References

Data Sources & References

Transparency about the public occupational and educational reference sources used to build Degree Pathfinder.

Degree Pathfinder provides educational career exploration information compiled from publicly available occupational and educational reference sources. The sources below are used as general reference materials when building degree, career, salary, certification, and advancement pathways. Users should always verify information directly with employers, universities, licensing boards, certification providers, and government agencies before making education or career decisions.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

https://www.bls.gov/oes/

The primary source for U.S. occupational wage and employment estimates. OEWS provides detailed annual wage data by occupation and geographic area.

What we use

  • State-by-state wage data
  • Percentile wages (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th)
  • Occupation codes (SOC codes)

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

A comprehensive career reference guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics covering hundreds of occupations.

What we use

  • Career descriptions
  • Education requirements
  • Job outlook information

O*NET Resource Center Database

https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html

A publicly available database of occupational information developed for the U.S. Department of Labor. It provides structured data on occupations, skills, and job characteristics.

What we use

  • Occupational taxonomy
  • Job titles and occupation mappings

O*NET OnLine

https://www.onetonline.org/

A web-based viewer for O*NET occupational data, used as a career exploration reference for understanding roles, skills, and related occupations.

What we use

  • Career exploration reference
  • Alternate job titles and occupation details

Degree Pathfinder is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or any referenced organization.