The purpose of this study was to examine selected occupational status projections and the relationship between these projections and socioeconomic status (SES). Occupational status projections referred to predictive statements about the future lifetime job of the respondents. The occupational status projections included in the analysis were: (1) occupational aspirations--the lifetime job designated by the respondent as most desirable; (2) occupational expectations--the lifetime job the respondent expected to have; and (3) anticipatory deflection--the difference between the status level of the respondent's aspiration and expectation. The sample for the study consisted of 7,775 Negro and White high school sophomores living in nonmetropolitan areas of 5 southern states. Analysis of the data revealed the relatively low effect of SES on occupational status projections. When SES was not controlled, very high or high level occupations were desired by a majority and expected by either a majority or a large minority of respondents in each race-sex category. When SES was controlled, a moderate positive association was found between SES and aspiration and expectation levels. However, the general trend of aspirations and expectations of upper level occupations remained for all race-sex categories at all SES levels. (TL)