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More Information About the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)

The DOT information is older but...

The most recent edition of the DOT was published by the U.S. Department of Labor in 1991. That is the very last edition of the DOT that is likely to ever be printed, since the DOT has been replaced by a newer system called the O*NET (presented elsewhere in CareerOINK). So, you may be wondering just why we would include such old information in CareerOINK. Well, the 12,741 job titles that are described in the DOT represent a richness of variety that is not replaced by the new O*NET and its approximately 1,000 job titles.

While the O*NET is simpler and works better for exploring career options, we at JIST think that adding the DOT's many specialized job titles to simpler systems makes sense. In CareerOINK, we do this by appending the DOT jobs to the simpler-to-use OOH, GOE, and O*NET systems. This approach allows you to get to the DOT job titles in a more useful and logical way. But, in using the DOT job descriptions, do understand that they do not include more recent job titles or information -- particularly regarding the impact of more recent computer and other technologies on jobs. Still, we think the many more specialized DOT job titles will help many people see career opportunities that would be otherwise overlooked.

And now, we return you to a more formal review of the DOT...

The DOT is organized into nine broad occupational categories. These categories are then broken down into 83 more specific divisions. In turn, these divisions contain a total of 564 even more specific job groupings. Each group contains the descriptions for all occupations that fit within its structure.

Each DOT job description includes a nine-digit occupational code, a title, an industry designation, basic tasks performed by a person working in the occupation, general information about education and training required, and other details. Some of this information is in coded form. Each DOT job description ends with a crosswalk to related O*NET job titles.

A Sample DOT Job Description

Elements of the DOT Job Descriptions

Occupational Code Number. The first 3 digits identify a particular occupational category, division and group, respectively. The occupational categories are

0/1	Professional, Technical, and Managerial Occupations
2	Clerical and Sales Occupations
3	Service Occupations
4	Agricultural, Fishery, Forestry, and Related Occupations
5	Processing Occupations
6	Machine Trades Occupations
7	Benchwork Occupations
8	Structural Occupations
9	Miscellaneous Occupations

Some divisions or groups end in the designation "n.e.c." ("not elsewhere classified"). This indicates that the occupations do not logically fit into precisely defined divisions or groups, or that they could fit into two or more of them equally well.

The middle 3 digits of the DOT occupational code are the Worker Functions ratings of the tasks performed in the occupation. The Worker Functions code indicates the broadest level of responsibility or judgment required in relation to data, people, or things. It is assumed that, if the job requires it, the worker can generally perform any higher-numbered function listed in each of the three categories.

Data (4th Digit)	People (5th Digit)	Things (6th Digit)
0 Synthesizing	0 Mentoring	0 Setting Up
1 Coordinating	1 Negotiating	1 Precision Working
2 Analyzing	2 Instructing	2 Operating-Controlling
3 Compiling	3 Supervising	3 Driving-Operating
4 Computing	4 Diverting	4 Manipulating
5 Copying	5 Persuading	5 Tending
6 Comparing	6 Speaking-Signaling	6 Feeding-Offbearing
7 Serving	7 Handling
8 Taking Instructions-Helping

As a general rule, Worker Functions involving more complex responsibility and judgment are assigned lower numbers in these three lists, and less-complicated functions have higher numbers.

The last 3 digits of the occupational code number differentiate a particular occupation from all others. A number of occupations may have the same first 6 digits, but no two have the same 9 digits. If a 6-digit code is applicable to only one occupational title, the final 3 digits are always 010. If two or more occupations have the same first 6 digits, the final 3 digits are usually assigned in alphabetical order of titles in multiples of four (010, 014, 018, 022, and so on).

Occupational Base Title. The most common type of title found in the DOT, this is the title by which the occupation is known in the majority of establishments in which it was found.

Master Titles. Some titles are classified as master titles. These titles are designed to eliminate repetition of tasks common to a large number of occupations. Master titles define the common job tasks having a wide variety of job variables and a wide variety of titles. An example is the title "SUPERVISOR (any industry)." Each individual supervisory occupation has its own separate definition in the DOT, describing its unique duties. At the end of the definition, you are referred to the master definition, in this case by a sentence reading, "Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR (any industry) Master Title." By referring to this master definition, you can learn about the typical supervisory duties that are commonly performed.

Term Titles. These include occupations with the same title but few common duties.

Industry Designation. The industry designation (shown in parentheses) often differentiates between two or more occupations with identical titles but different duties. An industry designation often tells one or more things about an occupation, such as location of the occupation (hotel & rest.; machine shop); types of duties associated with the occupation (teaching; forging); products manufactured (optical goods; textile); processes used (electroplating; petroleum refining); or raw materials used (nonferrous metal; stonework). While a definition usually receives the designation of the industry or industries in which it occurs, certain occupations occur in a large number of industries. When this happens, the industry assigned is a cross-industry designation. For example, clerical occupations are found in almost every industry. To show its broad, cross-industry nature, "clerical" is an industry designation in itself. Among other cross-industry designations are "profess. & kin." (which is an abbreviation of "professional and kindred," meaning similar jobs), "machine shop," and "woodworking."

Occupations that characteristically occur in nearly all industries, or that occur in a number of industries (but not in most industries) and which are not considered to have any particular industrial attachment, are assigned the designation of "any industry."

In compiling information for the DOT, analysts were not able to study each occupation in all industries where it occurs. The industry designation, therefore, shows in what industries the occupation was studied but does not mean that it may not be found in others.

Alternate Titles. An alternate title is a less commonly used synonym for the base title. A particular occupation may have a large number of alternate titles or none at all. Alternate titles carry the code numbers and industry designations of the base title.

Body of the Definition. The body of the definition usually consists of the following:

Lead Statement. The first sentence, which summarizes the entire occupation. It offers essential information such as
- Worker actions, objectives, or the purpose of the worker actions
- Machines, tools, equipment, or work aids used by the worker
- Materials used, products made, subject matter dealt with, or services rendered
- Instructions followed or judgments made
Task Element Statements. The specific tasks the worker performs to accomplish the overall job purpose described in the lead statement.
"May" Items. Many definitions contain one or more sentences beginning with the word "May." These sentences describe duties required of workers in this occupation in some establishments but not in others. The word "May" does not indicate that a worker will sometimes perform this task but rather that some workers in different establishments generally perform one of the varied tasks listed. Do not confuse "May" items with a "May be designated" sentence, which introduces undefined related titles.
Bracketed Titles. A title enclosed in brackets ([]) indicates that the worker in the base title occupation performs some duties of the bracketed occupation as part of the worker's regular duties. For example, a CLOTH PRINTER (any industry) 652.382-010 "May mount printing rollers." Since this task is usually performed by a PRINTING-ROLLER HANDLER (textile) 652.385-010, this occupation is bracketed. To learn more about this particular aspect of the occupation, read the definition of the bracketed occupational title.
Unbracketed Titles. Titles not set off in brackets are used for occupations that frequently have a working relationship with the occupation being defined. For example, a CLOTH PRINTER (any industry) 652.382-010 has a close working relationship with a COLORIST (profess. & kin.) 022.161-014. This unbracketed title is therefore included in the definition.

Some definitions contain additional information elements designed to assist you. Among these elements are the following:

Roman Numerals. Several somewhat different occupations with the same job title may be found in the same industry. In this event, a Roman numeral follows each title. For example, two titles in the DOT are listed as ASSEMBLER (ordnance). In order to distinguish between them, a Roman numeral is assigned to each one: ASSEMBLER (ordnance) I 736.381-010 and ASSEMBLER (ordnance) II 736.684-014. There is no connection in the sequence of these numbers with the level of complexity of these occupations or the frequency with which they occur in the U.S. economy.
Statement of Significant Variables. Another element in some definitions is a statement of significant variables. It appears near the end of a definition and indicates possible variations that can occur in jobs. This eliminates the need to include a large number of almost identical definitions in the DOT. The statement begins with "Important variations include."

Undefined Related Titles. Undefined related titles, when applicable, appear at the end of the occupational definition, preceded by a phrase such as "May be designated according to." This type of title indicates a variation or specialization of the base occupation. It resembles the base occupation enough to be mentioned in the definition, but differs from it enough to require an explanatory phrase and its own unique title. An undefined related title has the same code as its base title.

Definition Trailer. Selected characteristics and auxiliary profile data are contained in a "trailer" appended to each definition. The trailer contains the following selected occupational analysis characteristics:

Related O*NET Job Titles. Click these links to related O*NET job descriptions.

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