Where to find it
The SOC code is on your Labor Condition Application (LCA), in the occupation section (box F.1), and often on your offer paperwork. If you have the filed case, use the code exactly as filed — marketing titles ('Ninja', 'Rockstar', 'Analyst III') don't map cleanly to a wage floor, but the code does.
No paperwork yet? Search by what you actually do. The federal SOC system and O*NET group jobs by duties; here you can type your role or a keyword, pick the closest occupation, and see its Level I–IV wages for your worksite.
Picking the right one
Match the code to your real duties, not an aspirational or discounted title. A senior role filed under a junior occupation — or a specialized job filed under a lower-paying catch-all — lowers the wage floor the employer must meet, which is worth questioning. If two codes plausibly fit, compare their wages: the one that matches your work is the one that protects you.
Frequently asked
- What if my job title doesn't match any SOC title?
- Titles vary by company; SOC codes don't. Search by your duties and pick the occupation whose description best matches the work — the code, not the title, sets your wage floor.
- Can the employer choose a different SOC code to pay me less?
- The code is supposed to reflect the actual job. Filing a lower-paying occupation than the work requires reduces the required wage and is a red flag worth raising.