Occupational Definitions - OES Occupational Classification System

Service Occupations

First-Line Supervisors and Managers/Supervisors - Service Occupations

61002 - Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors

Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in fire fighting and fire prevention and control.

61005 - Police and Detective Supervisors

Supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

61008 - Housekeeping Supervisors

Supervise work activities of cleaning personnel to insure clean, orderly, and attractive rooms in hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, and similar establishments. Assign duties, inspect work, and investigate complaints regarding housekeeping service and equipment and take corrective action. May purchase housekeeping supplies and equipment, take periodic inventories, screen applicants, train new employees, and recommend dismissals.

61099 - All Other Supervisors and Managers/Supervisors - Service Workers

All other supervisors and managers/supervisors of service workers not classified separately above.

Protective Service Occupations

63002 - Fire Inspectors

Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and State laws. Investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions and enforce fire laws.

63005 - Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Administer fire regulations. Locate and report forest fires and weather conditions, usually from remote locations within forest or logging area. Inspect area for fire hazards and equipment for serviceability. May work from a station or patrol area.

63008 - Fire Fighters

Control and extinguish fires, protect life and property, and maintain equipment as paid volunteer or employee of city, township, State, or Federal government.

63011 - Police Detectives

Conduct investigations to prevent or solve crimes.

63014 - Police Patrol Officers

Maintain order, enforce laws and ordinances, and protect life and property in an assigned patrol district. Perform combination of following duties: Patrol a specific area on foot or in a vehicle; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend, arrest, and process prisoners; and give evidence in court.

63017 - Correction Officers and Jailers

Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institution in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point, traveling by automobile or public transportation. Include Deputy Sheriffs who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in county correctional institutions.

63021 - Parking Enforcement Officers

Patrol assigned area such as public parking lot or section of city to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.

63023 - Bailiffs

Open court by announcing entrance of judge. Seat witnesses and jurors in specified areas of courtroom. Eject or arrest individuals disturbing proceedings.

63026 - United States Marshals

Perform such law enforcement activities as serve civil writs and criminal warrants issued by federal courts; trace and arrest persons wanted under court warrants; seize and dispose of property under court orders; safeguard and transport prisoners and jurors; and maintain order in courtroom.

63028 - Criminal Investigators, Public Service

Plan and conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, State, or local laws.

63032 - Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs

Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants. Exclude Deputy Sheriffs who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in county correctional institutions.

63035 - Detectives and Investigators, Except Public

Protect property, merchandise, and money of store or similar establishment by detecting theft, shoplifting, or other unlawful practices by public or employees. Perform necessary action to preserve order and enforce standards of decorum established by management. Include Investigators who conduct private investigations, such as obtaining confidential information, seeking missing persons, or investigating crimes and thefts.

63038 - Railroad and Transit Police and Special Agents

Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers. Include workers who coordinate security staff.

63041 - Fish and Game Wardens

Patrol assigned area to prevent game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.

63044 - Crossing Guards

Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.

63047 - Guards and Watch Guards

Stand guard at entrance or patrol premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.

63099 - All Other Protective Service Workers

All other protective service workers not classified separately above.

Food and Beverage Preparation and Service Occupations

65002 - Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, or Coffee Shop

Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and insure quality of facilities and service.

65005 - Bartenders

Mix and serve to patrons, directly or through wait staff, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks following standard recipes.

65008 - Waiters and Waitresses

Serve food and/or beverages to patrons at tables. Usually take order from patron and make out check. May set table with linen and silverware and take payment from patron. May serve customers at counter as well as table. Exclude workers who only work at counters.

65011 - Food Servers, Outside

Serve food to patrons outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotels, hospital rooms, or cars. Exclude Food Vendors.

65014 - Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

Perform any combination of the following duties to facilitate food service: Carry dirty dishes from dining room to kitchen; replace soiled table linens; set tables with silverware and glassware; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food, such as soups, salads, and desserts; and serve ice water, butter, and coffee to patrons. May wash tables.

65017 - Counter Attendants - Lunchroom, Coffee Shop, or Cafeteria

Serve food to diners at counter or from a steam table. Exclude Counter Attendants who also wait tables.

65021 - Bakers, Bread and Pastry

Mix and bake ingredients according to recipes to produce small quantities of breads, pastries, and other baked goods for consumption on premises or for sale as specialty baked goods.

65023 - Butchers and Meat Cutters

Cut, trim, and prepare carcasses and consumer-sized portions of meat for sale or for use in food service establishments. Exclude butchers working in slaughtering, meat packing, or prepared-meat establishments.

65026 - Cooks, Restaurant

Prepare, season, and cook soups, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other foodstuffs in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

65028 - Cooks, Institution or Cafeteria

Prepare and cook family-style meals for institutions such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias. Usually prepare meals in large quantities rather than to individual order. May cook for employees in office building or other large facility.

65032 - Cooks, Fast Food

Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of the cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

65035 - Cooks, Short Order

Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables. Exclude Cooks, Fast Food.

65038 - Food Preparation Workers

Perform a variety of food preparation duties, such as preparing cold foods and maintaining and cleaning kitchen work areas, equipment, and utensils. Perform simple tasks such as preparing shellfish or slicing meat. May brew coffee and tea or prepare sandwiches.

65041 - Combined Food Preparation and Service Workers

Perform duties which combine both food preparation and food service. Workers who spend more than 80 percent of their time in one job should be reported in that occupation.

65099 - All Other Food Service Workers

All other food service workers not classified separately above.

Health Service and Related Occupations

66002 - Dental Assistants

Assist dentist at chair, set up patient and equipment, keep records, and perform related duties as required.

66005 - Medical Assistants

Perform various duties under the direction of physician in examination and treatment of patients. Prepare treatment room, inventory supplies and instruments, and set up patient for attention of physician. Hand instruments and materials to physician as directed. Schedule appointments, keep medical records, and perform secretarial duties.

66008 - Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants

Work under the direction of nursing or medical staff to provide auxiliary services in the care of patients. Perform duties such as answering patient's call bell, serving and collecting food trays, and feeding patients. Orderlies are primarily concerned with setting up equipment and relieving nurses of heavier work. Exclude Psychiatric Aides and Home Health Aides.

66011 - Home Health Aides

Care for elderly, convalescent, or handicapped person in home of patient. Perform duties for patient such as changing bed linen; preparing meals; assisting in and out of bed; bathing, dressing, and grooming; and administering oral medications under doctors' orders or direction of nurse. Exclude Nursing Aides and Homemakers.

66014 - Psychiatric Aides

Assist mentally ill patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff.

66017 - Physical and Corrective Therapy Assistants and Aides

Prepare patient and/or administer physical therapy treatment, such as massages, traction, and heat, light and sound treatment. Instruct, motivate, and assist patients with learning and improving functional activities. Normally work under the direction of a Physical or Corrective Therapist.

66021 - Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides

Assist Occupational Therapists in administering medically-oriented occupational programs to assist in rehabilitating patients in hospitals and similar institutions.

66023 - Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients and rendering first aid. May be required to have Red Cross first-aid training certificate.

66099 - All Other Health Service Workers

All other health service workers not classified separately above.

Cleaning and Building Service Occupations

67002 - Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Perform any combination of tasks to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and arranging furniture.

67005 - Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as operating motor-driven cleaning equipment, mopping floors, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs and additions, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.

67008 - Pest Controllers and Assistants

Spray or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set mechanical traps to kill pests and vermin such as mice, termites, and roaches, that infest buildings and surrounding areas.

67011 - Elevator Operators

Operate elevator to transport passengers and/or freight between floors of such buildings as offices, apartment houses, hotels, and stores.

67099 - All Other Cleaning and Building Service Workers

All other cleaning and building service workers not classified separately above.

Personal Service Occupations

68002 - Barbers

Provide customers with barbering services, including cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair. Give shaves and shape contour of hair line. May sell lotions, tonics, and other cosmetic supplies.

68005 - Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Provide beauty services, such as suggesting hair styles, cutting and treating hair and scalp, applying make-up, dressing wigs, and electrolysis, to customers. Exclude Shampooers, Manicurists, and Beauty School Instructors.

68008 - Manicurists

Clean, shape, and polish customers' fingernails and toenails.

68011 - Shampooers

Specialize in shampooing hair and scalp with water or liquid shampoo and rinsing hair with prepared rinses.

68014 - Amusement and Recreation Attendants

Perform any of a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. Schedule use of recreation facilities, allocate equipment to participants of sporting events or recreational pursuits, collect fees for games played, or operate carnival rides and amusement concessions.

68017 - Guides

Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

68021 - Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers

Assist patrons at entertainment events, such as sporting events, motion pictures, or theater performances. Collect admission tickets and passes from patrons. May assist in finding seats, searching for lost articles, and locating such facilities as rest rooms and telephones.

68023 - Baggage Porters and Bellhops

Carry baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments. Additional duties include assisting handicapped persons, running errands, delivering ice, and directing people to their desired destinations.

68026 - Flight Attendants

Provide personal services to insure the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, record destinations, and assign seats. Explain use of safety equipment. Serve meals and beverages.

68028 - Transportation Attendants, Except Flight Attendants and Baggage Porters

Provide personal services to insure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ship, bus, or train. Greet passengers, explain use of safety equipment, serve meals and beverages, and answer questions related to travel. Exclude Flight Attendants.

68032 - Wardrobe, and Locker and Dressing Room Attendants

Care for costumes or uniforms. Distribute and keep record of clothing and related equipment issued and returned. Assist in dressing. May select and fit costumes for cast members, arrange for cleaning and pressing, and make minor alterations. Exclude Tailors and Dressmakers.

68035 - Personal and Home Care Aides

Perform a variety of tasks at places of residence. Duties include keeping house and advising families having problems with such things as nutrition, cleanliness, and household utilities. Exclude Nursing Aides and Home Health Aides.

68038 - Child Care Workers

Attend to children at child care centers, schools, businesses, and institutions. Perform variety of tasks such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play. Exclude Preschool Teachers and Teacher Aides.

68041 - Funeral Attendants

Perform variety of tasks during funeral such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service; arranging floral offerings or lights around casket; directing or escorting mourners; closing casket; and issuing and storing funeral equipment.

Other Service Occupations

69999 - All Other Service Workers

All other service workers not classified separately above.

1998 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

1998 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

1998 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

1998 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

Technical Notes and Survey Method and Reliability Statement for 1998 OES Estimates

Last modified: October 16, 2001