How to Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook for Career Research
To use the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), go to bls.gov/ooh, search for an occupation or browse by group, then read the profile's tabs in order: Summary for the quick facts, What They Do and Work Environment for the reality of the job, How to Become One for the training route, Pay and Job Outlook for the numbers, and State and Area Data for local figures. The OOH is free, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and covers the large majority of US jobs. This guide shows how to read each part, what the terms mean, and the mistakes people make when they rely on it.
What the Occupational Outlook Handbook Is
The OOH is the Bureau of Labor Statistics' career guide. Every profile uses the same layout, so you can compare very different jobs on the same terms. Its numbers come from BLS programs: pay data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, and the job outlook from the BLS employment projections, which currently run from 2025 to 2035 (BLS, Occupational Information Included in the OOH).
It pairs well with O*NET, the Department of Labor's database of tasks, skills and tools. The OOH is better for pay, outlook and training routes; O*NET is better for the detail of the daily work. Our step-by-step guide to using O*NET for career research covers the other half.
Step 1: Find the Right Profile
Start at bls.gov/ooh. You can search by keyword, browse 25 occupation groups (such as Healthcare or Management), or use the "Select Occupations By" filters on the home page: 2025 median pay, entry-level education, on-the-job training, projected number of new jobs and projected growth rate. The filters are the quickest way to answer questions like "which jobs need only a postsecondary nondegree award and are growing much faster than average?"
Job titles in ads rarely match OOH titles. "HVAC tech" is in the profile for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers. "Delivery driver" sits in delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers. If a search returns nothing, try the plain description of the work rather than the trendy title.
Some smaller occupations do not get a full profile. They appear in lists such as the fastest-growing occupations, but link to a summary page for occupations not covered in detail.
Step 2: Read the Summary Tab Like an Analyst
The Summary tab has a "Quick Facts" table. Each line has a specific BLS definition, and misreading them is the most common mistake.
| Quick Facts line | What it actually means |
|---|---|
| Median pay | Half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less, based on OEWS wage data. It is not a starting salary. |
| Typical entry-level education | The level of education most workers need to enter the occupation. Some people enter with more or less. |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Experience in another job that employers usually require or accept in place of formal training. |
| On-the-job training | Training after you are hired that is needed to become competent in the occupation. |
| Number of jobs | How many jobs the occupation had in the base year (currently 2025). |
| Job outlook | The projected percent change in employment over the projections decade. |
| Employment change | The projected change in the number of jobs over the same decade. |
Always read growth and openings together
The growth percentage tells you whether an occupation is expanding. It does not tell you how many jobs will be available. Openings, which the Job Outlook tab lists as an annual average, include replacement of people who leave the occupation or retire.
A real example: BLS projects 0 percent growth for retail salespersons from 2025 to 2035, yet about 550,600 openings a year for retail sales workers, almost all from turnover (OOH, Retail Sales Workers). By contrast, solar photovoltaic installers are projected to grow 37 percent, but from a base of about 31,100 jobs, giving about 4,200 openings a year. High growth does not always mean many openings.
Step 3: Use the Other Tabs in Order
What They Do
Duties, tools and the people you would work with. Read this first to check whether you would actually enjoy the work, before the pay figures influence you.
Work Environment
Where the work happens, the industries that employ the most people in the occupation, physical demands, hazards and schedules, including part-time and shift work. This tab is where you discover on-call duties, weekend work or injury risk.
How to Become One
Education, training, licences, certifications and advancement. Note any licence requirements and then check your state, because licensing is often set locally.
Pay
The median, plus wages for the lowest and highest 10 percent and median pay in the top-employing industries. The 10th percentile is a rough guide to what newcomers may earn; the 90th shows the ceiling for experienced workers. Industry medians can differ by thousands of dollars, which tells you where to look for better-paying employers.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change, the factors driving it, and annual openings. Read the explanation, not just the number. It often names the specific forces, such as an aging population or automation, that will shape demand.
State and Area Data, Similar Occupations, More Info
State and Area Data links to local wages and state projections. Similar Occupations is useful when your first choice looks weak: it lists jobs with related duties or skills. More Info links to O*NET and, where available, career videos.
Step 4: Turn the Research Into a Shortlist
- Pick three to five occupations and record the same fields for each: median pay, 10th percentile, entry education, training, growth, openings.
- Rule out any that fail a hard constraint, such as training you cannot afford or physical demands you cannot meet.
- Check local wages and real job ads for the survivors. The OOH is national; your market is not.
- Talk to people who do the work.
When you move from research to applications, compare what the OOH says about duties and qualifications with what employers actually ask for. This guide to reading a job advert line by line helps you separate the real requirements from the wish list. To turn your shortlist into a plan, see our guide to mapping your next three career moves.
Common Mistakes
- Treating the median as a starting salary. New entrants usually earn less.
- Chasing the growth percentage. Check openings and the size of the occupation too.
- Ignoring the Work Environment tab. It is where schedules, physical demands and injury risks are described.
- Assuming national figures apply locally. Use the state data and local job postings.
- Using an old copy. BLS updates the OOH as new wage data and projections are released. Check the "last modified" date on the profile.
Every career profile on NetMentors draws on these same federal sources. Browse the full list of career guides to compare occupations side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who publishes the Occupational Outlook Handbook?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the Department of Labor. It is free to use at bls.gov/ooh.
Where does the OOH get its salary data?
Unless noted otherwise, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The current profiles use May 2025 wage data.
What is the difference between job outlook and job openings?
Job outlook is the projected percent change in employment over the decade. Openings are the average number of positions expected to become available each year, including replacements for workers who leave the occupation. An occupation with zero growth can still have many openings.
Is the OOH or O*NET better for career research?
Use both. The OOH is stronger on pay, outlook and how to enter a job. O*NET is stronger on the detailed tasks, skills and tools. Each OOH profile links to the matching O*NET entry.
How accurate are the OOH projections?
They are careful estimates, not guarantees. They describe national trends over ten years and cannot predict local conditions or sudden shocks. Use them to compare occupations and spot long-term direction, then confirm with local data.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional career advice. Occupational data sourced from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.