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Frequently Asked Questions
A. OES data overview
- What does the OES program produce?
The OES program produces employment and wage estimates for over 800
occupations. These are estimates of the number of jobs in certain
occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them. These
estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual
States, and for metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs),
metropolitan divisions, and nonmetropolitan areas; national
occupational estimates for specific industries are also
available.
- What are the OES data used for?
The OES program is the only comprehensive source of regularly
produced occupational employment and wage rate information for the U.S.
economy, as well as States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all metropolitan and
nonmetropolitan areas in each State.
Occupational employment data are used to develop information
regarding current and projected employment needs and job opportunities.
This information is used in the production of State education and
workforce development plans. These data enable the analysis of the
occupational composition of different industries, and the
comparison of occupational composition across States and local
areas, including analysis for economic development purposes. OES
employment estimates also are used as job placement aids by
helping to identify industries that employ the skills gained by
enrollees in career-technical training programs. In addition, OES
survey data serve as primary inputs into occupational information
systems designed for those who are exploring career opportunities
or assisting others in career decision making.
OES data are used by several other BLS and government programs, such
as the BLS Employment Projections program, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and
the Employment Standards Administration (ESA). OES data are used
to establish the fixed employment weights for the Employment Cost Index and in the calculation
of occupational rates for the Survey of Occupational Injuries and
Illnesses. Wage data also are provided to ETA's Foreign Labor
Certification program for use in administering the H1-B visa
program.
Employment and wage data for detailed science, engineering,
mathematical, and other occupations are provided to the National Science
Foundation, along with the complete staffing patterns for all
industries.
Occupational wage data are used by job seekers and employers to
determine salary ranges for different occupations in different
locations and in different industries. OES employment and wage
data also can be found in ETA's CareerOneStop.
Many users of OES data use data provided by the State Labor Market Information programs. OES data
are used by workforce investment boards and economic development
programs to attract businesses. The data provide information on
labor availability by occupation as well as average wages. OES is
frequently cited as the most popular labor market information
program within States.
Finally, employment and wage data are used by academic and government
researchers to study labor markets and wage and employment
trends. These data inform the so-called "good-jobs/bad-jobs"
debate on how business cycles and structural economic change
affect wages and employment across the range of occupations; and
how many and what types of jobs are impacted by off-shore
outsourcing. Currently, OES staffing patterns and wage data are
being used by MedPAC in research to improve the calculation of
Medicare reimbursement rates.
- What is the difference between industry-specific and
cross-industry estimates?
Industry-specific estimates
-
- Calculated with data collected from establishments in
one particular industry.
-
- Since different industries employ people in different
occupations, the occupations in the staffing pattern for a
particular industry will not be the same as the occupations in the
staffing pattern for another industry.
-
- Available at the national level; research estimates available at
the state level.
Cross-industry estimates
-
- Calculated with data collected from establishments in
all the industries for which a particular
occupation is reported.
-
- Not every occupation is reported in every industry.
-
- For example, the cross-industry occupational employment estimate
for mechanical engineers is the sum of all the
industry-specific estimates for mechanical engineers.
Likewise, cross-industry occupational wage estimates for
mechanical engineers are calculated from data collected
from establishments in all the industries where
mechanical engineers are reported.
-
- Available at the national, state, and metropolitan area levels.
- Why does the OES program produce estimates from more than one
year's data?
Significant reductions in sampling error can be achieved by taking
advantage of a full three years of data, covering 1.2 million
establishments and about 57 percent of the employment in the United
States. This feature is particularly important in improving the
reliability of estimates for detailed occupations in small geographical
areas. Combining multiple years of data is also necessary to
obtain full coverage of the largest establishments. In order to
reduce respondent burden, the OES survey samples these
establishments with virtual certainty only once every three
years. While there are significant advantages, there are also
limitations associated with this estimation procedure in that it
requires "updating" for the earlier years of data and limits the
usefulness of OES data for time series analysis. (See Can OES data be used to compare changes in employment and
wages over time? for more information.)
The May 2016 employment and wage estimates were calculated using data
collected in the May 2016, November 2015, May 2015, November
2014, May 2014, and November 2013 semi-annual panels. The older
panels' wage data have been adjusted to the May 2016 reference
period using the over-the-year wage change in the most applicable
Employment Cost Index series. The employment from the six panels
has been benchmarked to the average of the November 2015 and May
2016 employment in each industry cell.
- How is the OES survey conducted?
The OES survey is a semi-annual mail survey of non-farm
establishments. The BLS produces the survey materials and selects the
establishments to be surveyed. The sampling frame (the list from
which establishments to be surveyed are selected) is derived from
the list of establishments maintained by State Workforce Agencies
(SWAs) for unemployment insurance purposes. Establishments to be
surveyed are selected in order to obtain data from every
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area in every State, across all
surveyed industries, and from establishments of varying sizes.
The SWAs mail the survey materials to the selected establishments
and make follow-up calls to request data from nonrespondents or
to clarify data. The collected data are used to produce
occupational estimates at the National, State, and sub-State
levels.
- When will this year's OES estimates be available?
Estimates are generally released in late March or early April. Please
check the OES homepage
around that time for a scheduled release
date.
B. Data we have
- Does OES have estimates for specific industries?
Yes. The table in Where can OES estimates be found? shows where to
find OES estimates, including national industry-specific
occupational employment and wage estimates. For more information
on the industry classification system used by OES, please see What is the NAICS?
Industry data is generally only available at the national level.
However, beginning with the May 2012 estimates, the OES program has
made some industry-specific OES estimates for individual States
available for research purposes. Please see the OES
Research Estimates page for more information.
- Does OES have estimates for individual States?
Yes. The table in Where can OES estimates be found? shows where to
find OES estimates, including cross-industry occupational employment
and wage estimates for individual States.
- Does OES have estimates for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan
areas?
Yes. The table in Where can OES
estimates be found? shows where to find OES estimates,
including cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates
for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
OES has data for nearly 600 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas,
including 394 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and 38
metropolitan divisions which make up 11 of the MSAs. Please note,
however, that not all areas have information for all occupations.
In New England, areas are defined based on New England City and
Town Areas (NECTA). A listing of the areas and their definitions
can be found on the MSA definitions
page.
C. Data we do not have
- Does OES produce estimates by age, race, sex, education, or any
other demographic characteristics?
No. The OES survey does not gather demographic
information. The BLS Current Population Survey
program provides information on employment, unemployment, and weekly
earnings by a variety of demographic characteristics.
- Does OES produce estimates by size of establishment?
No. The OES survey does not produce estimates based
on total establishment employment. Information pertaining to the
number of establishments in various employment size classes and
their aggregate employment (economy wide and by industry) can be
obtained by contacting the staff at the Quarterly
Census of Employment & Wages program.
- Does OES have any data on unemployment for specific
occupations?
No. The OES survey is an occupational employment and
wage survey only. Information on selected unemployment indicators
(including broad occupational groups) can be found in "The
Employment Situation" news release from the BLS Current Population Survey.
- Does OES have any information on job vacancies?
No. The OES survey does not ask establishments for
vacancy information. Another BLS program, the Job
Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), asks establishments
for the number of job openings on the last business day of each
month. However, the data are not available by occupation. Job
seekers can find links to State job banks and to private-sector
job banks at www.jobbankinfo.org.
- Does OES have occupational employment projections or information
on occupational outlook?
No. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Office of Employment Projections provides 10-year
employment projections by occupation. For more than 50 years, the
Bureau's Occupational Outlook Handbook has been a
nationally recognized source of career information. It describes
what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and
education needed, wages from the OES survey, and expected job
prospects for a variety of occupations.
- Does OES have occupational employment estimates that include the
self-employed?
No. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Office of Employment Projections provides current and
projected national economy-wide occupational employment estimates
that include the self-employed.
- Are OES industry and public/private ownership data available
beyond the national level--for states and metropolitan /
nonmetropolitan areas?
No. BLS publishes estimates by industry and
public/private ownership type at the national level only. Some
industry-specific OES estimates for individual States, however, are
available for research purposes; please see the OES
Research Estimates page for more information.
- Do the OES wage estimates include benefits?
No. OES wage estimates represent wages and salaries
only, and do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs
of nonwage benefits, such as health insurance or employer
contributions to retirement plans. Information on cost of
benefits, benefit incidence, and detailed plan provisions is
available from the National Compensation Survey
program.
D. Definitions, concepts, and
classifications
- What is the difference between an establishment, an industry,
and an occupation?
An establishment is the physical location of a
certain economic activity, for example, a factory, mine, store, or
office. Generally a single establishment produces a single good or
provides a single service. An enterprise (a private firm, government,
or nonprofit organization) could consist of a single
establishment or multiple establishments. A multi-establishment
enterprise could have all its establishments in one industry
(i.e., a chain), or could have various establishments in
different industries (i.e., a conglomerate).
An industry is a group of establishments that
produce similar products or provide similar services. For example, all
establishments that manufacture automobiles are in the same
industry. A given industry, or even a particular establishment in
that industry, might have employees in dozens of occupations. The
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) groups
similar establishments into industries. What is the NAICS?
An occupation is a set of activities or tasks that
employees are paid to perform. Employees that perform essentially
the same tasks are in the same occupation, whether or not they
are in the same industry. Some occupations are concentrated in a
few industries, while other occupations are found in the majority
of industries.
- How are "employees" defined by the OES survey?
"Employees" are all part-time and full-time workers who are paid a
wage or salary. The survey does not cover the self-employed, owners
and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or
unpaid family workers.
- How are "wages" defined by the OES survey?
Wages for the OES survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of
premium pay.
The following are included in the
collection of OES wage data:
The following are
excluded from the collection of OES wage
data:
- What are mean wages? What are median wages?
The OES program produces estimates of wages by occupation, i.e., the
wages paid to wage or salary employees in a given occupation in
the U.S., in a particular State, or in a particular industry.
These occupational wage estimates are either estimates of mean
wages or percentiles, such as the median wage.
- A mean wage is an average wage. An occupational
mean wage estimate is calculated by summing the wages of all
the employees in a given occupation and then dividing the
total wages by the number of employees.
- A percentile wage is a boundary. For example, an
occupational median wage (50th percentile) estimate is the
boundary between the highest paid 50 percent and the lowest
paid 50 percent of workers in that occupation. Half of the
workers in a given occupation earn more than the median wage,
and half the workers earn less than the median wage. For more
information, see the page on percentiles.
- How does OES classify occupations?
In 1999, the OES survey began using the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
system. The May 2010 OES estimates mark the first set of
estimates based, in part, on data collected for the 2010 Standard
Occupational Classification system. Most occupations in this
release are 2010 occupations. In some cases, however, an estimate for a
temporary occupation was created from data reported for one or
more occupations in the 2000 SOC combined with data reported for
one or more 2010 SOC occupations. Some occupations have the same
title as a 2010 SOC occupation, but not the same content. These
occupations are marked with an asterisk (*) and given a temporary
code for the OES data. Starting with the May 2012 data, the OES
data reflects the full set of detailed occupations in the 2010
SOC. The detailed SOC occupations are allocated among these
twenty-three major groups:
- 11-0000 Management Occupations
- 13-0000 Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- 15-0000 Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- 17-0000 Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- 19-0000 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
- 21-0000 Community and Social Service Occupations
- 23-0000 Legal Occupations
- 25-0000 Education, Training and Library Occupations
- 27-0000 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- 29-0000 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- 31-0000 Healthcare Support Occupations
- 33-0000 Protective Service Occupations
- 35-0000 Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- 37-0000 Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- 39-0000 Personal Care and Service Occupations
- 41-0000 Sales and Related Occupations
- 43-0000 Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- 45-0000 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
- 47-0000 Construction and Extraction Occupations
- 49-0000 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- 51-0000 Production Occupations
- 53-0000 Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- 55-0000 Military Specific Occupations (not surveyed in OES)
More information about the Standard Occupational Classification
system, including the full SOC structure, is available from the BLS SOC page. Detailed information on using the SOC to
classify occupations can be found in the SOC User Guide.
- Is the OES classification system compatible with other
occupational classification systems?
Yes. OES uses the Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system, which was designed to be used by all
Federal statistical agencies reporting occupational data. The SOC is
fully compatible with the occupational classifications used by the
U.S. Bureau of the Census and O*NET. The U.S. Census Bureau provides a number of SOC-related crosswalks,
including that of Census Occupational Classification to SOC, and
for mapping older versions of the SOC to newer versions. The
National Crosswalk Service Center provides crosswalks between the SOC and other
systems, including O*NET, Military Occupational
Classification (MOC), and the OES classification system used
before 1999.
- What is the latest news about the 2018 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) revision?
- How does the OES program define industry classifications? What
is the NAICS? What do the "OES designations" for government
industries mean?
The OES program uses definitions of industries found in the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The NAICS is used
throughout the Federal Government to group establishments into
industries based on the goods or services they produce. The NAICS
structure makes it possible to collect and calculate
establishment data by broad industrial sectors, subsectors
(3-digit NAICS levels), industry groups (4-digit NAICS levels),
and NAICS industries (5- and 6-digit NAICS levels).
The OES survey produces occupational employment and wage estimates
for sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit NAICS levels. With
the exception of schools, hospitals, gambling establishments, and
casino hotels, industry-specific estimates only include privately
owned establishments. Schools and hospitals that are owned by
State and local governments are included with the estimates of
privately owned schools and hospitals in the appropriate NAICS
code. Beginning with the May 2014 estimates, gambling
establishments and casino hotels owned by local governments are
included with privately owned establishments in NAICS 7132
Gambling Industries and 72112 Casino Hotels. In the May 2013 and
earlier estimates, gambling establishments and casino hotels owned by
local government were included as part of industry code 9993 Local
Government. OES classifies most government-owned establishments
differently from the NAICS. The NAICS classifies government
establishments according to their primary function and includes detailed
industries within sector 92 Public Administration. The OES does
not use NAICS sector 92. Instead, the OES survey produces
occupational employment and wage estimates at the Federal, State,
and local Government levels and denotes them with industry codes
9991, 9992, and 9993, respectively. The State and local
government data (NAICS 9992 and 9993) consist of all State and
local government establishments, except schools, hospitals, and
local government gambling establishments and casino hotels. State
and local government data including schools, hospitals, and local
government gambling establishments and casino hotels are also
available as part of the cross-industry ownership estimates.
Estimates for schools and hospitals are available for private,
state, and local government ownerships combined, as well as by
individual ownership types. The Federal Government estimates consist of
all establishments in the executive branch of the Federal
Government. Beginning in 2010, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
data is included in the Federal Government estimates as well. The
judicial and legislative branches of the Federal Government are
not surveyed.
For more information on the availability and classification of
public/private ownership data, please see What type of public/private ownership data does OES
have?
- What industries are surveyed? What industries are not
surveyed?
The OES survey collects occupational employment and wage data from
establishments in nonfarm industries only, and produces estimates
for the following sectors, or 2-digit industries, and the 3-, 4-,
and selected 5- and 6-digit industries that comprise them.
Industries surveyed (by sector):
- Sector 11 - Forestry and Logging (NAICS 1133 Logging, 1151 Support
Activities for Crop Production, and 1152 Support Activities
for Animal Production only)
- Sector 21 - Mining
- Sector 22 - Utilities
- Sector 23 - Construction
- Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing
- Sector 42 - Wholesale Trade
- Sectors 44 and 45 - Retail Trade
- Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing
- Sector 51 - Information
- Sector 52 - Finance and Insurance
- Sector 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
- Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises
- Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and
Remediation Services
- Sector 61 - Educational Services
- Sector 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance
- Sector 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
- Sector 72 - Accommodation and Food Services
- Sector 81 - Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local
Government)
- Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state
and local schools and hospitals, and the US Postal Service
(OES Designation)
Industries NOT surveyed:
- NAICS 111 - Crop Production
- NAICS 112 - Animal Production
- NAICS 1131 - Timber Tract Operations
- NAICS 1132 - Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products
- NAICS 114 - Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping
- NAICS 1153 - Support Activities for Forestry
- NAICS 814 - Private Households
For statistics on the U.S. agricultural sector, please visit the
United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural
Statistics Service program website.
- What is a Location Quotient?
In general, a location quotient (LQ) is a ratio that compares the
concentration of a resource or activity--employment, for example--in
a defined area to that of a larger area or base. Using OES data,
LQs can be used to compare local area occupational employment in
a metropolitan statistical area or State to that of the nation as
a whole. LQs greater (less) than one indicate a local
concentration of employment that is higher (lower) than that of
the U.S. as a whole.
Location Quotient =
(Area occupational employment / Area total employment)
(U.S. occupational employment / U.S. total
employment)
- Where can Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Definitions be
found?
The most recent Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan area definitions are
available here.
- What is the SOC?
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
system is used by Federal statistical agencies to classify workers
and jobs into occupational categories for the purpose of
collecting, calculating, analyzing, or disseminating data. The
2010 SOC system contains 840 detailed occupations, aggregated
into 461 broad occupations. In turn, the SOC combines these 461
broad occupations into 97 minor groups and 23
major groups.
An alphabetical list of 2010 SOC definitions is available here.
- How are workers classified into occupations under the Standard
Occupation Classification (SOC) system? Can the OES program provide
classification determinations for non-statistical purposes, such as
prevailing wages?
The OES program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is
often asked about coding occupations for reasons that are not
statistical in nature, such as for prevailing wage determinations. The
SOC was developed for use by federal statistical agencies to classify
workers into occupational categories for the specific purpose of
producing statistical data. The OES staff can provide guidance that is
in accordance with the 2010 SOC Classification Principles and Coding
Guidelines. However, this guidance is solely to help users of
statistical data find workers who perform a specific set of work
activities or to help statistical data collectors. The OES
program cannot make official classification determinations for
non-statistical purposes, such as prevailing wages. It is
up to customers using the SOC for non-statistical purposes to review the
detailed definitions for the SOC codes and determine the best match, in
light of their own program and policy purposes. Such users are not
limited to following the SOC classification principles and guidelines
used by federal statistical agencies. For example, users may develop
their own policies concerning workers that meet the definition of two or
more occupations.
Under the SOC, workers are classified into occupations based
on their job duties, not their job titles. Workers with the same title
may be classified in different occupations, based on their individual
job duties. For example, the title "project manager" is so broad that it
could fit into multiple SOC occupations, and more information about job
duties would be needed to assign a code.
The best way to proceed is to look at the various definitions
for the SOC codes and determine which best matches the work being
performed. All of the 2010 SOC codes are available online at https://www.bls.gov/soc/major_groups.htm.
Clicking on the desired major group will show the various minor groups,
broad occupations, and detailed occupations that make up the major
group. Definitions are available only at the detailed occupation level,
which is indicated by a code ending in a number other than 0. Workers
who perform activities not described in any distinct detailed occupation
are included in an appropriate residual ("all other") occupation. The
residual occupations appear as the last occupation in a group and end in
the number 9.
More information on using the SOC to classify workers can be
found in the 2010 SOC
Classification Principles and Coding Guidelines. The Classification
Principles form the basis on which the SOC system is structured. The
Coding Guidelines are intended to assist users in the federal
statistical agencies in consistently assigning SOC codes and titles to
survey responses and in other coding activities.
Warranting specific mention are Classification Principles 1
and 2, as well as Coding Guideline 2. Classification Principle 1 states
that "Each occupation is assigned to only one occupational category at
the lowest level of the classification." Classification Principle 2
states that "Occupations are classified based on work performed and, in
some cases, on the skills, education, and/or training needed to perform
the work at a competent level." Coding Guideline 2 states that "When
workers in a single job could be coded in more than one occupation, they
should be coded in the occupation that requires the highest level of
skill. If there is no measurable difference in skill requirements,
workers should be coded in the occupation in which they spend the most
time." The full list of 2010 SOC classification principles and coding
guidelines are available on the SOC website at: https://www.bls.gov/soc/home.htm.
Please also keep in mind that the SOC was not designed for
non-statistical purposes. Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) number 13
found within the 2010 SOC User
Guide states the following:
The 2010 SOC was designed solely for statistical purposes.
Although it is likely that the 2010 SOC also will be used for various
non-statistical purposes (e.g., for administrative, regulatory, or
taxation functions), the requirements of government agencies or private
users that choose to use the 2010 SOC for non-statistical purposes have
played no role in its development, nor will OMB modify the
classification to meet the requirements of any non-statistical program.
Consequently, the 2010 SOC is not to be used in any administrative,
regulatory, or tax program unless the head of the agency administering
that program has first determined that the use of such occupational
definitions is appropriate to the implementation of the program's
objectives.
E. How to get OES data
- Where can OES estimates be found?
All OES data 1988 - present can be found here.
Please see the table below for a summary of data availability by data
type.
- Are OES estimates available in print form?
No. Hard copies of OES estimates are not available.
All pages on the BLS website, including OES estimates pages,
however, can be converted to a printable format by clicking on
the print button near the top right corner of the page. In
addition, a variety of OES
publications are available in PDF format.
- What are the different ways to obtain OES estimates from this
website?
OES data can be obtained in three ways, each having its own unique
advantages and disadvantages:
- Browsing HTML tables
- Using the database query tool
- Downloading Excel spreadsheets
HTML tables Navigate to the OES
Data page and click on the "HTML" links according to your
desired level of analysis.
Advantages:
- Fastest and most convenient way to access OES data.
- Provide an overview of the estimates produced by the OES survey.
- Links within each HTML page that provide access to additional
information.
Disadvantages:
- Data selections are not customizable.
- Not all data variables produced by the OES survey (such as percentile wages) are displayed.
Database query tool Navigate to the OES
Query System, then choose the appropriate specifications. The
resulting table can be viewed in either HTML or Microsoft Excel
format.
Advantages:
- Highly customizable; provides fast answers to specific questions
without having to look through large tables or
spreadsheets.
- Ability to select data according occupations, industries,
geographic areas, and data variables.
Disadvantages:
- Only most recent year of data is available.
- Not all data variables produced by OES are available.
Downloading the Data Navigate to the OES
Data page and click on the "XLS" links to download Microsoft
Excel spreadsheet files.
Advantages:
- The only way to comprehensively access all available OES data
(all years, all data variables).
Disadvantages:
- The sheer wealth of information may overwhelm some data users.
As such, this format is recommended for users who would
like to use the OES data in order to make calculations or
conduct economic research.
- Are OES data available for previous years?
Yes. The OES survey began in 1997, and data is
available annually for 1997 - present. No data is available for 1996.
Limited data from an older version of the survey is available for
1988 - 1995. All years of OES data are available here.
Please see the descriptive paragraphs below for more information
on the limitations of the older data.
NOTE: If you are using OES data from previous
years, please be sure to read Can OES data be used to compare changes in employment or
wages over time? before conducting any
analyses.
State data
- 1997 - present
-
- Cross-industry data available
- 1988 - 1995
-
- No OES data available
-
- Check with State workforce
agencies for possible datasets.
Metropolitan area data
- 2015 - 2016
-
- Cross-industry data available based on Office of Management and
Budget's revised
metropolitan area definitions, based on the results
of the 2010 decennial census
-
- An Excel file with all
counties and towns listed in each area is also available.
- 2005 - 2014
-
- Cross-industry data available based on Office of Management and
Budget's metropolitan
area definitions, based on the results of the 2000
decennial census
-
- An Excel file with all
counties and towns listed in each area is also available.
- 1997 - 2004
-
- Cross-industry data available based on Office of Management and
Budget's old metropolitan area
definitions
- 1988 - 1995
-
- No OES data available
-
- Check with State workforce
agencies for possible datasets.
Nonmetropolitan area data
- 2006 - present
-
- Cross-industry data available
- 1988 - 1995
-
- No OES data available
-
- Check with State workforce
agencies for possible datasets.
Ownership data
Occupation data
- 2010 - present
-
- 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system in use.
- 1999 - 2009
-
- 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system in use.
- 1988 - 1998
-
- OES proprietary occupational classification system in use.
Industry data
- 2012 - present
-
- 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in
use.
-
- Data available by sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit
NAICS levels.
- 2008 - 2011
-
- 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in
use.
-
- Data available by sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit
NAICS levels.
-
- Most significant revisions from 2002 NAICS in the Information
Sector, particularly within NAICS 517000 -
Telecommunications.
- 2002 - 2007
-
- 2002 NAICS in use.
-
- Sector and 3-digit NAICS levels not available for 2002.
- 1997 - 2001
-
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system in use.
-
- 2-digit and 3-digit SIC levels available.
- 1988 - 1995
-
- 2-digit and 3-digit SIC levels available
-
- Data for each industry available once every three years.
-
- Do not include: wage estimates; State, metropolitan, or
nonmetropolitan area data; or total national employment by
occupation.
-
- Not possible to calculate total national employment for a given
occupation by summing across industries.
-
- Useful mainly to data users interested in occupational staffing
patterns for specific industries.
-
- Please see table below for a list of industries available
Industries available, 1988 - 1995 OES estimates
INDUSTRY |
1987 SIC
CODE |
YEARS
AVAILABLE |
Agricultural services |
07 |
1992, 1995 |
Mining |
10-14 |
1990, 1993 |
Construction |
15-17 |
1990, 1993 |
Manufacturing |
20-39 |
1989, 1992, 1995 |
Transportation and public
utilities |
40-49 |
1988, 1991, 1994 |
Wholesale trade |
50-51 |
1988, 1991, 1994 |
Retail trade |
52-59 |
1988, 1991, 1994 |
Finance, insurance, and real
estate |
60-67 |
1990, 1993 |
Services (includes health care,
except hospitals) |
70-87, 89 |
1990, 1993 |
Hospitals |
806 |
1989, 1992, 1995 |
Educational services |
82 |
1988, 1991, 1994 |
State government |
- |
1988, 1991, 1994 |
Local government |
- |
1988, 1991, 1994
|
F. Other important information about OES
data
- Can OES data be used to compare changes in employment or wages
over time?
Although the OES survey methodology is designed to create detailed
cross-sectional employment and wage estimates for the U.S., States,
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, across industry and by
industry, it is less useful for comparisons of two or more points
in time. Challenges in using OES data as a time series include
changes in the occupational, industrial, and geographical
classification systems, changes in the way data are collected,
changes in the survey reference period, and changes in mean wage
estimation methodology, as well as permanent features of the
methodology.
Changes in occupational classification The OES
survey used its own occupational classification system through 1998.
The 1999 OES survey data provide estimates for most of the
nonresidual occupations in the 2000 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system. The 2004-2009 OES data provides
estimates for all occupations in the 2000 SOC. The May 2010 data
provides estimates for most occupations in the 2010 SOC (for more
on the 2010 occupations, see below). Because of these changes, it may be difficult to
compare some occupations even if they are found in both
classification systems. For example, both the old OES system and
the 2000 SOC include the occupation "computer programmers."
However, estimates for this occupation may not be comparable over
time because the 2000 SOC has several computer-related
occupations that were not included in the older classification
system. Workers in newly classified occupations, such as systems
software engineers and applications software engineers, may have
been reported as computer programmers in the past. Therefore, even
occupations that appear the same in the two systems may show employment
shifts due to the addition or deletion of related occupations.
Changes in industrial classification In 2002, the
OES survey switched from the Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) system to the North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS). As a result, there were changes in many industry
definitions. Even definitions that appear similar between the two
industry classifications may have differences because of the way
auxiliary establishments are treated. For example, under SIC the
industry "grocery stores" included their retail establishments,
warehouses, transportation facilities, and administrative
headquarters. Under NAICS, the four establishment types would be
reported in separate industries. Only the retail establishments
would be included in the NAICS industry for "grocery stores." The change
in industrial classification also resulted in changes to the
occupations listed on the survey form for a given industry. In
2008, the OES survey switched to the 2007 NAICS classification
system from the 2002 NAICS. The most significant revisions are in
the Information Sector, particularly within the
Telecommunications area. Beginning in 2010, Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) data is included in the Federal Government
estimates.
Changes in geographical classification Beginning
with the May 2015 estimates, the OES program has implemented
redefined metropolitan area definitions, as designated by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and based on the results of
the 2010 decennial census. As of May 2016, OES data are available
for 394 metropolitan areas, 38 metropolitan divisions that make
up 11 of the metropolitan areas, and 167 OES-defined
nonmetropolitan areas. Prior to implementing the new area
definitions, OES data were available for 380 metropolitan areas, 34
metropolitan divisions, and 172 OES-defined nonmetropolitan areas.
In May 2005, the OES survey began using metropolitan area definitions
based on the results of the 2000 decennial census. Prior to 2005,
OES had data for 334 metropolitan areas. Data for nonmetropolitan
areas are not available before May 2006.
In between the major revisions in May 2005 and May 2015, additional
changes to the metropolitan area definitions may have been
designated by OMB and implemented by OES. When revised
metropolitan area definitions are implemented, the specific
geographic composition of existing metropolitan areas may change.
(For example, additional counties may be incorporated into an
existing area.) Therefore, even if a given metropolitan area is
present under both sets of definitions, data for that area may
not be directly comparable before and after the revision.
Changes in the way the data are collected In the
past, employment in some occupations in an industry may have been
reported in a residual category rather than in the specific
occupation. In order to limit the length of most survey forms to
24 pages, the forms list only the occupations that are likely to
be found in the employer's industry. Prior to 2001, if an
employer had an occupation that was not included on the form, the
respondent may have reported the worker in an "all other" or
residual category or in a related occupation. Currently, the
employer is asked to report detailed occupational information for
workers that cannot be placed in one of the occupations listed on the
form on a separate page. This change may have the effect of showing
increased employment in occupations not on the form for a
particular industry. In addition, changes to the occupations
listed on forms may cause employers to classify workers
differently.
Changes in the survey reference period In 2002, the
reference months for the OES survey were changed from October,
November, and December to May and November in order to reduce
seasonal influences. Industries or occupations that have seasonal
employment variations between the two sets of reference months
will show employment shifts due to the change in the time of year
the data were collected.
Changes in mean wage estimation methodology In 2002,
the method of calculating mean wages was changed for occupations
with any workers earning above $70 per hour in order to remove a
downward bias in mean wage estimates. The result of this change
may be seen as higher mean wage estimates for some occupations.
However, the median and percentile wage estimates would not be
affected by this change.
Permanent features of OES methodology The OES
methodology that allows such detailed area and industry estimates also
makes it difficult to use OES data for comparisons across short
time periods. In order to produce estimates for a given reference
period, employment and wages are collected from establishments in
six semiannual panels for three consecutive years. Every six
months, a new panel of data is added, and the oldest panel is
dropped, resulting in a moving average staffing pattern. The
three years of employment data are benchmarked to represent the
total employment for the reference period. The wages of the older
data are adjusted by the Employment Cost Index. This methodology
assumes that industry staffing patterns change slowly and that
detailed occupational wage rates in an area change at the same
rate as the national change in the ECI wage component for the
occupational group.
The use of six data panels to create a set of estimates means that
sudden changes in occupational employment or wages in the population
or changes in methodology show up in the OES estimates gradually.
Given the above changes, it is difficult to make conclusive
comparisons of OES data over time. However, comparisons of occupations
that are not affected by classification changes may be possible if
the methodological assumptions hold.
The OES program is considering changes in methodology that would make
data useful for time-series comparisons, at least at more
aggregated levels, but these are only in early stages of
discussion. The Bureau of Labor Statistics at present does not
use or encourage the use of OES data for time-series analysis.
Where users choose to make such comparisons, we would caution
them to note the changes in survey procedures and the limits of
the methods used with a pooled sample.
- How should OES data be cited?
The suggested citation for the Occupational Employment Statistics web
site is:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Employment Statistics, [date accessed]
[www.bls.gov/oes/].
The suggested citation for articles from the Occupational Employment
and Wages bulletin is:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Employment and Wages, [year], Bulletin [number],
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC,
[year].
- Why does the sum of the areas within a State not equal the
statewide employment?
The sum of the areas may differ from statewide employment for several
reasons:
- Rounding
- The totals include data items that are not released separately due
to confidentiality and quality reasons.
- Many States include metropolitan areas that cross State lines.
These cross-State metropolitan area estimates include data from
each State, which should not be included in a total for a
single State.
- A small number of establishments indicate the State in which their
employees are located, but do not indicate the specific
metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area in which they are
located. Data for these establishments are used in the
calculation of the statewide estimates, but are not included
in the estimates of any individual area.
- Why are there no estimates for a particular occupation in a
specific area or industry?
Individual occupational employment and wage estimates may be withheld
from publication for a number of reasons, including failure to
meet BLS quality standards or the need to protect the
confidentiality of our survey respondents. In order to further
ensure confidentiality, OES is not able to provide the specific
reason that an estimate was not released. Unpublished OES
estimates cannot be made available to the public.
In general, if either an employment or a wage estimate (but not both)
is available for an occupation, the occupation will appear in the
data with the unpublished estimate footnoted "Estimate not
released." If neither an employment nor a wage estimate could be
published, the occupation will not be shown in the data.
Occupations for which separate data are unavailable are included
in the estimates for the appropriate major group category and in
the "all occupations" totals. For this reason, major group and
"all occupations" employment estimates may exceed the sum of the
employment estimates for the available detailed
occupations.
- Why don't the major group or "all occupations" employment totals
equal the sum of the employment estimates for detailed
occupations?
The major group and "all occupations" totals may include detailed
occupations for which separate employment estimates could not be
published. As a result, employment totals at the major group and "all
occupations" levels may be greater than the sum of employment
estimates for the detailed occupations. Please see Why are there no estimates for a particular occupation in a
specific area or industry? for more information on
unreleased estimates.
Because the major group employment totals include employment for the
detailed occupations in that group, summing across both detailed
occupations and major groups will result in double counting of
occupational employment. When this occurs, the calculated employment
total will exceed the "all occupations" employment total for the
area or industry. To avoid double counting, data users should
exclude either the major group or detailed occupation data before
summing the employment figures. In the downloadable data files,
this can be accomplished by using the spreadsheet program to
filter the data on the "group" field.
- What kind of public/private ownership data does OES have?
OES has limited ownership estimates for years 1997-2008. After
methodology changes introduced in 2006 were applied to a full 3-year
sample rotation, new estimates by public/private ownership were made
available in 2009.
Ownership data can be viewed in HTML table format or downloaded in
Excel spreadsheet format by following the "national
industry-specific and by ownership" links on the OES
Data page.
OES has additionally created a set of ownership codes which
correspond to NAICS classification. The OES "all data" file contains a
field with these ownership codes to help users sort and filter
these very large datasets.
Please see the reference tables below for a list of ownership codes
and a summary of ownership data availability by year.
NOTE: OES added new ownership codes and changed the
way it classifies some ownership data in August 2013, so files
downloaded before then may indicate different ownership codes than
current files.
OES ownership codes
OWNERSHIP TYPE |
OWNERSHIP CODE |
Federal Government |
1 |
State Government |
2 |
Local Government |
3 |
Federal, State, and Local
Government |
123 |
Private |
5 |
Local Government and Private |
35 |
State Government, Local
Government, and Private |
235 |
Federal, State, and Local
Government and Private |
1235 |
Private, Local Government
Gambling Establishments (sector 71), and Local
Government Casino Hotels (sector 72) |
57 |
Private plus State and Local
Government Hospitals |
58 |
Private and Postal Service |
59 |
Ownership data available 2016
NAICS CODES |
NAICS TITLE |
OWNERSHIP CODES |
48, 49 |
Transportation and warehousing |
59 |
491, 4911 |
Postal service (federal government) |
1 |
61 |
Educational services (including private, state, and local
government schools) |
235 |
611 |
Educational services |
2, 3, 235 |
6111 |
Educational services |
3 |
6111 |
Elementary and secondary schools |
2, 3, 235 |
6112 |
Junior colleges |
2, 3, 235 |
6113 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools |
2, 3, 235 |
6114 |
Business schools and computer and management
training (including private, state, and local government
schools) |
235 |
6115 |
Technical and trade schools |
2, 3, 235 |
6116 |
Other schools and instruction |
3, 235 |
6117 |
Educational support services |
3, 235 |
62 |
Health care and social assistance (including private,
state, and local government hospitals) |
58 |
622 |
Hospitals |
2, 3, 235 |
6221 |
General medical and surgical hospitals |
2, 3, 235 |
6222 |
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals |
2, 235 |
6223 |
Specialty hospitals |
2, 235 |
71 |
Arts, entertainment, and recreation (including local
government gambling establishments) |
57 |
713 |
Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries (including
local government gambling establishments) |
57 |
7132 |
Gambling industries (including local government gambling
establishments) |
35 |
72 |
Accommodation and food services (including local government
casino hotels) |
57 |
721 |
Accommodation (including local government casino hotels) |
57 |
7211 |
Traveler accommodation (including local government casino
hotels) |
57 |
72112 |
Casino hotels (including local government casino hotels) |
35 |
99, 999 |
Federal, state, and local government (excluding state and
local government owned schools and hospitals, local
government owned gambling establishments and casino
hotels, and USPS) |
123 |
9991 |
Federal government executive branch only |
1 |
9992 |
State government (excluding schools and hospitals) |
2 |
9993 |
Local government (excluding schools, hospitals, gambling
establishments and casino hotels) |
3 |
All other |
All other industries not listed above |
5 |
Ownership data available 2009-2013
NAICS CODES |
NAICS TITLE |
OWNERSHIP CODES |
48, 49 |
Transportation and warehousing |
59 |
491, 4911 |
Postal service (federal government) |
1 |
61 |
Educational services (including private, state, and local
government schools) |
235 |
611 |
Educational services |
2, 3, 235 |
6111 |
Educational services |
3 |
6111 |
Elementary and secondary schools |
2, 3, 235 |
6112 |
Junior colleges |
2, 3, 235 |
6113 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools |
2, 3, 235 |
6114 |
Business schools and computer and management
training (including private, state, and local government
schools) |
235 |
6115 |
Technical and trade schools |
2, 3, 235 |
6116 |
Other schools and instruction |
3, 235 |
6117 |
Educational support services |
3, 235 |
62 |
Health care and social assistance (including private,
state, and local government hospitals) |
58 |
622 |
Hospitals |
2, 3, 235 |
6221 |
General medical and surgical hospitals |
2, 3, 235 |
6222 |
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals |
2, 235 |
6223 |
Specialty hospitals |
2, 235 |
99, 999 |
Federal, state, and local government (excluding state and
local government owned schools and hospitals and
USPS) |
123 |
9991 |
Federal government executive branch only |
1 |
9992 |
State government (excluding schools and hospitals) |
2 |
9993 |
Local government (excluding schools and hospitals) |
3 |
All other |
All other industries not listed above |
5 |
Ownership data available 1997-2008
NAICS CODES |
NAICS TITLE |
OWNERSHIP CODES |
61, 611 |
Educational services |
1235 |
6111 |
Elementary and secondary schools |
1235 |
6112 |
Junior colleges |
1235 |
6113 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools |
1235 |
6114 |
Business schools and computer and management training |
1235 |
6115 |
Technical and trade schools |
1235 |
6116 |
Other schools and instruction |
1235 |
6117 |
Educational Support Services |
1235 |
622 |
Hospitals |
1235 |
6221 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1235 |
6222 |
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals |
1235 |
6223 |
Specialty hospitals |
1235 |
99, 999 |
Federal, state, and local government (excluding state and
local government owned schools and hospitals and
USPS) |
123 |
9991 |
Federal government executive branch only |
1 |
9992 |
State government, excluding schools and hospitals |
2 |
9993 |
Local government, excluding schools and hospitals |
3 |
All other |
All other industries not listed above |
5 |
Ownership data NOT available, all years
NAICS CODES
|
NAICS TITLE |
OWNERSHIP CODES |
6114 |
Business schools and computer and management training |
2, 3 |
6116 |
Other schools and instruction |
2 |
6117 |
Educational Support Services |
2 |
6222 |
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals |
3 |
6223 |
Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse)
hospitals |
3 |
- Can OES data be used to compare private and government pay for
similar work?
Occupational wages in the different ownership groups (the private
sector, and state, local, and federal governments) are influenced by
many factors that the OES measures cannot take into account. Thus,
while one can obtain OES data that compare estimates of mean and
median wages paid in a wide range of detailed occupations across
ownership groups, those comparisons do not explain why they might
be different. Among the many reasons are:
- Level of work performed
-
- Workers may have different levels of
responsibility, despite being in the same occupation.
- Age and experience
-
- More experienced workers tend to have higher
wages.
-
- As an example, data from the Current Population
Survey show that federal workers, on average, are older and
have far more work experience with their employer than
the typical private-sector worker.
- Cost of living
-
- Workers concentrated in large urban areas with higher costs of
living are more likely to have higher wages than those
working elsewhere.
- Establishment size
-
- Workers in large establishments generally have higher wages than
workers in small establishments.
- Work schedules
-
- Full-time workers tend to earn higher hourly wages than
part-time workers in the same occupation.
-
- The OES annual wage estimates assume a full-time, year-round
schedule of 2,080 hours.
- Unionization
-
- Workers in unionized establishments may have different wages
than non-union establishments.
OES data are not designed for use in comparing federal and private
sector pay because the OES data do not contain information about pay
according to the level of work performed. BLS conducts a separate
survey, the National Compensation Survey, which provides data by
level of work for use by the President's Pay Agent. The
President's Pay Agent (the Directors of the Office of Personnel
Management and the Office of Management and Budget, and the
Secretary of Labor) is charged by law with recommending federal
pay adjustments to the President. Questions about federal pay
comparability should be directed to the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management.
- How were the occupations in the May 2010 and May 2011 estimates
created from data based on the 2000 and 2010 SOC codes?
The data for the November 2009, May 2010, November 2010, and May 2011
panels were collected based on the 2010 SOC, while data for the
two older panels were collected based on the 2000 SOC. With a few
exceptions, almost all the occupations are the same in the 2000
and 2010 occupational classifications systems; in other words,
occupations could be combined in one year to be the equivalent of
an occupation in another year. Whenever possible, the 2010
occupation was used in estimation. There were several cases,
however, where occupations from the two structures had to be
combined into a hybrid occupation to used temporarily in OES
only.
The starting point for combining data collected under both systems
was the SOC crosswalk (see the BLS SOC page for
more details). In order to better address the OES customers' need
for detailed occupational data, however, sometimes OES combined
data differently. For example, the SOC crosswalk shows that the
2010 SOC occupation solar photovoltaic installers was crosswalked
to several 2000 occupations, including carpenters, electricians,
and roofers. For the 2010 OES estimates, these lines of the
crosswalk were ignored, and estimates are available for each of
these occupations--carpenters, electricians, roofers--even though
it is possible that in the four earlier panels of data, employers
may have reported solar photovoltaic panel installers in these
occupations.
To download an occupational crosswalk between the hybrid SOC-OES 2010
and the SOC 2000 or the SOC 2010, please see the 2010
and 2011 OES classification Excel spreadsheet. Listed below
are the occupations which are in the 2010 OES estimates, but not
in the 2010 SOC.
Occupations which are in the May 2010 and May 2011 OES estimates,
but not in the 2010 SOC
OES 2011 CODE |
OES TITLE |
HOW THE OCCUPATION IS BASED ON 2000 AND 2010 SOC CODES |
NOTES |
11-9013 |
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers |
This occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupation 11-9013 and the 2000 SOC occupations
11-9011 Farm, ranch and other agricultural managers
and 11-9012 Farmers and ranchers |
2010 occupation |
13-1078 |
Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Specialists,
All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 13-1071 Human Resources
Specialists and 13-1075 Labor Relations Specialists
and the 2000 SOC occupations 13-1071 Employment,
Recruitment, and Placement Specialists and 13-1079
Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations
Specialists, All Other. |
|
15-1150 |
Computer Support Specialists* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 15-1151 Computer User Support
Specialists and 15-1152 Computer Network Support
Specialists and the 2000 SOC occupation 15-1041
Computer Support Specialists. |
|
15-1179 |
Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer
Network Architects* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 15-1122 Information Security
Analysts, 15-1134 Web Developers, 15-1143 Computer
Network Architects and the 2000 SOC occupation
15-1081 Network Systems and Data Communications
Analysts. |
|
15-1799 |
Computer Occupations, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupation 15-1199 Computer Occupations, All
Other and the 2000 SOC occupation 15-1099 Computer
Specialists, All Other. |
|
21-1798 |
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 21-1094 Community Health Workers
and 21-1099 Community and Social Service Specialists,
All Other and the 2000 SOC occupation 21-1099
Community and Social Service Specialists, All
Other. |
|
25-2041 |
Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and
Elementary School* |
This occupation is a combination of the 2000 SOC occupation
25-2041 Special education teachers, preschool,
kindergarten, and elementary school, and the 2010 SOC
occupations 25-2051 special education teachers
preschool, and 25-2052 special education teachers,
kindergarten and elementary. |
2000 occupation |
25-3999 |
Teachers and Instructors, All Other* |
This occupation is a combination of the 2000 SOC occupation
25-3099 Teachers and instructors, all other; the 2010
SOC occupations 25-2059 Special education teachers,
all other, 25-3099 Teachers and instructors, all
other, and the OES only occupation, substitute
teachers, for which data was collected in only
one-third of the panels used in 2010 estimates. |
Teachers and Instructors, All Other, including special
education teachers not specified separately |
29-1111 |
Registered Nurses* |
This occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2000 SOC occupation 29-1111 registered nurses; and the
2010 occupations 29-1141 Registered nurses, 29-1151
nurse anesthetists, 29-1161 nurse midwives, and
29-1171 nurse practitioners. |
2000 occupation |
29-1128 |
Therapists, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 29-1128 Exercise Physiologists,
29-1129 Therapists, All Other and the 2000 SOC
occupation 29-1129 Therapists, All Other. |
Therapists, All Other, including exercise physiologists* |
29-2037 |
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 29-2034 Radiologic
Technologists, 29-2035 Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Technologists and the 2000 SOC occupation 29-2034
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. |
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, including Magnetic
Resonance Imaging Technologists |
29-2799 |
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 29-2057 Ophthalmic Medical
Technicians, 29-2092 Hearing Aid Specialists, 29-2099
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other and
the 2000 SOC occupation 29-2099 Health Technologists
and Technicians, All Other. |
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other, including
hearing aid specialists and opthalmic medical
technicians |
29-9799 |
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 29-9092 Genetic Counselors,
29-9099 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Workers, All Other and the 2000 SOC occupation
29-9099 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Workers, All Other. |
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other,
including genetic counselors |
31-1012 |
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants* |
This occupation is a combination of the 2000 SOC occupation
31-1012 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants, and
the 2010 SOC occupations 31-1014 nursing aides and
31-1015 orderlies |
2000 occupation |
31-9799 |
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 31-9097 Phlebotomists, 31-9099
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other and the 2000
SOC occupation 31-9099 Healthcare Support Workers,
All Other. |
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other, including
phlebotomists |
39-4831 |
Funeral Service Managers, Directors, Morticians, and
Undertakers |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 11-9061 Funeral Service
Managers, 39-4031 Morticians, Undertakers and Funeral
Directors and the 2000 SOC occupation 11-9061 Funeral
Directors. |
|
41-9799 |
Sales and Related Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 13-1131 Fundraisers, 41-9099
Sales and Related Workers, All Other and the 2000 SOC
occupation 41-9099 Sales and Related Workers, All
Other. |
Sales and Related Workers, All Other, including
fundraisers |
43-9799 |
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 43-3099 Financial Clerks, All
Other, 43-9199 Office and Administrative Support
Workers, All Other and the 2000 SOC occupation
43-9199 Office and Administrative Support Workers,
All Other. |
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other,
including finance clerks not identified separately |
47-4799 |
Construction and Related Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 47-2231 Solar Photovoltaic
Installers, 47-4099 Construction and Related Workers,
All Other and the 2000 SOC occupation 47-4099
Construction and Related Workers, All Other. |
Construction and Related Workers, All Other including solar
photovoltaic installers |
49-9799 |
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 49-9081 Wind Turbine Service
Technicians, 49-9099 Installation, Maintenance, and
Repair Workers, All Other and the 2000 SOC occupation
49-9099 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Workers, All Other. |
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other,
including wind turbine service technicians |
51-9151 |
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine
Operators |
This occupation is a combination of the 2010 SOC occupation
51-9151 Photographic Process Workers and Processing
Machine Operators, and the 2000 SOC occupations
51-9131 Photographic process workers, and 51-9132
Photographic processing machine operators |
2010 occupation |
51-9399 |
Production Workers, All Other* |
This OES occupation is a combination of data collected for the
2010 SOC occupations 51-3099 Food Processing Workers,
All Other, 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other and
the 2000 SOC occupation 51-9199 Production Workers,
All Other. |
Production workers, all other, including food processing
workers not specified separately* |
NOTE: Occupation titles followed by
* have the same title, but not necessarily the same
content as 2010 SOC occupations.
- Can I use OES data to obtain prevailing wages for foreign labor
certification or federal contracts?
No. The Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) program is
administered by the Employment and Training Administration at the
U.S. Department of Labor, and covers foreign workers who are
admitted to the U.S. under H1-B and other types of visas.
Although OES data are used as an input in calculating FLC
prevailing wages, FLC prevailing wage data are not identical to
the OES wage estimates. Employers who need prevailing wages for
the purpose of foreign labor certification should use the FLC Online Wage
Library instead of OES data. More information about the Foreign
Labor Certification program is available from the FLC home page.
The Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) cover federal, District of
Columbia, or federally assisted construction contracts. The
McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act applies to federal and District of
Columbia service contracts. Both programs are administered by the
Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Prevailing wage determinations for contracts subject to DBRA or
SCA should be obtained using the Wage Determinations Online program. More details
about the Davis Bacon and Related Acts are available from the DBRA home
page; additional information about the Service Contract Act
can be found on the SCA website.
Last Modified Date: March 31,
2017
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