Why Can’t I Find the SOC Code I Need?

For various reasons, Lightcast’s SOC codes do not always align with standard SOC codes. Most of the time this is due to following the conventions of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program, which departs from standard SOC in several instances. Lightcast follows OES SOC conventions, so their decisions apply to Lightcast data.

This article aims to help you figure out which SOC code to use, and offer explanations for why the desired SOC code may not be present. At the bottom of this article is a matrix that lists missing SOCs and the SOCs to use instead.

OES Standard SOC

These are common across all vintages (e.g. SOC 2010, SOC 2018, etc.).

• All Military employment is in one SOC (55-9999). OES doesn’t provide military staffing patterns, so we are not able to break out employment from the Military industry into SOCs. Instead, all Military employment goes to SOC 55-9999.
• OES adds a code for Substitute Teachers (25-3098).

Lightcast Standard SOC

These are the areas where Lightcast differs from standard SOC by internal convention.

• Lightcast adds SOC 99-9999 (Unclassified) in order to have a place to put employment for which we have no staffing pattern and thus cannot convert from industry employment to occupation employment. This only applies to the Extended Proprietors class of worker, as staffing patterns are available for all other classes of worker. Users will not typically encounter this SOC code.
• Lightcast collapses all Postsecondary Teacher SOCs (roughly 35 SOCs) into one Postsecondary Teachers SOC (25-1099), due to lack of good data. See this article for more background on this decision.

OES Changes in 2018

With their release of 2018 data in spring 2019, OES made a small series of changes, effectively combining some SOCs due to lack of available data in their survey.

OES Hybrid 2019 SOC

Since OES is a survey that collects information from a universe of 1.1 million businesses over three years, it takes three years for OES to transition to a new SOC classification. In the interim years, they use a rolled-up version of SOC codes in which less-detailed SOCs are used so that information collected in the interim years can be used in either the old SOC version or the new SOC version. As with the 2018 changes, the upshot is that a number of detailed SOCs are rolled up to less-detailed SOCs.

SOC 2018

Since OES is using a hybrid SOC structure until 2022, many detailed 2018 SOCs are not yet available from OES and are therefore not available in Lightcast data. In the meantime, the hybrid 2019 rollups must be used.

However, some 2018 SOCs may be in use. In cases where SOCs are simply being re-named or re-numbered, the 2018 SOC may already be in use.

Missing SOCs Summary Table

Missing	Use This	Reason
N/A	55-9999 Military-only occupations	OES Standard SOC
25-3098 Substitute Teachers	25-3031 Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	OES Standard SOC (with code and title change)
N/A	99-9999 Unclassified Occupation	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1011 Business Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1021 Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1022 Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1031 Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1042 Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1052 Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1053 Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1054 Physics Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1062 Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1063 Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1064 Geography Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1065 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1066 Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1067 Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1069 Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1072 Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1081 Education Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1111 Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1112 Law Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1121 Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1122 Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1123 English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1124 Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1125 History Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1126 Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1193 Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
25-1194 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary	25-1099 Postsecondary Teachers	Lightcast Standard SOC
13-1021 Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products	13-1028 Buyers and Purchasing Agents	OES Changes in 2018
13-1022 Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products	13-1028 Buyers and Purchasing Agents	OES Changes in 2018
13-2023 Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail and Farm Products	13-1028 Buyers and Purchasing Agents	OES Changes in 2018
15-2091 Mathematical Technicians	15-2090 Miscellaneous Mathematical Science Occupations	OES Changes in 2021
15-2099 Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other	15-2090 Miscellaneous Mathematical Science Occupations	OES Changes in 2021
21-1011 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	21-1018 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	OES Changes in 2018
21-1014 Mental Health Counselors	21-1018 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	OES Changes in 2018
29-2011 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	29-2018 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	OES Changes in 2018
29-2012 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians	29-2018 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	OES Changes in 2018
39-1011 Gaming Supervisors	39-1013 First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers	OES Changes in 2021
39-1012 Slot Supervisors	39-1013 First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers	OES Changes in 2021
39-7011 Tour Guides and Escorts	39-7018 Tour and Travel Guides	OES Changes in 2018
39-7012 Travel Guides	39-7018 Tour and Travel Guides	OES Changes in 2018
47-4901 Segmental Pavers	47-4098 Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers	OES Changes in 2018
47-4099 Construction and Related Workers, All Other	47-4098 Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers	OES Changes in 2018
51-2022 Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers	51-2028 Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	OES Changes in 2018
51-2023 Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers	51-2028 Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	OES Changes in 2018
51-2092 Team Assemblers	51-2098 Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other, Including Team Assemblers	OES Changes in 2018
51-2099 Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other	51-2098 Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other, Including Team Assemblers	OES Changes in 2018
53-1021 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand	53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	OES Changes in 2021
53-1031 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators	53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	OES Changes in 2021
13-2021 Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate	13-2020 Property Appraisers and Assessors	2021 hybrid SOC code
13-2022 Appraisers of Personal and Business Property	13-2028 Property Appraisers and Assessors	New SOC 2021 code
13-2023 Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate	13-2028 Property Appraisers and Assessors	New SOC 2021 code
15-1121 Computer Systems Analysts	15-1211 Computer Systems Analysts	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1122 Information Security Analysts	15-1212 Information Security Analysts	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1111 Computer and Information Research Scientists	15-1221 Computer and Information Research Scientists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1152 Computer Network Support Specialists	15-1231 Computer Network Support Specialists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1151 Computer User Support Specialists	15-1232 Computer User Support Specialists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1143 Computer Network Architects	15-1241 Computer Network Architects	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1142 Network and Computer Systems Administrators	15-1244 Network and Computer Systems Administrators	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1141 Database Administrators	15-1242 Database Administrators and Architects	New SOC 2021 code
15-1243 Database Architects	15-1243 Database Architects	New SOC 2021 code
15-1131 Computer Programmers	15-1251 Computer Programmers	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
15-1132 Software Developers, Applications	15-1252 Software Developers	2019 hybrid SOC code
15-1133 Software Developers, Systems Software	15-1252 Software Developers	2019 hybrid SOC code
15-1199 Computer Occupations, All Other	15-1299 Computer Occupations, All Other	Permanent Roll-up
43-9011 Computer Operators	15-1299 Computer Occupations, All Other	Permanent Roll-up
15-2098 Miscellaneous Mathematical Science Occupations	15-2099 Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other	2019 hybrid SOC code
19-4091 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	19-4042 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
19-4041 Geological and Petroleum Technicians	19-4043 Geological Technicians	2021 hybrid SOC code
19-4093 Forest and Conservation Technicians	19-4071 Forest and Conservation Technicians	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-9011 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	19-5011 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-9012 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	19-5012 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
25-2053 Special Education Teachers, Middle School	25-2057 Special Education Teachers, Middle School	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
25-2054 Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	25-2058 Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
25-3097 Teachers and Instructors, All Other, Except Substitute Teachers	25-3099 Tutors and Teachers and Instructors, All Other	SOC 2021 code
25-4021 Librarians	25-4022 Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	Permanent Roll-up
25-9011 Audio-Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialists	25-4022 Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	Permanent Roll-up
N/A	25-9044 Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary	New SOC
25-9041 Teacher Assistants	25-9045 Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	2019 hybrid SOC code
25-9042 Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education	25-9045 Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	New SOC 2018 code coming in 2022
25-9043 Teaching Assistants, Special Education	25-9045 Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	New SOC 2018 code coming in 2022
25-9049 Teaching Assistants, All Other	25-9045 Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	New SOC 2018 code coming in 2022
23-2091 Court Reporters	27-3092 Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
27-3021 Broadcast News Analysts	27-3023 News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	Permanent Roll-up
27-3022 Reporters and Correspondents	27-3023 News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	Permanent Roll-up
27-3012 Public Address System and Other Announcers	27-3099 Media and Communication Workers, All Other	Permanent Roll-up
29-1061 Anesthesiologists	29-1211 Anesthesiologists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-1062 Family and General Practitioners	29-1215 Family Medicine Physicians	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
29-1063 Internists, General	29-1216 General Internal Medicine Physicians	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
29-1064 Obstetricians and Gynecologists	29-1218 Obstetricians and Gynecologists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-1065 Pediatricians, General	29-1221 Pediatricians, General	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-1066 Psychiatrists	29-1223 Psychiatrists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-1069 Physicians and Surgeons, All Other	29-1229 Physicians, All Other	2019 hybrid SOC code
29-1067 Surgeons	29-1249 Surgeons, All Other	2021 hybrid SOC code
29-2021 Dental Hygienists	29-1292 Dental Hygienists	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
29-1199 Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners, All Other	29-1299 Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other	2021 hybrid SOC code
29-2054 Respiratory Therapy Technicians	29-2099 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	2021 hybrid SOC code
29-2071 Medical Records and Health Information Technicians	29-2099 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	2021 hybrid SOC code
31-1011 (or 31-1121 in SOC 2018) Home Health Aides	31-1128 Home Health and Personal Care Aides	Temporary roll-up; will be split back out with SOC 2018 in 2022
39-9021 (or 31-1122 in SOC 2018) Personal Care Aides	31-1128 Home Health and Personal Care Aides	Temporary roll-up; will be split back out with SOC 2018 in 2022
31-1014 Nursing Assistants	31-1131 Nursing Assistants	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
31-1015 Orderlies	31-1132 Orderlies	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
31-1013 Psychiatric Aides	31-1133 Psychiatric Aides	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
35-3021 Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food	35-3023 Fast Food and Counter Workers	Permanent Roll-up
35-3022 Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop	35-3023 Fast Food and Counter Workers	Permanent Roll-up
39-1018 First-Line Supervisors of Gaming workers	39-1013 First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Service Workers	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
41-3099 Sales Representatives, Services, All Other	41-3091 Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
27-4013 Radio Operators	43-2099 Communications Equipment Operators, All Other	Permanent Roll-up
45-3011 Fishers and Related Fishing Workers	45-3031 Fishing and Hunting Workers	Permanent Roll-up
45-3021 Hunters and Trappers	45-3031 Fishing and Hunting Workers	Permanent Roll-up
47-5042 Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators	47-5099 Extraction Workers, All Other	2021 hybrid SOC code
49-9093 Fabric Menders, Except Garment	49-9099 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	Permanent Roll-up
51-2091 Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators	51-2051 Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
51-2093 Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters	51-2061 Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
51-4011 Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic	51-9161 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
51-4012 Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic	51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
51-9121 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9124 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
51-9122 Painters, Transportation Equipment	51-9124 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	Permanent Roll-up
53-1011 Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	53-1041 Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
53-1048 (or 53-1049 in SOC 2018) First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	2019 hybrid SOC code
53-1042 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand	53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	New SOC 2018 code coming in 2022
53-1043 First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators	53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	New SOC 2018 code coming in 2022
53-1044 First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants	53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	New SOC 2018 code coming in 2022
53-3021 Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity	53-3052 Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity	SOC 2018 code change, already implemented
53-3022 Bus Drivers, School or Special Client	53-3051 Bus Drivers, School	2021 hybrid SOC code
53-3041 Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs	53-3054 Taxi Drivers	2021 hybrid SOC code
53-3041 Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs	53-3053 Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	2021 hybrid SOC code
53-4012 Locomotive Firers	53-4022 Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers	Permanent Roll-up
53-4021 Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators	53-4022 Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers	Permanent Roll-up
53-7032 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators	47-5022 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented
53-7033 Loading Machine Operators, Underground Mining	47-5044 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining	Permanent Roll-up
53-7111 Mine Shuttle Car Operators	47-5044 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining	Permanent Roll-up
43-5081 Stock Clerks and Order Fillers	53-7065 Stockers and Order Fillers	SOC 2018 code and title change, already implemented