What is the SOC and how is it used?
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is the federal governments standard classification system for occupations. It groups occupations according to the nature of the work performed, and relates these occupations to others of a similar nature. There are 23 major groups in the SOC and 821 detailed occupations within those groups. This system provides a mechanism for cross-referencing and aggregating occupation-related data collected by social and economic statistical reporting programs. The Census Bureau has adapted the SOC to create the occupation categories used in the Census Classification Indexes.
