514 Automobile body and related repairers
515 Aircraft mechanics, except engine
516 Heavy equipment mechanics
517 Farm equipment mechanics
518 Industrial machinery repairers
519 Machinery maintenance occupations
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Repairers:
523 Electronic repairers, communications and industrial equipment
525 Data processing equipment repairers
526 Household appliance and power tool repairers
527 Telephone line installers and repairers
529 Telephone installers and repairers
533 Misc. electrical and electronic equipment repairers
534 Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics
- Miscellaneous Mechanics and Repairers:
535 Camera, watch, and musical instrument repairers
536 Locksmiths and safe repairers
538 Office machine repairers
539 Mechanical controls and valve repairers
543 Elevator installers and repairers
544 Millwrights
547 Mechanics and repairers, n.e.c.
549 Mechanics and repairers, n.s.
Construction Trades
- Supervisors, Construction Occupations:
553 Supervisors, brickmasons, stonemasons, and tile setters
554 Supervisors, carpenters and related workers
555 Supervisors, electricians and power transmission installers
556 Supervisors, painters, paperhangers, and plasterers
557 Supervisors, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
558 Supervisors, construction, n.e.c.
- Construction Trades, Except Supervisors:
563 Brickmasons and stonemasons
564 Brickmason and stonemason apprentices
565 Tile setters, hard and soft
566 Carpet installers
567 Carpenters
569 Carpenter apprentices
573 Drywall installers
575 Electricians
576 Electrician apprentices
577 Electrical power installers and repairers
579 Painters, construction and maintenance
583 Paperhangers
584 Plasterers
585 Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
587 Plumber, pipe fitter, and steamfitter apprentices
588 Concrete and terrazzo finishers
589 Glaziers
593 Insulation workers
594 Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
595 Roofers
596 Sheetmetal duct installers
597 Structural metal workers
598 Drillers, earth
599 Construction trades, n.e.c.
Extractive Occupations
613 Supervisors, extractive occupations
614 Drillers, oil well
615 Explosives workers
616 Mining machine operators
617 Mining occupations, n.e.c.
Precision Production Occupations
628 Supervisors, production occupations
- Precision Metal Working Occupations:
634 Tool and die makers
635 Tool and die maker apprentices
636 Precision assemblers, metal
637 Machinists
639 Machinist apprentices
643 Boilermakers
644 Precision grinders, filers, and tool sharpeners
645 Patternmakers and model makers, metal
646 Lay-out workers
647 Precious stones and metals workers (jewelers)
649 Engravers, metal
653 Sheet metal workers
654 Sheet metal worker apprentices
655 Miscellaneous precision metal workers
- Precision Woodworking Occupations:
656 Patternmakers and model makers, wood
657 Cabinet makers and bench carpenters
658 Furniture and wood finishers
659 Miscellaneous precision woodworkers
- Precision Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Machine Workers:
666 Dressmakers
667 Tailors
668 Upholsterers
669 Shoe repairers
674 Miscellaneous precision apparel and fabric workers
- Precision Workers, Assorted Materials:
675 Hand molders and shapers, except jewelers
676 Patternmakers, lay-out workers, and cutters
677 Optical goods workers
678 Dental laboratory and medical appliance technicians
679 Bookbinders
683 Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
684 Miscellaneous precision workers, n.e.c.
- Precision Food Production Occupations:
686 Butchers and meat cutters
687 Bakers
688 Food batchmakers
- Precision Inspectors, Testers, and Related Workers:
689 Inspectors, testers, and graders
693 Adjusters and calibrators
- Plant and System Operators:
694 Water and sewage treatment plant operators
695 Power plant operators
696 Stationary engineers
699 Miscellaneous plant and system operators
Operators, Fabricators, and Laborers
Machine Operators, Assemblers, and Inspectors Machine Operators and Tenders, Except Precision
- Metalworking and Plastic Working Machine Operators:
703 Lathe and turning machine set-up operators
704 Lathe and turning machine operators
705 Milling and planing machine operators
706 Punching and stamping press machine operators
707 Rolling machine operators
708 Drilling and boring machine operators
709 Grinding, abrading, buffing, and polishing machine operators
713 Forging machine operators
714 Numerical control machine operators
715 Miscellaneous metal, plastic, stone, and glass working machine operators
717 Fabricating machine operators, n.e.c.
- Metal and Plastic Processing Machine Operators:
719 Molding and casting machine operators
723 Metal plating machine operators
724 Heat treating equipment operators
725 Miscellaneous metal and plastic processing machine operators
- Woodworking Machine Operators:
726 Wood lathe, routing, and planing machine operators
727 Sawing machine operators
728 Shaping and joining machine operators
729 Nailing and tacking machine operators
733 Miscellaneous woodworking machine operators
- Printing Machine Operators:
734 Printing press operators
735 Photoengravers and lithographers
736 Typesetters and compositors
737 Miscellaneous printing machine operators
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Machine Operators:
738 Winding and twisting machine operators
739 Knitting, looping, taping, and weaving machine operators
743 Textile cutting machine operators
744 Textile sewing machine operators
745 Shoe machine operators
747 Pressing machine operators
748 Laundering and dry cleaning machine operators
749 Miscellaneous textile machine operators
- Machine Operators, Assorted Materials:
753 Cementing and gluing machine operators
754 Packaging and filling machine operators
755 Extruding and forming machine operators
756 Mixing and blending machine operators
757 Separating, filtering, and clarifying machine operators
758 Compressing and compacting machine operators
759 Painting and paint spraying machine operators
763 Roasting and baking machine operators, food
764 Washing, cleaning, and pickling machine operators
765 Folding machine operators
766 Furnace, kiln, and oven operators, except food
768 Crushing and grinding machine operators
769 Slicing and cutting machine operators
773 Motion picture projectionists
774 Photographic process machine operators
777 Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
779 Machine operators, n.s.
Fabricators, Assemblers, and Hand Working Occupations
783 Welders and cutters
784 Solderers and brazers
785 Assemblers
786 Hand cutting and trimming occupations
787 Hand molding, casting, and forming occupations
789 Hand painting, coating, and decorating occupations
793 Hand engraving and printing occupations
795 Miscellaneous hand working occupations
Production Inspectors, Testers, Samplers, and Weighers
796 Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners
797 Production testers
798 Production samplers and weighers
799 Graders and sorters, except agricultural
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Motor Vehicle Operators:
803 Supervisors, motor vehicle operators
804 Truck drivers
806 Driver-sales workers
808 Bus drivers
809 Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs
813 Parking lot attendants
814 Motor transportation occupations, n.e.c.
815 Transport equipment operatives -- allocated
Transportation Occupations, Except Motor Vehicles
- Rail Transportation Occupations:
823 Railroad conductors and yardmasters
824 Locomotive operating occupations
825 Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators
826 Rail vehicle operators, n.e.c.
- Water Transportation Occupations:
828 Ship captains and mates, except fishing boats
829 Sailors and deckhands
833 Marine engineers
834 Bridge, lock, and lighthouse tenders
- Material Moving Equipment Operators:
843 Supervisors, material moving equipment operators
844 Operating engineers
845 Longshore equipment operators
848 Hoist and winch operators
849 Crane and tower operators
853 Excavating and loading machine operators
855 Grader, dozer, and scraper operators
856 Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators
859 Miscellaneous material moving equipment operators
864 Supervisors, handlers, equipment cleaners, and laborers, n.e.c.
865 Helpers, mechanics and repairers
- Helpers, Construction and Extractive Occupations:
866 Helpers, construction trades
867 Helpers, surveyor
868 Helpers, extractive occupations
869 Construction laborers
874 Production helpers
- Freight, Stock, and Material Handlers:
875 Garbage collectors
876 Stevedores
877 Stock handlers and baggers
878 Machine feeders and offbearers
883 Freight, stock, and material handlers, n.e.c.
885 Garage and service station related occupations
887 Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners
888 Hand packers and packagers
889 Laborers, except construction
890 Laborers, except farm -- allocated
Military Occupations
903 Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers
904 Non-commissioned Officers and Other Enlisted Personnel
905 Military occupation, rank not specified
Experienced Unemployed Not Classified by Occupation
909 Last worked 1984 or earlier

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