| National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) | Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) | Survey of Income & Program Participation (SIPP) | |
| Starting date | 1966 | 1968 | 1983 (data begins with 1984) * |
| Sample | National, including military | 1) National, 2) households at or below 150% poverty line, Latino | National, noninstitutionalized |
| Periodicity of interviews | Some biennial, some annual | Annual | Monthly |
| Survey design | Longitudinal | Longitudinal | Multistage (panels of 2 1/2 to 4 years duration) |
| Labor force information, employment | Y | Y | Y |
| Job training | Y | Y | Y |
| Retirement decisions | Y | Y | |
| Income sources | Y | Y | Y |
| Household earnings | Y | Y | Y |
| Pensions | Y | Y | Y |
| Government assistance | Y (Public assistance) | Y (Public assistance) | Y (Benefits programs) |
| Schooling, education | Y | Y | Y |
| Marriage | Y | Y | Y |
| Fertility | Y | Y | |
| Child care | Y | Y | Y |
| Child development | Y | ||
| Food expenditures | Y | ||
| Transportation | Y | Y | Y (Assistance) |
| Car ownership | Y | Y | Y |
| Car and home maintenance | Y | ||
| Health | Y | Y | Y |
| Medical expenditures | Y | ||
| Private health insurance | Y | Y | Y |
| Drug & alcohol use | Y | Y | |
| *Predecessor program (1977-1981) was Income Survey Development Program (ISDP) |