What Do DOE & EOE Stand For In A Job Description?

We handpick every product we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.Work|Career Advice|Salary and CompensationWhat Do DOE & EOE Stand for in a Job Description?By Fred Decker, Contributor

Many professions or activities develop a unique vocabulary designed to convey information efficiently and accurately. Sometimes it's a complex system of technical terms, such as the specialized language used in medicine or law. In other cases, it's a less-formal system of abbreviations and acronyms. For example, job advertisements frequently use acronyms such as DOE or EOE to streamline their postings. Understanding the meaning of these and other terms can simplify the job-hunting process.

DOE Meaning

Job-hunters choose between postings on a number of criteria, but wages and benefits are among the most important. Some job descriptions simply describe wages as competitive; others may use the acronym DOE which indicates that compensation "Depends on Experience." A variant of the DOE acronym is DOQ, or "Depends on Qualifications." In either case these acronyms acknowledge that the potential employer will work within an overall salary range, but is willing to pay more for a candidate with more experience or better qualifications.

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Estimating a DOE Salary

From the applicant's perspective, a clear indication of salary range would be more useful. Still, a few minutes' research is often enough to help determine market value for your skills and experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics database provides salary ranges for hundreds of occupations, broken down by region, workplace and other factors. Recruiting firms and professional organizations also publish salary surveys, which can provide insight. For example, the American Society for Radiologic Technologists provides salary data by degree and level of experience, while recruiting firm Robert Half's salary surveys provide salary ranges based on experience, job title, city and size of company.

EOE Meaning

Potential employers often use the acronym EOE in job descriptions and vacancy postings to indicate that they are Equal Opportunity Employers. This refers to compliance with a variety of federal laws, including the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, which make it difficult or illegal for employers to discriminate against employees or applicants for employment. While EOE constitutes federally-mandated protection for employees, enforced compliance largely depends upon factors including the size and type of the company and whether the company is a federal or state agency. Firms that advertise compliance with Equal Opportunity Employment laws are companies that qualify under the EOE guidelines, and in accordance with the law, seek to hire and promote worthy candidates regardless of age, ethnicity, religion and sexual preference.

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U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission oversees compliance with federal employment laws, and investigates reports of violations. The EEOC receives hundreds of thousands of complaints each year. Some are groundless, and easily dismissed; Others spark full-scale investigations, and often legal action against the offending company. The EEOC's website lists settlements, convictions and judgments against a wide range of companies. If you feel a potential employer's hiring process or prerequisites for employment may be in violation of federal law, the EEOC's website can help you to determine whether there are grounds for filing a formal complaint.

References

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Equal Employment Opportunity is The Law
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Company Guidelines

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Resources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Home

Fred DeckerContributor

Fred Decker is a trained chef, former restaurateur and prolific freelance writer. A self-described "food-science geek," he reads academic papers for entertainment. He was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. His food and nutrition articles have appeared on high-profile sites including Livestrong, Healthfully, Walgreens.com, LeafTV, GoBankingRates, Vitamix.com and many others.