Using the National Longitudinal Surveys of Work Experience for Mature Men and Young Men, the paper compares the occupational structure of nonmetro and metro areas in 1971 and 1976, analyzes occupational mobility patterns of both groups in each area, and examines the relationship between occupational mobility and earnings. Transition matrices and regression analysis show nonmetro residents changed occupations more often than metro residents; that changers generally had lower earnings; and that race, age, education, and occupation impacted on wage determination. No significant changes in occupational distribution of mature men are shown in either metro or nonmetro areas. Significant increases are reflected in the proportion of young nonmetro men employed as craftsmen, foremen, kindred workers and managerial occupations, while a decline is shown in the proportion employed in clerical, operatives, and nonfarm laborer occupations. Additionally, the report reveals young men in occupations requiring low skills and low education, specifically laborers (except farm and mine, and service workers), frequently changed occupations; however occupations requiring higher education and skills or capital investments were highly immobile. (Author/AH)