Explore the data
Occupation Rank Explorer
Nobel laureates' fathers came overwhelmingly from high-status occupations. Trace how the income and education standing of any occupation shifted across the census decades, then browse the full table of how over-represented each occupation is among laureate fathers.
Income and education rank over time
Technical professional · U.S., 1850–1970
Complete occupation table
“Expected fathers” is how many laureate fathers an occupation would supply if laureates were drawn in proportion to the population; “over-representation” is the ratio of the actual to the expected share. Table averages weight country–decade occupation cells to match where and when laureates were born. They therefore summarize the international laureate sample and need not equal the U.S.-only trajectories in the rank explorer above.
10 rows
| Technical professional | 79 | 363 | 30.3 | 85.6 | 97.6 | 51.6 | 4.3 | 12.0× |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, officials, and proprietors | 13 | 191 | 49.3 | 92.7 | 85.7 | 27.1 | 7.0 | 3.9× |
| Sales workers | 9 | 33 | 28.5 | 78.2 | 86.3 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 1.2× |
| Clerical and kindred | 20 | 14 | 22.6 | 77.1 | 90.9 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 0.62× |
| Craftsmen | 60 | 54 | 119.1 | 69.2 | 59.8 | 7.7 | 16.9 | 0.45× |
| Operatives | 47 | 16 | 95.0 | 65.5 | 58.5 | 2.3 | 13.5 | 0.17× |
| Service workers | 28 | 3 | 22.5 | 47.4 | 60.1 | 0.43 | 3.2 | 0.13× |
| Farm owners, tenants, and managers | 2 | 23 | 188.5 | 23.9 | 28.3 | 3.3 | 26.8 | 0.12× |
| Laborers | 7 | 6 | 90.6 | 43.8 | 43.0 | 0.85 | 12.9 | 0.07× |
| Farm laborers | 4 | 1 | 61.0 | 4.6 | 9.5 | 0.14 | 8.7 | 0.02× |
Occupation classification
How each detailed occupation is assigned to the 10- and 25-group aggregations used in the occupation-share tables.
| Occupation | 10-group | 25-group |
|---|---|---|
| accountants and auditors | Technical professional | Management-related |
| actors and actresses | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| advertising agents and salesmen | Sales workers | Financial sales and related |
| aeronautical-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| agents (nec) | Clerical and kindred | Retail sales |
| agricultural sciences-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| agricultural scientists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| airplane pilots and navigators | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| airplane-mechanics and repairmen | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| apprentices, building trades (nec) | Operatives | Construction trades |
| apprentices, metalworking trades (nec) | Operatives | Precision production and craft |
| apprentices, other specified trades | Operatives | Mechanics and repairers |
| apprentices, printing trades | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| apprentices, trade not specified | Operatives | Mechanics and repairers |
| architects | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| artists and art teachers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| asbestos and insulation workers | Operatives | Construction trades |
| athletes | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| attendants and assistants, library | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| attendants, auto service and parking | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| attendants, hospital and other institution | Service workers | Health service support |
| attendants, physicians and dentists office | Clerical and kindred | Health service support |
| attendants, professional and personal service (nec) | Service workers | Misc. personal care and services |
| attendants, recreation and amusement | Service workers | Recreation and hospitality |
| auctioneers | Sales workers | Retail sales |
| authors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| auto mechanics apprentice | Operatives | Mechanics and repairers |
| automobile-mechanics and repairmen | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| baggagemen, transportation | Clerical and kindred | Recreation and hospitality |
| bakers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| bank tellers | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| barbers, beauticians, and manicurists | Service workers | Personal appearance |
| bartenders | Service workers | Food preparation and service |
| biological sciences-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| biological scientists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| blacksmiths | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| blasters and powdermen | Operatives | Extractive/mining |
| boarding and lodging house keepers | Service workers | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| boatmen, canalmen, and lock keepers | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| boilermakers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| bookbinders | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| bookkeepers | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| bootblacks | Service workers | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| brakemen, railroad | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| bricklayers and masons apprentice | Operatives | Construction trades |
| brickmasons, stonemasons, and tile setters | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| bus drivers | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| buyers and dept heads, store | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Management-related |
| buyers and shippers, farm products | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Management-related |
| cabinetmakers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| carpenters | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| carpenters apprentice | Operatives | Construction trades |
| cashiers | Clerical and kindred | Retail sales |
| cement and concrete finishers | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| chainmen, rodmen, and axmen, surveying | Operatives | Technicians and related support |
| charwomen and cleaners | Service workers | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| chemical-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| chemistry-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| chemists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| chiropractors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| civil-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| clergymen | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| clerical and kindred workers (n.e.c.) | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| collectors, bill and account | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| college presidents and deans | Technical professional | Exec/admin/managerial |
| compositors and typesetters | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| conductors, bus and street railway | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| conductors, railroad | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Transportation and material moving |
| cooks, except private household | Service workers | Food preparation and service |
| counter and fountain workers | Service workers | Food preparation and service |
| craftsmen and kindred workers (nec) | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| cranemen,derrickmen, and hoistmen | Craftsmen | Transportation and material moving |
| credit men | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Management-related |
| dancers and dancing teachers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| decorators and window dressers | Craftsmen | Retail sales |
| deliverymen and routemen | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| demonstrators | Sales workers | Retail sales |
| dentists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| designers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| dietitians and nutritionists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| dispatchers and starters, vehicle | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| draftsmen | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| dressmakers and seamstresses, except factory | Operatives | Precision production and craft |
| dyers | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| economics-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| economists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| editors and reporters | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| electrical-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| electricians | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| electricians apprentice | Operatives | Construction trades |
| electrotypers and stereotypers | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| elevator operators | Service workers | Misc. personal care and services |
| engineering-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| engineers (nec) | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| engravers, except photoengravers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| entertainers (nec) | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| excavating, grading, and road machinery operators | Craftsmen | Transportation and material moving |
| express messengers and railway mail clerks | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| farm and home management advisors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| farm foremen | Farm laborers | Other agricultural and related |
| farm laborers, unpaid family workers | Farm laborers | Other agricultural and related |
| farm laborers, wage workers | Farm laborers | Other agricultural and related |
| farm managers | Farm owners, tenants, and managers | Farm operators and managers |
| farm service laborers, self-employed | Farm laborers | Other agricultural and related |
| farmers (owners and tenants) | Farm owners, tenants, and managers | Farm operators and managers |
| filers, grinders, and polishers, metal | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| firemen, fire protection | Service workers | Fire fighting/police/corrections |
| fishermen and oystermen | Laborers | Other agricultural and related |
| floormen and floor managers, store | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Financial sales and related |
| foremen (nec) | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| foresters and conservationists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| forgemen and hammermen | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| fruit, nut, and vegetable graders, and packers, except facto | Operatives | Other agricultural and related |
| funeral directors and embalmers | Technical professional | Exec/admin/managerial |
| furnacemen, smeltermen and pourers | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| furriers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| garage laborers and car washers and greasers | Laborers | Transportation and material moving |
| gardeners, except farm and groundskeepers | Laborers | Building and grounds cleaning/maintenance |
| geologists and geophysicists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| geology and geophysics-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| glaziers | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| guards, watchmen, and doorkeepers | Service workers | Guards and guard supervisors |
| heat treaters, annealers, temperers | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| heaters, metal | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| housekeepers and stewards, except private household | Service workers | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| housekeepers, private household | Service workers | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| hucksters and peddlers | Sales workers | Retail sales |
| industrial-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| inspectors (nec) | Craftsmen | Administrative support |
| inspectors, public administration | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Management-related |
| inspectors, scalers, and graders log and lumber | Craftsmen | Other agricultural and related |
| insurance agents and brokers | Sales workers | Administrative support |
| janitors and sextons | Service workers | Building and grounds cleaning/maintenance |
| jewelers, watchmakers, goldsmiths, and silversmiths | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| job setters, metal | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| laborers (nec) | Laborers | Transportation and material moving |
| laundresses, private household | Service workers | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| laundry and dry cleaning operatives | Operatives | Housekeeping/cleaning/laundry |
| lawyers and judges | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| librarians | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| linemen and servicemen, telegraph, telephone, and power | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| locomotive engineers | Craftsmen | Transportation and material moving |
| locomotive firemen | Craftsmen | Transportation and material moving |
| longshoremen and stevedores | Laborers | Transportation and material moving |
| loom fixers | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| lumbermen, raftsmen, and woodchoppers | Laborers | Other agricultural and related |
| machinists | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| machinists and toolmakers apprentice | Operatives | Precision production and craft |
| mail carriers | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| managers and superintendents, building | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Exec/admin/managerial |
| managers, officials, and proprietors (nec) | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Exec/admin/managerial |
| marshals and constables | Service workers | Fire fighting/police/corrections |
| mathematicians | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| mathematics-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| meat cutters, except slaughter and packing house | Operatives | Precision production and craft |
| mechanical-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| mechanics and repairmen (nec) | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| mechanics, except auto apprentice | Operatives | Mechanics and repairers |
| medical and dental-technicians | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| medical sciences-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| members of the armed services | Craftsmen | Fire fighting/police/corrections |
| messengers and office boys | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| metallurgical, metallurgists-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| midwives | Service workers | Professional specialty |
| millers, grain, flour, feed, etc | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| milliners | Operatives | Precision production and craft |
| millwrights | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| mine operatives and laborers | Operatives | Extractive/mining |
| mining-engineers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| misc social scientists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| misc. natural scientists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| molders, metal | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| motion picture projectionists | Craftsmen | Recreation and hospitality |
| motormen, mine, factory, logging camp, etc | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| motormen, street, subway, and elevated railway | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| musicians and music teachers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| natural science (nec)-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| newsboys | Sales workers | Retail sales |
| non-scientific subjects-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| nurses, professional | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| nurses, student professional | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| office machine operators | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| office machine-mechanics and repairmen | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| officers, pilots, pursers and engineers, ship | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Transportation and material moving |
| officials and administrators (nec), public administration | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Exec/admin/managerial |
| officials, lodge, society, union, etc | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Exec/admin/managerial |
| oilers and greaser, except auto | Operatives | Mechanics and repairers |
| operative and kindred workers (nec) | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| opticians and lens grinders and polishers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| optometrists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| osteopaths | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| painters, construction and maintenance | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| painters, except construction or maintenance | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| paperhangers | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| pattern and model makers, except paper | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| personnel and labor relations workers | Technical professional | Administrative support |
| pharmacists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| photoengravers and lithographers | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| photographers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| photographic process workers | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| physicians and surgeons | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| physicists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| physics-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| piano and organ tuners and repairmen | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| plasterers | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| plumbers and pipe fitters | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| plumbers and pipe fitters apprentice | Operatives | Construction trades |
| policemen and detectives | Service workers | Fire fighting/police/corrections |
| porters | Service workers | Recreation and hospitality |
| postmasters | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Exec/admin/managerial |
| power station operators | Operatives | Precision production and craft |
| practical nurses | Service workers | Technicians and related support |
| pressmen and plate printers, printing | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| private household workers (nec) | Service workers | Misc. personal care and services |
| professional, technical and kindred workers (nec) | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| psychologists | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| psychology-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| purchasing agents and buyers (nec) | Managers, officials, and proprietors | Management-related |
| radio and television-mechanics and repairmen | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| radio operators | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| railroad and car shop-mechanics and repairmen | Craftsmen | Mechanics and repairers |
| real estate agents and brokers | Sales workers | Financial sales and related |
| recreation and group workers | Technical professional | Recreation and hospitality |
| religious workers | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| rollers and roll hands, metal | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| roofers and slaters | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| sailors and deck hands | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| salesmen and sales clerks (nec) | Sales workers | Retail sales |
| sawyers | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| service workers, except private household (nec) | Service workers | Misc. personal care and services |
| sheriffs and bailiffs | Service workers | Fire fighting/police/corrections |
| shipping and receiving clerks | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| shoemakers and repairers, except factory | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| social and welfare workers, except group | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| social sciences (nec)-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| spinners, textile | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| sports instructors and officials | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| stationary engineers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| stationary firemen | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| statisticians and actuaries | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| statistics-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| stenographers, typists, and secretaries | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| stock and bond salesmen | Sales workers | Financial sales and related |
| stone cutters and stone carvers | Craftsmen | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| structural metal workers | Craftsmen | Construction trades |
| subject not specified-professors and instructors | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| surveyors | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| switchmen, railroad | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| tailors and tailoresses | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| taxicab drivers and chauffeurs | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| teachers (n.e.c.) | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| teamsters | Laborers | Transportation and material moving |
| technicians (nec) | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| telegraph messengers | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| telegraph operators | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| telephone operators | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| testing-technicians | Technical professional | Technicians and related support |
| therapists and healers (nec) | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| ticket, station, and express agents | Clerical and kindred | Administrative support |
| tinsmiths, coppersmiths, and sheet metal workers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| tool makers, and die makers and setters | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| truck and tractor drivers | Operatives | Transportation and material moving |
| upholsterers | Craftsmen | Precision production and craft |
| ushers, recreation and amusement | Service workers | Recreation and hospitality |
| veterinarians | Technical professional | Professional specialty |
| waiters and waitresses | Service workers | Food preparation and service |
| watchmen (crossing) and bridge tenders | Service workers | Guards and guard supervisors |
| weavers, textile | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
| welders and flame cutters | Operatives | Machine operators/assemblers/inspectors |
Correspondence between each detailed (occ1950) occupation and the 10- and 25-group aggregations used in the occupation-share tables.