Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes

Important: SOC codes are different than Risk Class Codes (RCC) for Workers' Compensation.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) is a federal coding system that helps government agencies and private businesses compare occupational data.

SOC codes differ from North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, as NAICS codes identify the primary activity of your business, whereas SOC codes identify the primary duties of the workers employed in your business.

Some states require employers to report SOC codes on quarterly forms. Gusto will automatically include these codes on quarterly forms, as long as they’re entered in Gusto.

Keep in mind: If you're in a state that doesn't use SOC codes, you will not have the option to add them to your employee's profile.

Use the drop-downs below to view more information on states that require these codes and how to enter them in Gusto.

States that require SOC codes

If you're in a state that doesn't use SOC codes, you will not have the option to add them to your employee's profile.

Alaska: Requires employers to report both geographic codes and occupational codes for their workers.
- Geographic Codes: These codes correspond to a worker’s primary place of work.
  - Example: If you have a business location in Anchorage, but an employee that primarily works in Fairbanks, use the code for Fairbanks. If an employee works in more than one place, use the code for the place where they spend the most time.
- Occupational Codes: A six-digit code that best describes the activities of the employee. In some cases, the six-digit code has been expanded to identify occupations important to the state. For instance, seafood processing workers are coded as 51-3022.05. View Alaska's occupational code lookup tool.
Indiana: Follows federal rules around SOC codes, but it is optional for employers to assign them to workers. View Indiana's SOC code lookup tool.
Louisiana: Requires employers to assign SOC codes to workers.
South Carolina: Employers are required to assign SOC codes to workers beginning January 1, 2024.
- Use South Carolina's SOC code lookup tool and resources here.
Washington: Requires employers to assign SOC codes to workers. View Washington's SOC code lookup tool.
- Note: Employees who are exempt from WA State Unemployment Insurance do not need to input SOC codes, and therefore the option to enter an SOC code will not appear in their profile.
West Virginia: Employers are required to assign SOC codes to workers beginning January 1, 2024.
- Follow the federal guidelines for SOC codes, or use the Department of Labor's lookup tool.
- For additional guidance, try West Virginia's 2024 Occupation Code Almanac (a comprehensive guide).

Enter SOC codes in Gusto

If a SOC code needs to be added in Gusto, you can do so at any time. If you're in a state that doesn't use SOC codes, you will not have the option to add them to your employee's profile.

Which SOC code to choose

If an employee performs multiple job functions or duties, choose the code for the job function that requires the highest level of skill or education. If the skill levels are the same, report the occupation in which the employee spends the most time.

For employees who change jobs during the quarter because of transfers, promotions, demotions, or reclassification, report only their last occupation. More information can be found here.

Add a SOC code for an employee (from the Home page notification)

Sign in to Gusto.
Click the to-do notification that says Add your employees’ occupational codes.
Click Let’s do it under the employee’s name.
In the Taxes section of their Gusto profile, scroll down to the state tax section.
Click edit.
Use the SOC code lookup tool to search for the employee's SOC code.
- Not sure which SOC code to use? Check out this U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics resource or work directly with the applicable agency.
Enter the SOC code, including the dash.
- Example: XX-XXXX
- If the code format is XX-XXXX.XX, leave off the last 2 digits after the period and only enter the first 6 digits.
Click Save.

Add a SOC code for an employee (if you do not have a Home page notification)

If you don’t see a to-do notification on your dashboard:

Sign in to Gusto.
Click the People section and select Team members.
Select the employee’s name.
In the Taxes section of their Gusto profile, scroll down to the state tax section.
Click edit.
Use the SOC code lookup tool to search for the employee's SOC code.
- Not sure which SOC code to use? Check out this U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics resource or work directly with the applicable agency.
Enter the SOC code, including the dash.
- Example: XX-XXXX
- If the code format is XX-XXXX.XX, leave off the last 2 digits after the period and only enter the first 6 digits.
Click Save.

If you're experiencing any issues when entering your SOC code, contact us from the Support section of your account.

FAQ

Q: What if my employee no longer works in WA, but Gusto is still asking for a SOC code?

A: Enter any SOC code for them—because the employee's address is no longer in WA, we will not report any information (including the SOC code) to the WA agency.