IR: 47 occupations with an interest code starting with IR

A Holland code is one to three letters in order of strength. Investigative · Realistic — that is what IR stands for here. Below are the O*NET occupations whose Interest High-Point (IH) code begins with these letters.

Quick answer

Directions in this code: IInvestigative·RRealistic
Occupations with this code: 47
Occupations shown: All 47; ordered by U.S. employment
Median wage on this page (lowest – highest): 47 of 47 occupations with a published median ($50,290 – $496,010)

The range covers only the occupations shown on this page.

O*NET Database 31.0 (retrieved 2026-09-15); BLS OES May 2025 release (retrieved 2026-09-15).

Occupations with this code

Ordered by U.S. employment, largest first. The order means nothing else: it is not a recommendation, and this page does not know your interests.

Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
O*NET-SOC code
17-2112.01
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$102,440
U.S. employment
365,740
Typical education
Master's
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-2011.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$62,930
U.S. employment
332,940
Typical education
Bachelor's
Cytogenetic Technologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-2011.01
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$62,930
U.S. employment
332,940
Typical education
Bachelor's
Cytotechnologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-2011.02
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$62,930
U.S. employment
332,940
Typical education
Bachelor's
Histotechnologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-2011.04
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$62,930
U.S. employment
332,940
Typical education
Bachelor's
Neurodiagnostic Technologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-2099.01
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$50,290
U.S. employment
182,610
Typical education
Associate's (2-year)
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1042.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$103,410
U.S. employment
172,340
Typical education
Doctorate
Microsystems Engineers
O*NET-SOC code
17-2199.06
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$122,930
U.S. employment
154,070
Typical education
Master's
Nanosystems Engineers
O*NET-SOC code
17-2199.09
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$122,930
U.S. employment
154,070
Typical education
Doctorate
Dentists, General
O*NET-SOC code
29-1021.00
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$170,950
U.S. employment
124,390
Typical education
Doctorate
Water Resource Specialists
O*NET-SOC code
11-9121.02
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$167,220
U.S. employment
108,690
Typical education
Bachelor's
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
O*NET-SOC code
19-2041.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$82,220
U.S. employment
89,250
Typical education
Bachelor's
Environmental Restoration Planners
O*NET-SOC code
19-2041.02
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$82,220
U.S. employment
89,250
Typical education
Bachelor's
Industrial Ecologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2041.03
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$82,220
U.S. employment
89,250
Typical education
Master's
Veterinarians
O*NET-SOC code
29-1131.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$130,100
U.S. employment
83,900
Typical education
Doctorate
Chemists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2031.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$91,240
U.S. employment
82,770
Typical education
Bachelor's
Aerospace Engineers
O*NET-SOC code
17-2011.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$134,960
U.S. employment
67,710
Typical education
Bachelor's
Chemical Technicians
O*NET-SOC code
19-4031.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$60,390
U.S. employment
57,540
Typical education
Bachelor's
Environmental Engineers
O*NET-SOC code
17-2081.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$107,110
U.S. employment
38,340
Typical education
Bachelor's
Biochemists and Biophysicists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1021.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$127,410
U.S. employment
33,830
Typical education
Post-doctoral
Orthoptists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1299.02
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$115,210
U.S. employment
28,630
Typical education
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Radiologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1224.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$420,860
U.S. employment
26,770
Typical education
Post-doctoral
Conservation Scientists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1031.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$73,010
U.S. employment
25,950
Typical education
Bachelor's
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
O*NET-SOC code
17-2031.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$109,370
U.S. employment
23,480
Typical education
Bachelor's
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
O*NET-SOC code
19-2042.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$101,920
U.S. employment
23,470
Typical education
Bachelor's
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2099.01
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$122,570
U.S. employment
22,300
Typical education
Bachelor's
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
O*NET-SOC code
17-2111.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$115,160
U.S. employment
21,450
Typical education
—
Physicists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2012.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$172,250
U.S. employment
20,430
Typical education
Doctorate
Forensic Science Technicians
O*NET-SOC code
19-4092.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$72,060
U.S. employment
19,120
Typical education
Vocational certificate
Microbiologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1022.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$87,990
U.S. employment
18,940
Typical education
Bachelor's
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1023.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$76,780
U.S. employment
18,120
Typical education
Bachelor's
Cardiologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1212.00
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$496,010
U.S. employment
17,290
Typical education
—
Soil and Plant Scientists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1013.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$78,850
U.S. employment
15,730
Typical education
Master's
Nuclear Engineers
O*NET-SOC code
17-2161.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$133,970
U.S. employment
15,280
Typical education
Bachelor's
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
O*NET-SOC code
29-1242.00
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$358,550
U.S. employment
14,100
Typical education
—
Food Scientists and Technologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1012.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$88,720
U.S. employment
13,060
Typical education
Bachelor's
Dermatologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1213.00
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$328,730
U.S. employment
11,370
Typical education
Doctorate
Physicians, Pathologists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1222.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$312,400
U.S. employment
11,110
Typical education
Post-doctoral
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2021.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$99,070
U.S. employment
10,000
Typical education
Bachelor's
Podiatrists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1081.00
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$160,300
U.S. employment
9,680
Typical education
Doctorate
Materials Scientists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2032.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$117,790
U.S. employment
8,470
Typical education
Bachelor's
Orthodontists
O*NET-SOC code
29-1023.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$289,140
U.S. employment
6,210
Typical education
Post-doctoral
Hydrologists
O*NET-SOC code
19-2043.00
Its Holland code
IRC
U.S. median wage
$96,600
U.S. employment
5,850
Typical education
Bachelor's
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
O*NET-SOC code
29-1022.00
Its Holland code
IRS
U.S. median wage
$352,220
U.S. employment
4,910
Typical education
Post-doctoral
Animal Scientists
O*NET-SOC code
19-1011.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$68,940
U.S. employment
3,100
Typical education
Doctorate
Astronomers
O*NET-SOC code
19-2011.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$128,820
U.S. employment
2,120
Typical education
Doctorate
Geographers
O*NET-SOC code
19-3092.00
Its Holland code
IR
U.S. median wage
$102,040
U.S. employment
1,400
Typical education
Bachelor's

Occupation	O*NET-SOC code	Its Holland code	U.S. median wage	U.S. employment	Typical education
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists	17-2112.01	IRC	$102,440	365,740	Master's
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	29-2011.00	IRC	$62,930	332,940	Bachelor's
Cytogenetic Technologists	29-2011.01	IRC	$62,930	332,940	Bachelor's
Cytotechnologists	29-2011.02	IRC	$62,930	332,940	Bachelor's
Histotechnologists	29-2011.04	IRC	$62,930	332,940	Bachelor's
Neurodiagnostic Technologists	29-2099.01	IRC	$50,290	182,610	Associate's (2-year)
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	19-1042.00	IR	$103,410	172,340	Doctorate
Microsystems Engineers	17-2199.06	IRC	$122,930	154,070	Master's
Nanosystems Engineers	17-2199.09	IRC	$122,930	154,070	Doctorate
Dentists, General	29-1021.00	IRS	$170,950	124,390	Doctorate
Water Resource Specialists	11-9121.02	IRC	$167,220	108,690	Bachelor's
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	19-2041.00	IRC	$82,220	89,250	Bachelor's
Environmental Restoration Planners	19-2041.02	IRC	$82,220	89,250	Bachelor's
Industrial Ecologists	19-2041.03	IRC	$82,220	89,250	Master's
Veterinarians	29-1131.00	IR	$130,100	83,900	Doctorate
Chemists	19-2031.00	IRC	$91,240	82,770	Bachelor's
Aerospace Engineers	17-2011.00	IRC	$134,960	67,710	Bachelor's
Chemical Technicians	19-4031.00	IRC	$60,390	57,540	Bachelor's
Environmental Engineers	17-2081.00	IRC	$107,110	38,340	Bachelor's
Biochemists and Biophysicists	19-1021.00	IR	$127,410	33,830	Post-doctoral
Orthoptists	29-1299.02	IRS	$115,210	28,630	Post-baccalaureate certificate
Radiologists	29-1224.00	IRC	$420,860	26,770	Post-doctoral
Conservation Scientists	19-1031.00	IRC	$73,010	25,950	Bachelor's
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers	17-2031.00	IRC	$109,370	23,480	Bachelor's
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	19-2042.00	IRC	$101,920	23,470	Bachelor's
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	19-2099.01	IRC	$122,570	22,300	Bachelor's
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors	17-2111.00	IRC	$115,160	21,450	—
Physicists	19-2012.00	IRC	$172,250	20,430	Doctorate
Forensic Science Technicians	19-4092.00	IRC	$72,060	19,120	Vocational certificate
Microbiologists	19-1022.00	IRC	$87,990	18,940	Bachelor's
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	19-1023.00	IR	$76,780	18,120	Bachelor's
Cardiologists	29-1212.00	IRS	$496,010	17,290	—
Soil and Plant Scientists	19-1013.00	IR	$78,850	15,730	Master's
Nuclear Engineers	17-2161.00	IRC	$133,970	15,280	Bachelor's
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric	29-1242.00	IRS	$358,550	14,100	—
Food Scientists and Technologists	19-1012.00	IRC	$88,720	13,060	Bachelor's
Dermatologists	29-1213.00	IRS	$328,730	11,370	Doctorate
Physicians, Pathologists	29-1222.00	IRC	$312,400	11,110	Post-doctoral
Atmospheric and Space Scientists	19-2021.00	IRC	$99,070	10,000	Bachelor's
Podiatrists	29-1081.00	IRS	$160,300	9,680	Doctorate
Materials Scientists	19-2032.00	IRC	$117,790	8,470	Bachelor's
Orthodontists	29-1023.00	IRC	$289,140	6,210	Post-doctoral
Hydrologists	19-2043.00	IRC	$96,600	5,850	Bachelor's
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons	29-1022.00	IRS	$352,220	4,910	Post-doctoral
Animal Scientists	19-1011.00	IR	$68,940	3,100	Doctorate
Astronomers	19-2011.00	IR	$128,820	2,120	Doctorate
Geographers	19-3092.00	IR	$102,040	1,400	Bachelor's

The table lists all 47 occupations with this code.

Median wage is the employee annual median from BLS OES; it excludes self-employed workers and owners. “Not published” means BLS does not publish a median for that occupation — it is not zero.

“—” means O*NET does not publish a typical education level for that occupation: 3 of the 47 rows on this page show “—”, and in O*NET Database 31.0 this field does not cover every occupation. Where a level is given, it is the most common category in O*NET's education data, translated.

Wages and employment come from BLS OES, which publishes them by 6-digit SOC occupation. Several O*NET occupations can sit under one SOC code and share the same estimates — that is why some rows show identical wages and employment.

Of the 47 rows on this page, 4 are not a wage BLS publishes for that occupation itself: 0 use the number for the successor SOC code that absorbed the occupation, and 4 use the broader group BLS reports them under. The remaining rows are the median BLS publishes at the occupation's own 6-digit SOC level.

What these occupations mean

Every O*NET occupation carries an interest profile: six shares, one per RIASEC direction. O*NET turns that profile into the occupation's Interest High-Point (IH) code with the variable high-point rule: take the directions whose share is above .17, highest first, up to three (Rounds et al., 1999; Step 3 of the 2023 O*NET report “Using Machine Learning to Develop Occupational Interest Profiles and High-Point Codes”). That is why a code can have one, two or three letters. This page reports the codes as O*NET published them — the list describes these occupations, not you.

Your own code is generated by this product from your questionnaire scores, with a different rule: the three highest directions, with ties broken in a fixed order. The two sides also measure different things — the questionnaire asks what you like doing, while an occupation profile measures how much of that interest content the work involves. No study equates the two.

Three honest notes

The occupation-side profiles are machine-generated: O*NET derived them with machine learning from work activities and related data (see the 2023 report “Using Machine Learning to Develop Occupational Interest Profiles and High-Point Codes”), not from analyst ratings.
Even where an interest code carries some predictive signal, it is weak: it cannot tell whether a particular person will do a job well, and it does not predict income. An occupation-level profile also hides the differences between people doing the same job.
Interests change with experience — courses, projects and internships can move them. A code is a snapshot, not a fixed trait.

Find your own code

The 60 items of the O*NET® Interest Profiler Short Form (adapted by this product) produce your own code and the occupations with the closest interest profiles, with the same U.S. wage data.

Find your own code

60 questions · free, no sign-up

Also published for this prefix: I

Codes starting with IR

Same length, same first letter

The six directions

All Holland code pages

IR: 47 occupations with an interest code starting with IR

Quick answer

Occupations with this code

What these occupations mean

Three honest notes

Find your own code

Other codes and pages

Codes starting with IR

Same length, same first letter

The six directions