I have a nice breakdown of occupations for people over 10 years old reported in the census.

Industry	1870	1880	1890
Agriculture	53%	49.4%	42.6%
Forestry and Fishing	0.5%	0.6%	0.8%
Extraction of Minerals	1.4%	1.7%	1.9%
Manufacturing and mechanical industries	20.5%	22.1%	23.7%
Transportation and communication	4.2%	4.8%	6.0%
Trade	6.8%	7.9%	8.8%
Public Service	0.7%	0.8%	0.9%
Professional Service	2.6%	3.2%	3.8%
Domestic and personal service	9.7%	8.8%	9.6%
Clerical occupations	0.6%	0.9%	2.0%

Percentage of Occupations by Men

Industry	1870	1880	1890
Agriculture	58.1%	54.0%	47.3%
Forestry and Fishing	0.5%	0.7%	0.9%
Extraction of Minerals	1.7%	2.0%	2.3%
Manufacturing and mechanical industries	20.7%	21.6%	23.2%
Transportation and communication	4.9%	5.6%	7.1%
Trade	7.8%	8.9%	9.9%
Public Service	0.8%	0.9%	1.0%
Professional Service	2.3%	2.5%	2.3%
Domestic and personal service	2.5%	2.8%	3.2%
Clerical occupations	0.7%	1.0%	2.0%

Percentage of Occupations by Women

Industry	1870	1880	1890
Agriculture	23.7%	23.6%	19.9%
Forestry and Fishing	–	–	–
Extraction of Minerals	–	–	–
Manufacturing and mechanical industries	19.0%	24.8%	26.2%
Transportation and communication	0.1%	0.1%	0.4%
Trade	1.0%	2.2%	3.5%
Public Service	–	–	–
Professional Service	4.9%	6.7%	7.8%
Domestic and personal service	51.2%	42.2%	40.2%
Clerical occupations	0.1%	0.3%	1.9%

Breakdowns of specializations by Industry

Agriculture

Farmers, owners and tenants

Farm managers and foremen

Farm laborers

Forestry and Fishing

Fisherment and Oystermen

Foresters, forest rangers and timber cruisers

Owners and managers of log and timber camps

Lumbermen, raftsmen and woodchoppers

Extraction of minerals

Operators, managers and officials

Inspectors

Foremen and overseers

Coal mine operatives and other operatives

Manufacturing and mechanical industries

Blacksmiths

Blacksmiths apprentices

Boilermakers

Boilermakers apprentices

Brick and stone masons and tile layers

Mason’s apprentices

Cabinetmakers

Carpenters

Coopers

Electricians

Engineers

Firemen except for locomotive and fire department

Oilers of machinery

Engravers

Machinists

Builders and building contractors

Managers and officials manufacturing

Manufacturers

Painters, glaziers, varnishers, enamelers, etc

Paper hangers

Plasterers

Plumbers and gas and steam fitters

Roofers and slaters

Operatives, laborers, and allied occupations

Building, general and not specified laborers

Chemical and allied industries

Operatives, explosives, ammunition, and fireworks factories
Laborers, explosives, ammunition, and fireworks factories

Operatives fertilizer factories

Operatives petroleum factories

Operatives soap factories

Operatives, other chemical factories

Cigar and Tobacco factories

Operatives
Laborers

Clay, glass and stone industries

Operatives, brick, tile and terra-cotta factories
Laborers

Glass blowers
Operatives, glass factories
Laborers

Stonecutters
Operatives, marble and stone yards
Laborers

Operatives, potteries
Laborers

Clothing industries

Operative, corset factories
Laborers

Operatives, glove factories
Laborers

Operatives, hat factories (felt)
Laborers

Operatives, shirt, collar and cuff factories
Laborers

Milliners and millinery dealers
Apprentices

Dressmakers and seamstresses (not in factory)
Apprentices
Operatives, other clothing factories
Laborers

Tailors and tailoresses
Operatives, suit, coat and overall factories
Laborers

Food Industries

Bakers
Operatives, bakeries
Laborers
Operatives, butter, cheese, and condensed milk factories
Laborers
Operatives, candy factories
Laborers
Operatives, fish curing and packing
Laborers
Millers (grain, flour, feed, etc)
Operatives, flour and grain mills
Laborers
Operatives, fruit and vegetable canning, etc
Laborers
Operatives, slaughter and packing houses
Laborers
Operatives, sugar factories and refineries
Laborers
Operatives, other food factories
Laborers

Iron and steel, machinery, and vehicle industries

Filers, grinders, buffers and polishers (metal)
Forgemen and hammermen
Furnace men, smelter men, heaters, puddlers, etc
Iron molders, founders, and casters
Rollers and roll hands (metal)
Structural iron workers (building)
Toolmakers and die setters and sinkers
Operatives, agricultural implement factories
Laborers
Operatives, automobile factories
Laborers
Operatives, automobile repair shops
Laborers
Operatives, blast furnaces and steel rolling mills
Laborers
Operatives, ship and boat building
Laborers
Operatives, wagon and carriage factories
Laborers
Operatives, other iron and steel and machinery factories
Laborers

Metal industries except iron and steel

Jewelers and watchmakers (not in factory)
Jewelers’, watchmakers’, goldsmiths’, and silversmiths’ apprentices
Operatives, clock and watch factories
Laborers

Brass molders, founder, and casters
Operatives, brass mills
Laborers
Coppersmiths
Operatives, copper factories
Laborers
Goldsmiths and silversmiths
Operatives, gold and silver factories
Laborers
Jewelers and lapidaries
Operatives, jewelry factories
Laborers
Operatives lead and zinc factories
Laborers
Tinsmiths, and sheet metal workers
Tinsmiths’ and coppersmiths’ apprentices
Operatives, tinware, enamelware, etc., factories
Laborers
Other molders, founders and casters
Operatives, other metal factories
Laborers
Operatives, not specified metal industries
Laborers

Leather industries

Operatives, harness and saddle factories
Laborers
Operatives, leather belt, leather goods, etc., factories
Laborers
Operatives, trunk, suit case, and bag factories
Laborers
Shoemakers and cobblers
Operatives, shoe factories
Laborers
Operatives, Tanneries
Laborers

Liquor and beverage industries

Operatives, liquor and beverage industries
Laborers

Lumber and Furniture industries

Sawyers
Operatives, furniture factories
Laborers
Operatives, piano and organ factories
Laborers
Operatives, saw and planing mills
Laborers
Operatives, other woodworking factories
Laborers

Paper, printing and allied industries

Compositors, linotypers, and typesetters
Electrotypers, stereotypers, and lithographers
Pressmen and plate printers (printing)
{rinters’ and bookbinders’ apprentices
Operatives, printing, publishing, and engraving
Laborers

Operatives, blank book, envelope, tag, paper bag, etc., factories
Laborers
Operatives, paper and pulp mills
Laborers
Operatives, paper box factories
Laborers

Textile industries

Operators, carpet mills
Laborers
Operators, cotton mills
Laborers
Operators, knitting mills
Laborers
Operatives, rope and cordage factories
Laborers
Operatives, silk mills
Laborers
Dyers
Operatives, textile dyeing, finishing, and printing mills
Laborers
Operative, sail, awning, and tent factories
Laborers
Operatives, woolen and worsted mills
Laborers
Operatives, hemp, jute, and linen mills
Laborers
Operatives, lace and embroidery mills
Laborers
Operatives, other and not specified textile mills
Laborers

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

Operative, broom and brush factories
Laborers
Operative, button factories
Operatives, rubber factories
Operatives, straw factories
Cement finishers
Cranemen, derrickmen, hoistmen, etc
Foremen and overseers (manufacturing)
Loom fixers
Mechanics (not otherwise specified)
Millwrights
Other apprentices in manufacturing
Paino and organ tuners
Skilled occupations (not otherwise specified)
Upholsterers
Operatives, building industry
Operatives, car and railroad shops
Laborers
Operatives,c charcoal and coke works
Laborers
Operatives, electric light and power plants
Laborers
Operatives, electrical machinery and supply factories
Laborers
Operative, gas works
Laborer
Operatives, lime, cement, and artificial stone factories
Laborers
Operatives, paint and varnish factories
Laborers
Operatives, turpentine farms and distilleries
Laborers
Operatives, other miscellaneous manufacturing industries
Laborers
Operatives, not specified industries and services
Laborers

Transportation and Communication

Apprentices
Aviators
Boatmen, canal men, and lock keepers
Chauffeurs, and track and tractor drivers
Draymen, teamsters, and carriage drivers
Foremen, and overseers, air transportation
Foremen, and overseers, other transportation and communication
Foremen, and overseers, garages, greasing stations, and automatic laundries
Foremen, and overseers, steam railroad
Foremen, and overseers, street railroad
Foremen, and overseers, other transportation and communication
Inspectors, street railroad
Garage laborers
Hostlers and stable hands
Laborers, air transportation
Laborers, truck, transfer, and cab companies
Laborers, road and street
Foremen, road, street, etc., building and repairing
Laborers, express companies
Laborers, pipelines
Laborers, water transportation
Laborers, other transportation and communication
Longshoremen and stevedores
Garage owners and officials
Proprietors, managers, and officials, air transportation
Owners and managers, truck, transfer, and cab companies
Officials and superintendents, steam and street railroads
Agents, express companies
Express messengers
Inspectors, telegraph and telephone
Proprietors, managers and officials, telegraph and telephone
Proprietors, managers, and officials, other transportation and communication

Steam railroad employees

Baggagemen
Boiler washers and engine hostlers
Brakemen
Conductors
Freight agents
Inspectors
Laborers
Locomotive engineers
Locomotive firemen
Motormen
Switchmen and flagmen
Ticket and station agents
Yardmen
Other occupations

Street railroad employees

Baggagemen
Conductors
Freight agents
Laborers
Motormen
Switchmen and flagmen
Ticket and station agents
Other occupations

Telegraph and telephone linemen
Foremen, telegraph and telephone
Laborers
Other occupations, telegraph and telephone
Telegraph operators
Radio operators
Telephone operators

All other occupations

Mail carriers
Railway mail clerks
Inspectors, other transportation and communication
Postmasters
Telegraph messengers
Other occupations
Road, street, building and repairing
Other transportation and communication

Trade

Auctioneers
Commercial travelers
Deliverymen
Floorwalkers, foremen, and overseers
Newsboys
Retail dealers
Wholesale dealers, importers, and exporters
Proprietors, managers, and officials, grain elevators
Salesmen and saleswomen (stores)
“Clerks” in sotres
Undertakers
All other occupations

Advertising agents
Apprentices, wholesale and retail trade
Bankers, brokers, and money lenders
Canvassers
Decorators, drapers, and window dressers
Demonstrators
Inspectors, gaugers, and samplers
Insurance agents, managers and officials
Laborers, porters and helpers in stores
Proprieters, managers and officials (not otherwise specified)
Real estate agents and officials
Sales agents
Other pursuits in trade