1990 Census of Population and Housing - IPUMS Subset
United States, 1990
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Reference ID
USA_1990_PHC_v01_M_v7.5_A_IPUMS
Producer(s)
U.S. Census Bureau, IPUMS
Metadata
Created on
Sep 03, 2025
Last modified
Sep 03, 2025
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16458
- Data files
- USA1990_PHC-H-H.dat
- USA1990_PHC-P-H.dat
Occupation (US1990A_OCC)
Data file: USA1990_PHC-P-H.dat
Overview
Type:
Discrete
Decimal:
0
Start:
302
End:
304
Width:
3
Range:
-
Format:
Numeric
Questions and instructions
Literal question
<svar a="all" v="US90A450 US90A451"><span class="em">29a. What kind of work was this person doing? </span><br /><div class="i1">____<br />(For example: registered nurse, personnel manager, supervisor of order department,<br />gasoline engine assembler, cake icer)</div><br /><br />[Print two or more words to describe the kind of work the person did. If the person was a trainee, apprentice, or helper, include that in the description. Some examples of what to enter:<br /><br />Enter a description like the following / Do not enter:<br /><div class="i1">Production clerk / Clerk<br />Carpenter's helper / Helper<br />Auto engine mechanic / Mechanic<br />Registered nurse / Nurse]</div><br /></svar>
Categories
| Value | Category |
|---|---|
| 000 | NIU (not in universe) |
| 003 | Legislators |
| 004 | Chief executives and general administrators, public administration |
| 005 | Administrators and officials, public administration |
| 006 | Administrators, protective services |
| 007 | Financial managers |
| 008 | Personnel and labor relations managers |
| 009 | Purchasing managers |
| 013 | Managers, marketing, advertising, and public relations |
| 014 | Administrators, education and related fields |
| 015 | Managers, medicine and health |
| 016 | Postmasters and mail superintendents |
| 017 | Managers, food serving and lodging establishments |
| 018 | Managers, properties and real estate |
| 019 | Funeral directors |
| 021 | Managers, service organizations, n.e.c. |
| 022 | Managers and administrators, n.e.c. |
| 023 | Accountants and auditors |
| 024 | Underwriters |
| 025 | Other financial officers |
| 026 | Management analysts |
| 027 | Personnel, training, and labor relations specialists |
| 028 | Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products |
| 029 | Buyers, wholesale and retail trade, except farm products |
| 033 | Purchasing agents and buyers, n.e.c. |
| 034 | Business and promotion agents |
| 035 | Construction inspectors |
| 036 | Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction |
| 037 | Management related occupations, n.e.c. |
| 043 | Architects |
| 044 | Aerospace |
| 045 | Metallurgical and materials |
| 046 | Mining |
| 047 | Petroleum |
| 048 | Chemical |
| 049 | Nuclear |
| 053 | Civil |
| 054 | Agricultural |
| 055 | Electrical and electronic |
| 056 | Industrial |
| 057 | Mechanical |
| 058 | Marine and naval architects |
| 059 | Engineers, n.e.c. |
| 063 | Surveyors and mapping scientists |
| 064 | Computer systems analysts and scientists |
| 065 | Operations and systems researchers and analysts |
| 066 | Actuaries |
| 067 | Statisticians |
| 068 | Mathematical scientists, n.e.c. |
| 069 | Physicists and astronomers |
| 073 | Chemists, except biochemists |
| 074 | Atmospheric and space scientists |
| 075 | Geologists and geodesists |
| 076 | Physical scientists, n.e.c. |
| 077 | Agricultural and food scientists |
| 078 | Biological and life scientists |
| 079 | Forestry and conservation scientists |
| 083 | Medical scientists |
| 084 | Physicians |
| 085 | Dentists |
| 086 | Veterinarians |
| 087 | Optometrists |
| 088 | Podiatrists |
| 089 | Health diagnosing practitioners, n.e.c. |
| 095 | Registered nurses |
| 096 | Pharmacists |
| 097 | Dietitians |
| 098 | Respiratory therapists |
| 099 | Occupational therapists |
| 103 | Physical therapists |
| 104 | Speech therapists |
| 105 | Therapists, n.e.c. |
| 106 | Physicians' assistants |
| 113 | Earth, environmental, and marine science teachers |
| 114 | Biological science teachers |
| 115 | Chemistry teachers |
| 116 | Physics teachers |
| 117 | Natural science teachers, n.e.c. |
| 118 | Psychology teachers |
| 119 | Economics teachers |
| 123 | History teachers |
| 124 | Political science teachers |
| 125 | Sociology teachers |
| 126 | Social science teachers, n.e.c. |
| 127 | Engineering teachers |
| 128 | Mathematical science teachers |
| 129 | Computer science teachers |
| 133 | Medical science teachers |
| 134 | Health specialties teachers |
| 135 | Business, commerce, and marketing teachers |
| 136 | Agriculture and forestry teachers |
| 137 | Art, drama, and music teachers |
| 138 | Physical education teachers |
| 139 | Education teachers |
| 143 | English teachers |
| 144 | Foreign language teachers |
| 145 | Law teachers |
| 146 | Social work teachers |
| 147 | Theology teachers |
| 148 | Trade and industrial teachers |
| 149 | Home economics teachers |
| 153 | Teachers, postsecondary, n.e.c. |
| 154 | Postsecondary teachers, subject n.s. |
| 155 | Teachers, prekindergarten and kindergarten |
| 156 | Teachers, elementary school |
| 157 | Teachers, secondary school |
| 158 | Teachers, special education |
| 159 | Teachers, n.e.c. |
| 163 | Counselors, educational and vocational |
| 164 | Librarians |
| 165 | Archivists and curators |
| 166 | Economists |
| 167 | Psychologists |
| 168 | Sociologists |
| 169 | Social scientists, n.e.c. |
| 173 | Urban planners |
| 174 | Social workers |
| 175 | Recreation workers |
| 176 | Clergy |
| 177 | Religious workers, n.e.c. |
| 178 | Lawyers |
| 179 | Judges |
| 183 | Authors |
| 184 | Technical writers |
| 185 | Designers |
| 186 | Musicians and composers |
| 187 | Actors and directors |
| 188 | Painters, sculptors, craft-artists, and artist printmakers |
| 189 | Photographers |
| 193 | Dancers |
| 194 | Artists, performers, and related workers, n.e.c. |
| 195 | Editors and reporters |
| 197 | Public relations specialists |
| 198 | Announcers |
| 199 | Athletes |
| 203 | Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians |
| 204 | Dental hygienists |
| 205 | Health record technologists and technicians |
| 206 | Radiologic technicians |
| 207 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 208 | Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c. |
| 213 | Electrical and electronic technicians |
| 214 | Industrial engineering technicians |
| 215 | Mechanical engineering technicians |
| 216 | Engineering technicians, n.e.c. |
| 217 | Drafting occupations |
| 218 | Surveying and mapping technicians |
| 223 | Biological technicians |
| 224 | Chemical technicians |
| 225 | Science technicians n.e.c. |
| 226 | Airplane pilots and navigators |
| 227 | Air traffic controllers |
| 228 | Broadcast equipment operators |
| 229 | Computer programmers |
| 233 | Tool programmers, numerical control |
| 234 | Legal assistants |
| 235 | Technician, n.e.c. |
| 243 | Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations |
| 253 | Insurance sales occupations |
| 254 | Real estate sales occupations |
| 255 | Securities and financial services sales occupations |
| 256 | Advertising and related sales occupations |
| 257 | Sales occupations, other business services |
| 258 | Sales engineers |
| 259 | Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing, and wholesale |
| 263 | Sales workers, motor vehicles and boats |
| 264 | Sales workers, apparel |
| 265 | Sales workers, shoes |
| 266 | Sales workers, furniture and home furnishings |
| 267 | Sales workers, radio, TV, hi-fi, and appliances |
| 268 | Sales workers, hardware and building supplies |
| 269 | Sales workers, parts |
| 274 | Sales workers, other commodities |
| 275 | Sales counter clerks |
| 276 | Cashiers |
| 277 | Street and door-to-door sales workers |
| 278 | News vendors |
| 283 | Demonstrators, promoters and models, sales |
| 284 | Auctioneers |
| 285 | Sales support occupations, n.e.c. |
| 303 | Supervisors, general office |
| 304 | Supervisors, computer equipment operators |
| 305 | Supervisors, financial records processing |
| 306 | Chief communications operators |
| 307 | Supervisors; distribution, scheduling, and adjusting clerks |
| 308 | Computer operators |
| 309 | Peripheral equipment operators |
| 313 | Secretaries |
| 314 | Stenographers |
| 315 | Typists |
| 316 | Interviewers |
| 317 | Hotel clerks |
| 318 | Transportation ticket and reservation agents |
| 319 | Receptionists |
| 323 | Information clerks, n.e.c. |
| 325 | Classified-ad clerks |
| 326 | Correspondence clerks |
| 327 | Order clerks |
| 328 | Personnel clerks, except payroll and timekeeping |
| 329 | Library clerks |
| 335 | File clerks |
| 336 | Records clerks |
| 337 | Bookkeepers, accounting, and auditing clerks |
| 338 | Payroll and timekeeping clerks |
| 339 | Billing clerks |
| 343 | Cost and rate clerks |
| 344 | Billing, posting, and calculating machine operators |
| 345 | Duplicating machine operators |
| 346 | Mail preparing and paper handling machine operators |
| 347 | Office machine operators, n.e.c. |
| 348 | Telephone operators |
| 349 | Telegraphers |
| 353 | Communications equipment operators, n.e.c. |
| 354 | Postal clerks except mail carriers |
| 355 | Mail carriers, postal service |
| 356 | Mail clerks, except postal service |
| 357 | Messengers |
| 359 | Dispatchers |
| 363 | Production coordinators |
| 364 | Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks |
| 365 | Stock and inventory clerks |
| 366 | Meter readers |
| 368 | Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers |
| 373 | Expediters |
| 374 | Material recording, scheduling, and distributing clerks, n.e.c. |
| 375 | Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators |
| 376 | Investigators and adjusters, except insurance |
| 377 | Eligibility clerks, social welfare |
| 378 | Bill and account collectors |
| 379 | General office clerks |
| 383 | Bank tellers |
| 384 | Proofreaders |
| 385 | Data-entry keyers |
| 386 | Statistical clerks |
| 387 | Teachers' aides |
| 389 | Administrative support occupations, n.e.c. |
| 403 | Launderers and ironers |
| 404 | Cooks, private household |
| 405 | Housekeepers and butlers |
| 406 | Child care workers, private household |
| 407 | Private household cleaners and servants |
| 413 | Supervisors, firefighting and fire prevention occupations |
| 414 | Supervisors, police and detectives |
| 415 | Supervisors, guards |
| 416 | Fire inspection and fire prevention occupations |
| 417 | Firefighting occupations |
| 418 | Police and detectives, public service |
| 423 | Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement officers |
| 424 | Correctional institution officers |
| 425 | Crossing guards |
| 426 | Guards and police, except public service |
| 427 | Protective service occupations, n.e.c. |
| 433 | Supervisors, food preparation and service occupations |
| 434 | Bartenders |
| 435 | Waiters and waitresses |
| 436 | Cooks |
| 438 | Food counter, fountain and related occupations |
| 439 | Kitchen workers, food preparation |
| 443 | Waiters'/waitresses' assistants |
| 444 | Miscellaneous food preparation occupations |
| 445 | Dental assistants |
| 446 | Health aides, except nursing |
| 447 | Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants |
| 448 | Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers |
| 449 | Maids and housemen |
| 453 | Janitors and cleaners |
| 454 | Elevator operators |
| 455 | Pest control occupations |
| 456 | Supervisors, personal service occupations |
| 457 | Barbers |
| 458 | Hairdressers and cosmetologists |
| 459 | Attendants, amusement and recreation facilities |
| 461 | Guides |
| 462 | Ushers |
| 463 | Public transportation attendants |
| 464 | Baggage porters and bellhops |
| 465 | Welfare service aides |
| 466 | Family child care providers |
| 467 | Early childhood teachers' assistants |
| 468 | Child care workers, n.e.c. |
| 469 | Personal service occupations, n.e.c. |
| 473 | Farmers, except horticultural |
| 474 | Horticultural specialty farmers |
| 475 | Managers, farms, except horticultural |
| 476 | Managers, horticultural specialty farms |
| 477 | Supervisors, farm workers |
| 479 | Farm workers |
| 483 | Marine life cultivation workers |
| 484 | Nursery workers |
| 485 | Supervisors, related agricultural occupations |
| 486 | Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm |
| 487 | Animal caretakers, except farm |
| 488 | Graders and sorters, agricultural products |
| 489 | Inspectors, agricultural products |
| 494 | Supervisors, forestry, and logging workers |
| 495 | Forestry workers except logging |
| 496 | Timber cutting and logging occupations |
| 497 | Captains and other officers, fishing vessels |
| 498 | Fishers |
| 499 | Hunters and trappers |
| 503 | Supervisors, mechanics and repairers |
| 505 | Automobile mechanics |
| 506 | Automobile mechanic apprentices |
| 507 | Bus, truck, and stationary engine mechanics |
| 508 | Aircraft engine mechanics |
| 509 | Small engine repairers |
| 514 | Automobile body and related repairers |
| 515 | Aircraft mechanics, except engine |
| 516 | Heavy equipment mechanics |
| 517 | Farm equipment mechanics |
| 518 | Industrial machinery repairers |
| 519 | Machinery maintenance occupations |
| 523 | Electronic repairers, communications and industrial equipment |
| 525 | Data processing equipment repairers |
| 526 | Household appliance and power tool repairers |
| 527 | Telephone line installers and repairers |
| 529 | Telephone installers and repairers |
| 533 | Misc. electrical and electronic equipment repairers |
| 534 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics |
| 535 | Camera, watch, and musical instrument repairers |
| 536 | Locksmiths and safe repairers |
| 538 | Office machine repairers |
| 539 | Mechanical controls and valve repairers |
| 543 | Elevator installers and repairers |
| 544 | Millwrights |
| 547 | Mechanics and repairers, n.e.c. |
| 549 | Mechanics and repairers, n.s. |
| 553 | Supervisors, brickmasons, stonemasons, and tile setters |
| 554 | Supervisors, carpenters and related workers |
| 555 | Supervisors, electricians and power transmission installers |
| 556 | Supervisors, painters, paperhangers, and plasterers |
| 557 | Supervisors, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
| 558 | Supervisors, construction, n.e.c. |
| 563 | Brickmasons and stonemasons |
| 564 | Brickmason and stonemason apprentices |
| 565 | Tile setters, hard and soft |
| 566 | Carpet installers |
| 567 | Carpenters |
| 569 | Carpenter apprentices |
| 573 | Drywall installers |
| 575 | Electricians |
| 576 | Electrician apprentices |
| 577 | Electrical power installers and repairers |
| 579 | Painters, construction and maintenance |
| 583 | Paperhangers |
| 584 | Plasterers |
| 585 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
| 587 | Plumber, pipe fitter, and steamfitter apprentices |
| 588 | Concrete and terrazzo finishers |
| 589 | Glaziers |
| 593 | Insulation workers |
| 594 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators |
| 595 | Roofers |
| 596 | Sheetmetal duct installers |
| 597 | Structural metal workers |
| 598 | Drillers, earth |
| 599 | Construction trades, n.e.c. |
| 613 | Supervisors, extractive occupations |
| 614 | Drillers, oil well |
| 615 | Explosives workers |
| 616 | Mining machine operators |
| 617 | Mining occupations, n.e.c. |
| 628 | Supervisors, production occupations |
| 634 | Tool and die makers |
| 635 | Tool and die maker apprentices |
| 636 | Precision assemblers, metal |
| 637 | Machinists |
| 639 | Machinist apprentices |
| 643 | Boilermakers |
| 644 | Precision grinders, filers, and tool sharpeners |
| 645 | Patternmakers and model makers, metal |
| 646 | Lay-out workers |
| 647 | Precious stones and metals workers (jewelers) |
| 649 | Engravers, metal |
| 653 | Sheet metal workers |
| 654 | Sheet metal worker apprentices |
| 655 | Miscellaneous precision metal workers |
| 656 | Patternmakers and model makers, wood |
| 657 | Cabinet makers and bench carpenters |
| 658 | Furniture and wood finishers |
| 659 | Miscellaneous precision woodworkers |
| 666 | Dressmakers |
| 667 | Tailors |
| 668 | Upholsterers |
| 669 | Shoe repairers |
| 674 | Miscellaneous precision apparel and fabric workers |
| 675 | Hand molders and shapers, except jewelers |
| 676 | Patternmakers, lay-out workers, and cutters |
| 677 | Optical goods workers |
| 678 | Dental laboratory and medical appliance technicians |
| 679 | Bookbinders |
| 683 | Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers |
| 684 | Miscellaneous precision workers, n.e.c. |
| 686 | Butchers and meat cutters |
| 687 | Bakers |
| 688 | Food batchmakers |
| 689 | Inspectors, testers, and graders |
| 693 | Adjusters and calibrators |
| 694 | Water and sewage treatment plant operators |
| 695 | Power plant operators |
| 696 | Stationary engineers |
| 699 | Miscellaneous plant and system operators |
| 703 | Lathe and turning machine set-up operators |
| 704 | Lathe and turning machine operators |
| 705 | Milling and planing machine operators |
| 706 | Punching and stamping press machine operators |
| 707 | Rolling machine operators |
| 708 | Drilling and boring machine operators |
| 709 | Grinding, abrading, buffing, and polishing machine operators |
| 713 | Forging machine operators |
| 714 | Numerical control machine operators |
| 715 | Miscellaneous metal, plastic, stone, and glass working machine operators |
| 717 | Fabricating machine operators, n.e.c. |
| 719 | Molding and casting machine operators |
| 723 | Metal plating machine operators |
| 724 | Heat treating equipment operators |
| 725 | Miscellaneous metal and plastic processing machine operators |
| 726 | Wood lathe, routing, and planing machine operators |
| 727 | Sawing machine operators |
| 728 | Shaping and joining machine operators |
| 729 | Nailing and tacking machine operators |
| 733 | Miscellaneous woodworking machine operators |
| 734 | Printing press operators |
| 735 | Photoengravers and lithographers |
| 736 | Typesetters and compositors |
| 737 | Miscellaneous printing machine operators |
| 738 | Winding and twisting machine operators |
| 739 | Knitting, looping, taping, and weaving machine operators |
| 743 | Textile cutting machine operators |
| 744 | Textile sewing machine operators |
| 745 | Shoe machine operators |
| 747 | Pressing machine operators |
| 748 | Laundering and dry cleaning machine operators |
| 749 | Miscellaneous textile machine operators |
| 753 | Cementing and gluing machine operators |
| 754 | Packaging and filling machine operators |
| 755 | Extruding and forming machine operators |
| 756 | Mixing and blending machine operators |
| 757 | Separating, filtering, and clarifying machine operators |
| 758 | Compressing and compacting machine operators |
| 759 | Painting and paint spraying machine operators |
| 763 | Roasting and baking machine operators, food |
| 764 | Washing, cleaning, and pickling machine operators |
| 765 | Folding machine operators |
| 766 | Furnace, kiln, and oven operators, except food |
| 768 | Crushing and grinding machine operators |
| 769 | Slicing and cutting machine operators |
| 773 | Motion picture projectionists |
| 774 | Photographic process machine operators |
| 777 | Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c. |
| 779 | Machine operators, n.s. |
| 783 | Welders and cutters |
| 784 | Solderers and brazers |
| 785 | Assemblers |
| 786 | Hand cutting and trimming occupations |
| 787 | Hand molding, casting, and forming occupations |
| 789 | Hand painting, coating, and decorating occupations |
| 793 | Hand engraving and printing occupations |
| 795 | Miscellaneous hand working occupations |
| 796 | Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners |
| 797 | Production testers |
| 798 | Production samplers and weighers |
| 799 | Graders and sorters, except agricultural |
| 803 | Supervisors, motor vehicle operators |
| 804 | Truck drivers |
| 806 | Driver-sales workers |
| 808 | Bus drivers |
| 809 | Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs |
| 813 | Parking lot attendants |
| 814 | Motor transportation occupations, n.e.c. |
| 823 | Railroad conductors and yardmasters |
| 824 | Locomotive operating occupations |
| 825 | Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators |
| 826 | Rail vehicle operators, n.e.c. |
| 828 | Ship captains and mates, except fishing boats |
| 829 | Sailors and deckhands |
| 833 | Marine engineers |
| 834 | Bridge, lock, and lighthouse tenders |
| 843 | Supervisors, material moving equipment operators |
| 844 | Operating engineers |
| 845 | Longshore equipment operators |
| 848 | Hoist and winch operators |
| 849 | Crane and tower operators |
| 853 | Excavating and loading machine operators |
| 855 | Grader, dozer, and scraper operators |
| 856 | Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators |
| 859 | Miscellaneous material moving equipment operators |
| 864 | Supervisors, handlers, equipment cleaners, and laborers, n.e.c. |
| 865 | Helpers, mechanics and repairers |
| 866 | Helpers, construction trades |
| 867 | Helpers, surveyor |
| 868 | Helpers, extractive occupations |
| 869 | Construction laborers |
| 874 | Production helpers |
| 875 | Garbage collectors |
| 876 | Stevedores |
| 877 | Stock handlers and baggers |
| 878 | Machine feeders and offbearers |
| 883 | Freight, stock, and material handlers, n.e.c. |
| 885 | Garage and service station related occupations |
| 887 | Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners |
| 888 | Hand packers and packagers |
| 889 | Laborers, except construction |
| 903 | Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers |
| 904 | Non-commissioned Officers and Other Enlisted Personnel |
| 905 | Military occupation, rank not specified |
| 909 | Last worked 1984 or earlier |
Warning: these figures indicate the number of cases found in the data file. They cannot be interpreted as summary statistics of the population of interest.
Description
Definition
This variable indicates the respondent's primary occupation, coded into a contemporary census classification scheme.
Universe
United States 1990: Persons age 16+ who had worked within the previous five years; not new workers [not verifiable]
concept
Concept
| var_concept.title | Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| Work: Occupation Variables -- PERSON | IPUMS |