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Overview
This webpage provides the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values for activities in the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and the 2002 Census Occupational Classification System (OCS). It serves as appendices to the following papers:
For ATUS activities
Tudor-Locke C, Washington TL, Ainsworth BE, Troiano RP. Linking the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and the Compendium of Physical Activities: methods and rationale [PDF - 292 KB]. J Phys Act Health 2009 May;6(3):347-53.
For OCS activities
Tudor-Locke C, Ainsworth BE, Washington TL, Troiano R. Assigning metabolic equivalent values to the 2002 census occupational classification system [PDF - 2.18 MB]. J Phys Act Health. 2011 May;8(4):581-6.
This webpage contains Tables 3, 4, and 5 from the 2009 publication on ATUS activities, and Tables 3 through 24 from the 2011 publication on OCS activities. Tables 1 and 2 of both publications remain within the articles themselves. Finally, corrections have been made to these tables, and have been noted below.
Using the MET Values
MET values for activities in American Time Use Survey (ATUS)
View the tables with MET values for ATUS activities
Download the ATUS tables or SAS syntax
You can download these tables in Comma-Separated Values (CSV) or MS Excel (XLS) format for analysis in SAS or other statistical software.
Search the ATUS tables by type of occupation*, keyword, census code*, range of activity codes, or range of MET values
View all codes, or search using the following criteria:
Corrections to the original MET values for ATUS activities
Please note the following changes to these tables, which were made to resolve discrepancies or correct oversights in the original versions.
Changes to the SAS Syntax| Activity | Previous MET Value | Updated MET Value |
|---|---|---|
| Updated on 25 May 2011 | ||
| 02 02 99 Food and drink prep, presentation, and clean-up, n.e.c. | 2.36 | 2.32 |
| 02 03 01 Interior arrangement, decoration, and repairs | 3.32 | 3.33 |
| 02 05 99 Lawn and garden, n.e.c. | 3.66 | 3.45 |
| 02 99 99 Household activities, n.e.c. | 2.67 | 2.93 |
| 04 05 99 Helping non-Household adults, n.e.c. | 2.51 | 2.64 |
| 04 99 99 Caring for and helping non-Household members, n.e.c. | 2.64 | 2.18 |
| 14 99 99 Religious and spiritual activities, n.e.c. | 1.78 | 1.75 |
| 15 03 99 Indoor & outdoor maintenance, building & clean-up activities, n.e.c. | 4.03 | 3.82 |
| Updated on 14 November 2016 | ||
| 05 5 Life, Physical, and Social Science | 2.00 | 2.02 |
| 05 21 Production | 2.69 | 2.67 |
| 05 22 Transportation and Material Moving | 2.67 | 2.51 |
Changes to the Tables (CSV, XLS, and Web)
| Activity | Previous MET Value | Updated MET Value |
|---|---|---|
| Updated on 10 December 2009 | ||
| 11 01 01 Eating and drinking | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| 11 01 99 Eating and drinking, n.e.c. | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Updated on 25 May 2011 | ||
| 01 05 01 Personal emergencies | activity not listed | 1.52 |
| 01 05 99 Personal care, emergencies, n.e.c. | 1.71 | 1.52 |
| 02 04 99 Exterior maintenance, repair and decoration, n.e.c. | activity not listed | 4.49 |
| 02 05 01 Lawn, Garden, and Houseplants, n.e.c. | activity not listed | 3.66 |
| 02 05 99 Lawn and garden, n.e.c. | 3.66 | 3.45 |
| 03 02 99 Activities related to Household children's education, n.e.c. | 1.59 | 1.57 |
| Updated on 18 July 2013 | ||
| 11 02 99 Eating and drinking, n.e.c. corrected to 11 99 99 | 1.83 | 1.83 (no change) |
| Updated on 14 November 2016 | ||
| 05 5 Life, Physical, and Social Science | 2.00 | 2.02 |
| 05 21 Production | 2.69 | 2.67 |
| 05 22 Transportation and Material Moving | 2.67 | 2.51 |
The MET values for ATUS activities presented in these tables and in the original articles are to be used expressly for analysis of the American Time Use Survey data. While they are based on the Compendium of Physical Activities
, the MET levels differ from those in the Compendium due to combining activities and their associated MET levels in the ATUS. For consistency in assigning intensity values to physical activity questionnaires, researchers should use the MET values presented in the Compendium of Physical Activities.
*For occupational activities only
MET values for activities in 2002 Census Occupational Classification System (OCS)
View the tables with MET values for OCS activities
The tables contain activity codes and MET values assigned to occupations in the stated fields.
- Table 3: Management
- Table 4: Business and financial operations
- Table 5: Computer and mathematical
- Table 6: Architecture and engineering
- Table 7: Life, physical, and social science
- Table 8: Community and social services
- Table 9: Legal
- Table 10: Education, training, and library
- Table 11: Arts, design, entertainment, sports, media
- Table 12: Healthcare practitioner and technical
- Table 13: Healthcare support
- Table 14: Protective service
- Table 15: Food preparation and serving related
- Table 16: Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
- Table 17: Personal care and service
- Table 18: Sales and related
- Table 19: Office and administrative support
- Table 20: Farming, fishing, and forestry
- Table 21: Construction and extraction
- Table 22: Installation, maintenance, and repair
- Table 23: Production
- Table 24: Transportation and material moving
Download the 2002 Census OCS tables or SAS syntax
These tables contain activity codes and MET values assigned to occupations in the stated fields. You can download these tables in Comma-Separated Values (CSV) or MS Excel (XLS) format for analysis in SAS or other statistical software.
- SAS syntax for fine occupation coding based on Census 2002 Industry Codes [TXT - 31 KB]
- Download all tables in one MS Excel worksheet [XLS - 122 KB]
- Download each table individually in Comma-Separated Values (CSV) format:
- Table 3: Activity codes & MET values assigned to management occupations [CSV - 2 KB]
- Table 4: Activity codes & MET values assigned to business and financial operations occupations [CSV - 2 KB]
- Table 5: Activity codes & MET values assigned to computer and mathematical occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 6: Activity codes & MET values assigned to architecture and engineering occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 7: Activity codes & MET values assigned to life, physical, and social science occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 8: Activity codes & MET values assigned to community and social services occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 9: Activity codes & MET values assigned to legal occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 10: Activity codes & MET values assigned to education, training, and library occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 11: Activity codes & MET values assigned to arts, design, entertainment, sports, media occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 12: Activity codes & MET values assigned to healthcare practitioner and technical occupations [CSV - 2 KB]
- Table 13: Activity codes & MET values assigned to healthcare support occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 14: Activity codes & MET values assigned to protective service occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 15: Activity codes & MET values assigned to food preparation and serving related occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 16: Activity codes & MET values assigned to building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 17: Activity codes & MET values assigned to personal care and service occupations [CSV - 2 KB]
- Table 18: Activity codes & MET values assigned to sales and related occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 19: Activity codes & MET values assigned to office and administrative support occupations [CSV - 3 KB]
- Table 20: Activity codes & MET values assigned to farming, fishing, and forestry occupations [CSV - 1 KB]
- Table 21: Activity codes & MET values assigned to construction and extraction occupations [CSV - 2 KB]
- Table 22: Activity codes & MET values assigned to installation, maintenance, and repair occupations [CSV - 3 KB]
- Table 23: Activity codes & MET values assigned to production occupations [CSV - 6 KB]
- Table 24: Activity codes & MET values assigned to transportation and material moving occupations [CSV - 2 KB]
Search the 2002 Census OCS tables by type of occupation*, keyword, census code*, range of activity codes, or range of MET values
View all codes, or search using the form below. (It is not necessary to enter search criteria for every field.)
Corrections to the original MET values for 2002 Census OCS activities
Please note the following changes to these tables, which were made to resolve discrepancies or correct oversights in the original versions.
Additions to the tables| Table | Management Occupation Title from 2002 Census Occupational Classification System | 2002 Census Code | Assigned Activity Codes | Assigned MET Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Updated on 14 November 2016 | ||||
| 4 (business and financial operations) | Insurance underwriters | 0860 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 4 (business and financial operations) | Financial examiners | 0900 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 7 (life, physical, and social science) | Biological scientists | 1610 | 3 | 2.0 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Public relations specialists | 2820 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Editors | 2830 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Technical writers | 2840 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Writers and authors | 2850 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Miscellaneous media and communication workers | 2860 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators | 2900 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 11 (arts, design, entertainment, sports, media) | Photographers | 2910 | 4 | 2.5 |
| 23 (production) | Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 8000 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23 (production) | Metal furnace and kiln operators and tenders | 8040 | 6 | 2.0 |
| 23 (production) | Model makers and patternmakers, metal and plastic | 8060 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23 (production) | Molders and molding machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 8100 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23 (production) | Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 8120 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23 (production) | Tool and die makers | 8130 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23 (production) | Welding, soldering, and brazing workers | 8140 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23 (production) | Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 8150 | 3 | 2.0 |
| 23 (production) | Lay-out workers, metal and plastic | 8160 | 3 | 2.0 |
| 24 (transportation and material moving) | Cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 9610 | 5 | 3.0 |
Changes to the tables
| Table | Management Occupation Title from 2002 Census Occupational Classification System | Changes made |
|---|---|---|
| Updated on 14 November 2016 | ||
| 4 (business and financial operations) | Meeting and convention planners | Assigned activity code corrected from 11 to 2 |
| 6 (architecture and engineering) | Drafters | Census code corrected from 1550 to 1540 |
| 6 (architecture and engineering) | Engineering technicians | Census code corrected from 1560 to 1550 |
| 7 (life, physical, and social science) | Agricultural and food scientists | Census code corrected from 1610 to 1600 |
| 7 (life, physical, and social science) | Miscellaneous social scientists and related workers | Census code corrected from 1850 to 1860 |
| 10 (education, training, and library) | Librarians | Assigned activity code corrected from 1 to 9 |
| 14 (protective service) | Fire fighters | Assigned activity code corrected from 12 to 13 |
| 21 (construction and extraction) | Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers | Assigned MET value corrected from 5.0 to 4.0 |
| 21 (construction and extraction) | Roustabouts, oil, and gas | Assigned activity code corrected from 17 to 16 |
| 24 (transportation and material moving) | All | Entire activity code column was corrected |
| 24 (transportation and material moving) | Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | Assigned MET value corrected from 7.5 to 3.0 |
| 24 (transportation and material moving) | Refuse and recyclable material collectors | Assigned MET value corrected from 4.0 to 3.0 |
The MET values for OCS activities presented in these tables and in the original article are to be used expressly for analysis of Occupational Classification System data. While they are based on the Compendium of Physical Activities, the MET levels differ from those in the Compendium due to combining activities and their associated MET levels in the OCS.
*For occupational activities only