September 17, 2008
DOL Home > OALJ Home > Dictionary of Occupational Titles
United States Department of Labor Office of
Administrative Law Judges Law Library
DICTIONARY OF OCCUPATIONAL TITLES (4th Ed., Rev. 1991) --
HOW TO FIND AN OCCUPATIONAL TITLE AND CODE
Occupational titles and codes in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)
are based on the type of information presented in the lead statement and task
element statements described in the previous section: worker actions; the
purpose or objective of these actions; machines, tools, equipment, or work aids
used; materials processed, products made, subject matter dealt with, or service
rendered; the nature and complexity of instructions followed; and the job tasks
actually performed by the worker. The more complete and comprehensive the
information you are able to assemble about the tasks performed by a worker or
required by an employer on a particular job, the easier it will be to determine
the appropriate classification.
The Three Occupational Arrangements
There are three different arrangements of occupational titles in the DOT: the
Occupational Group Arrangement, the Alphabetical Index, and the Industry
Arrangement. All of these can assist you in identifying and classifying jobs.
1) The Occupational Group Arrangement
In this revised edition, as in the fourth edition, the primary method of
identifying or classifying jobs is by use of the Occupational Group Arrangement
(see Occupational Categories, Divisions, and Groups). For job placement and
referral purposes, if you have obtained sufficient information from the worker
seeking a job, or the employer placing an order, this is the preferred method to
use. The other two arrangements of titles are supplementary and should be used
in conjunction with the Occupational Group Arrangement. Using the Occupational
Group Arrangement saves time by eliminating the extra step of referring to other
sections of the DOT.
To use the Occupational Group Arrangement:
a) Obtain all the relevant facts about the job.
b) Find the 1-digit occupational category which seems most likely to contain
the job.
c) Find the most appropriate 2-digit occupational division of the category.
d) Find the best 3-digit group within the division.
e) Examine the occupational definition under the group you have selected and
choose the most appropriate title. Read the definition for the title
selected carefully before deciding if this is the best possible
classification. If it does not correspond closely with the information
you have collected, repeat steps (b) to (d) to find the most appropriate
classification.
In the process of choosing the appropriate occupational category, division, and
group (steps b - d) you will develop information about the job which will be
helpful in classifying it. When you are trying to find the most appropriate
definition in the occupational group selected (step e), remember that jobs
requiring more responsibility and independent judgment have lower worker
functions numerals and will be found near the beginning of the occupational
group, while those requiring less responsibility and independent judgment have
higher numbers and will be found nearer the end.
2) The Alphabetical Index of Occupational Titles
The Alphabetical Index is the second basic arrangement of codes and titles in
the DOT. In this section, titles are shown first, including their industry
designation. Titles with two or more words, such as ACCOUNT-CLASSIFICATION
CLERK (clerical), are treated as one word for purposes of alphabetizing.
Following the industry designation, you will find the 9-digit code for the
occupation. This will help to find quickly the title and its definition in the
Occupational Group Arrangement (OGA). The Alphabetical Index is useful if you
are sure of an occupational title, including its industry designation, and just
need the 9-digit code, or if you are reasonably sure of a title and its industry
designation, but there is more than one such title in the same industry
(indicated by a Roman numeral), you could use this index to get the 9-digit
codes of the various titles in order to locate and check out their definitions
in the OGA. Although it is unwise to classify a job or application based on its
title alone, the Alphabetical Index is useful in some situations to identify
definitions that are possibly relevant.
To use the Alphabetical Index:
a) Look through the index for the title of the job as you know it. If you
find it, write down the 9-digit code printed to the right of the title.
Using this code as a guide, find the definition for the title in the
Occupational Group Arrangement. Read the entire definition before
deciding whether it is the most appropriate classification.
b) If you cannot find the job title, or if the definition appears
inappropriate, look for another title. Some clues are:
Invert the title: maintenance carpenter
CARPENTER, MAINTENANCE
Contract the title: rubber-belt repairer
BELT REPAIRER
Find a synonym: car mechanic
AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC
Consider such factors as:
Job location
PARKING LOT ATTENDANT; STOREROOM CLERK
Machines used
PUNCH-PRESS OPERATOR; MACHINE FEEDER
If you have information on several of these factors, however, it may be more
appropriate to use the Occupational Group Arrangement.
Some titles listed in the Alphabetical Index are not used in public employment
service operations. ``Master'' and ``Term'' titles do not have occupational
codes and consequently cannot be used. They are easily recognized since the
words ``Master Title'' or ``Term Title'' appear in place of the code to the
right of the title. Alternate titles, which are synonyms for, but less commonly
used than base titles, are not standard titles for classification purposes in
Job Service operations. They are also easily recognizable since they are in
lower-case letters.
3) Occupational Titles Arranged by Industry Designation
The Industry Arrangement of titles may be useful if you have limited
information about a job. You may know the industry in which the job is located,
but have little or no information about such things as products made, materials
used, services rendered, and other essential data. The Industry Arrangement can
also be of assistance if a person wants to work in a particular industry, or if
you need to learn more about related jobs in the industry.
To use the Industry Arrangement:
a) Look through the industry titles and read their definitions. Select the
one most likely to contain the particular job.
b) Survey the occupational titles listed under the selected industry. Choose
the title which seems appropriate to the job, and write down the
nine-digit code to the right of the title. Using this code as a guide,
find the definition in the Occupational Group Arrangement. Read the
entire occupational definition before deciding if it is the most
appropriate classification.
Summary
The basic purpose and use of each of the three arrangements of occupational
titles is shown below:
Use . . . If you . . .
THE have sufficient information about the job tasks
OCCUPATIONAL want to know about other closely related occupations
GROUP want to be sure you have chosen the most appropriate
ARRANGEMENT classification using the other arrangements
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCCUPATIONAL TITLES know only the industry in which the job is located
ARRANGED BY want to know about other jobs in an industry
INDUSTRY DESIGNATION your client wants to work in a specific industry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ALPHABETICAL know only the job title
INDEX OF and cannot obtain better
OCCUPATIONAL TITLES information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------