Job Wheel Spinner: 150 Real Jobs in 16 Fields

Spin one of 150 real jobs in 16 fields and read what the work is and the usual way in.

Job Wheel Spinner: 150 Real Jobs in 16 Fields

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Spin 1 · number 47

Emergency manager

Writes the plans for natural disasters and other emergencies and helps lead the response during and after one. Handbook title: emergency management director. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.

Every spin uses the whole wheel.

150 jobs on the wheel.

Numbers on the wheel

  1. Architect
  2. Landscape architect
  3. Aerospace engineer
  4. Civil engineer
  5. Mechanical engineer
  6. Biomedical engineer
  7. Robotics technician
  8. Cartographer
  9. Surveyor
  10. Fashion designer
  11. Florist
  12. Graphic designer
  13. Animator
  14. Set designer
  15. Painter
  16. Sculptor
  17. Illustrator
  18. Cartoonist
  19. Glass artist
  20. Radio announcer
  21. DJ
  22. Sound technician
  23. Camera operator
  24. Interpreter
  25. Photographer
  26. Reporter
  27. Author
  28. Actor
  29. Professional athlete
  30. Coach
  31. Dancer
  32. Composer
  33. Musician
  34. Singer
  35. Film director
  36. Referee
  37. Accountant
  38. Tax collector
  39. Event planner
  40. Lawyer
  41. Judge
  42. Court reporter
  43. Mediator
  44. Chief executive
  45. School principal
  46. Hotel manager
  47. Emergency manager
  48. Software developer
  49. QA tester
  50. Security analyst
  51. IT support specialist
  52. Data scientist
  53. Mathematician
  54. Actuary
  55. Carpenter
  56. Electrician
  57. Plumber
  58. Mason
  59. Glazier
  60. Ironworker
  61. Building inspector
  62. Solar panel installer
  63. Kindergarten teacher
  64. High school teacher
  65. Special education teacher
  66. College professor
  67. Tutor
  68. Librarian
  69. Archivist
  70. Museum curator
  71. Conservator
  72. Doctor
  73. Surgeon
  74. Nurse
  75. Paramedic
  76. Dentist
  77. Pharmacist
  78. Veterinarian
  79. Optometrist
  80. Physical therapist
  81. Athletic trainer
  82. Dietitian
  83. Prosthetist
  84. Archeologist
  85. Meteorologist
  86. Chemist
  87. Forester
  88. Epidemiologist
  89. Forensic science technician
  90. Historian
  91. Microbiologist
  92. Physicist
  93. Astronomer
  94. Psychologist
  95. Zoologist
  96. Social worker
  97. School counselor
  98. Animal trainer
  99. Pet groomer
  100. Zookeeper
  101. Stable groom
  102. Hairstylist
  103. Childcare worker
  104. Concierge
  105. Tour guide
  106. Chef
  107. Waiter or waitress
  108. Baker
  109. Farmer or rancher
  110. Fishing boat captain
  111. Logger
  112. Landscaper
  113. Arborist
  114. Janitor
  115. Pest control worker
  116. Aircraft mechanic
  117. Auto mechanic
  118. HVAC technician
  119. Power line worker
  120. Wind turbine technician
  121. Jeweler
  122. Machinist
  123. Welder
  124. Woodworker
  125. Firefighter
  126. Police officer
  127. Detective
  128. Game warden
  129. Private investigator
  130. Lifeguard
  131. Ski patroller
  132. Security guard
  133. Bailiff
  134. Military service member
  135. Cashier
  136. Real estate agent
  137. Travel agent
  138. Model
  139. Bank teller
  140. Mail carrier
  141. 911 dispatcher
  142. Airline pilot
  143. Air traffic controller
  144. Flight attendant
  145. Bus driver
  146. Truck driver
  147. Taxi driver
  148. Locomotive engineer
  149. Ship captain
  150. Harbor pilot

Results

  1. 1. Emergency manager

Tip: the space bar and the Enter key spin the wheel, and so does a tap on the wheel itself. Press again to skip to the result.

Next step Spin an age and check it fitsSpin a flaw for the job to test

Job Wheel Spinner: 150 Real Jobs in 16 Fields: how it works

This job wheel spinner holds 150 real jobs in 16 fields, from healthcare and science to construction and the arts. Tap a field for the kind of job, spin the wheel, and the result card says what the work involves and the usual US qualification, checked against the Occupational Outlook Handbook. An invented character gets work that exists.

Start with the field

All 150 on one wheel is hard to read, so tap a field first. Healthcare and Science are the largest with 12 jobs each; Computers and math and Sales and office have seven. A field also sets the scene: Transportation puts a character on a ship, a train or a flight deck.

Check the job against the age

The entry line on each card keeps a character plausible. A surgeon, a judge or a physicist typically needs a doctoral or professional degree, so none of them is 19. A paramedic or a court reporter trains on a certificate course after high school and can start far younger. Spin the age wheel first, then re-spin any job that cannot fit.

Tips

  • As a guessing round, spin, read the card aloud without the title and let the room name the job.
  • Clash the job with the personality. A shy radio announcer or a clumsy glazier is a story already.
  • Filling a town for a tabletop game? Use Elimination mode on one field and no two locals share a trade.

Questions and answers

What does Typical US entry mean on a card?

It is the education level the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for getting into that occupation, read on 18 September 2026. It describes the usual route in the United States and is no rule. A card leaves the line off where the Handbook gives no single level, or where the job is one type inside a wider profile, such as zookeeper or lifeguard.

Can the wheel tell me what career to choose?

No. A spin is random and knows nothing about you, so treat it as a prompt, not advice. It is good for meeting jobs you had not heard of. Look up any that interest you at bls.gov/ooh, which explains how to become one. The cards leave out pay and outlook because those figures date quickly.

Can I add fantasy or made-up jobs?

Yes. Open My list and type them in, up to 100 lines, saved in this browser only. The built-in list keeps to real work, but much of it travels: the pharmacist becomes an apothecary, the stable groom and the mason fit any century, and the harbor pilot suits a starship dock.

More like this

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All 150 jobs

Computers and math 7

  • Actuary Uses mathematics, statistics and financial theory to work out the economic cost of risk and uncertainty. Can put a price on any risk and still has to cross the road. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Data scientist Uses analytical tools and techniques to pull meaningful findings out of data. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • IT support specialist Keeps computer networks running and gives technical help to the people who use them. Knows everyone in the building, because every computer breaks in the end.
  • Mathematician Analyzes data and applies computational techniques to solve problems. Listed with statisticians. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • QA tester Hunts for problems in software and reports the defects. Breaks things on purpose for a living. Listed with software developers and quality assurance analysts. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Security analyst Plans and carries out the measures that protect an organization's computer networks and systems. Handbook title: information security analyst. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Software developer Designs computer applications and programs. Decide what this one builds: a game, a banking system and a spacecraft controller need different nerves. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.

Sales and office 7

  • 911 dispatcher Answers emergency and nonemergency calls and sends help to the people who need it. Handbook title: public safety telecommunicator. Outside the US, change the number. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Bank teller Handles routine transactions at a bank or credit union, such as cashing checks and taking deposits. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Cashier Takes payments and gives change in a shop or other retail setting. Sees the whole town pass through one checkout. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Mail carrier Collects, sorts and delivers mail, and knows every address on the route and every dog. Handbook title: postal service worker.
  • Model Poses for artists, photographers and other clients to help advertise products. The Handbook files models under Sales. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Real estate agent Helps clients buy, sell and rent properties. In a ghost story, the one who has to sell the house. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Travel agent Sells transportation, lodging and entertainment to people and groups planning trips. Typical US entry: high school diploma.

Media and communication 8

  • Author Writes content for many kinds of media. A character who writes characters is allowed, and the deadline hands them a problem on page one. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Camera operator Records the moving images that entertain or inform an audience. Listed with film and video editors, who shape the footage afterwards. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • DJ Plays recorded music and acts as host at weddings, parties or clubs. Reads a room faster than anyone else in it. Listed with announcers.
  • Interpreter Converts what is said in one language into another, while translators do the same for written text. An interpreter is in the room for conversations nobody else gets to hear. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Photographer Uses technical skill and an eye for a picture to record people, landscapes, products and other subjects. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Radio announcer Presents news or sport, or interviews guests, on radio or television. A voice the whole town knows, often on a face nobody does.
  • Reporter Keeps the public up to date on current events and other news worth knowing. A reporter has a reason to ask anyone anything, which is handy in a plot. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Sound technician Sets up, runs and maintains the electrical equipment behind media programs. The audience never sees this character and would notice within seconds if they left.

Construction 8

  • Building inspector Checks that construction meets building codes, local ordinances, zoning rules and the contract. The visitor every builder tidies up for. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Carpenter Builds, repairs and installs frameworks and structures made of wood and other materials. A trade that fits almost any century. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Electrician Installs, maintains and repairs electrical power, lighting, communications and control systems. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Glazier Fits glass into windows, skylights and other fixtures in buildings. An old word for an old trade, and it suits any setting that has windows. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Ironworker Installs the structural and reinforcing iron and steel that hold up buildings, bridges and roads. Bridges and towers mean heights, so decide how this character feels about them. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Mason Builds structures from brick, concrete, concrete block and natural or manufactured stone. Handbook title: masonry worker.
  • Plumber Installs and repairs pipes and the fixtures and systems attached to them. Listed with pipefitters and steamfitters. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Solar panel installer Assembles, sets up and maintains rooftop and other systems that turn sunlight into energy. Handbook title: solar photovoltaic installer. Typical US entry: high school diploma.

Architecture and engineering 9

  • Aerospace engineer Designs, develops and tests aircraft, spacecraft and satellites. The work is slow and exact, so this character checks everything twice. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Architect Plans and designs houses, offices, factories and other buildings. Suits a character who walks into a room and sees what should have been done differently. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Biomedical engineer Combines engineering with the sciences to design equipment, devices, computer systems and software for biology and medicine. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Cartographer Gathers and interprets geographic information to make and update maps. Works in any genre: somebody drew the map at the front of the fantasy novel. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Civil engineer Plans, designs and oversees the building and upkeep of buildings and infrastructure. When the work is good nobody notices it, and that can shape a personality. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Landscape architect Designs parks and other outdoor spaces. Give this one muddy boots and firm opinions about where a path should bend. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Mechanical engineer Designs, builds and tests mechanical devices and devices that handle heat, sensors included. The one who takes the toaster apart to find out why it failed. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Robotics technician Operates, tests and maintains robotic and electromechanical equipment: the person a robot is brought to when it misbehaves. Handbook title: mechatronics technician. Typical US entry: associate's degree.
  • Surveyor Takes precise measurements to fix where one property ends and the next begins. In a story, the stranger who turns up before anything gets built. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.

Entertainment and sports 9

  • Actor Portrays characters and gets ideas across in theater, film, television and other performing arts. Decide what this one is like between roles. Typical US entry: some college, no degree.
  • Coach Teaches amateur or professional athletes the skills their sport needs. Listed with scouts, who size up athletes as possible recruits. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Composer Writes and arranges music in many styles. Listed with music directors, who lead musical groups in performances and recording sessions. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Dancer Uses dance performances to express ideas and stories. Listed with choreographers.
  • Film director With producers, makes the business and creative decisions for film, television, stage and other productions. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Musician Plays an instrument for live audiences and in recording studios. Choose the instrument before the personality: a drummer and a harpist are different people. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Professional athlete Competes in organized, officiated sports events in front of spectators. Pick the sport yourself, then decide what comes after the playing days. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Referee Presides over a game or match to keep play within the rules, so half the crowd is unhappy with this character at any moment. Listed with umpires and other sports officials. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Singer Sings for live audiences and in recording studios. Listed with musicians. Typical US entry: no formal credential.

Education and libraries 9

  • Archivist Assesses, catalogs and preserves documents and records of lasting historical value, and helps researchers use them. Some specialize in one era, or in photographs, maps or electronic records.
  • College professor Teaches academic subjects beyond the high school level. Handbook title: postsecondary teacher.
  • Conservator Treats, preserves and documents artifacts, specimens and works of art, to slow their decay or return them to their original state. Most specialize in one material, such as paintings, textiles or books.
  • High school teacher Teaches the lessons and skills students will need for college and for work. Choose the subject yourself, because it says a lot about the character. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Kindergarten teacher Teaches young children the basic subjects that prepare them for later schooling. Listed with elementary school teachers. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Librarian Helps people find information and carry out research, for personal or professional reasons. Knows where everything is, including what you did not know you needed. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Museum curator Leads the acquisition, storage and display of a collection, and may authenticate and categorize the pieces. In a small museum one curator may do everything.
  • Special education teacher Works with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional and physical disabilities. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Tutor Teaches students one at a time or in small groups to back up what they learn in class. Some prepare students for standardized tests. Typical US entry: some college, no degree.

Repair and production 9

  • Aircraft mechanic Installs, tests, adjusts and repairs the equipment and systems on aircraft. Listed with avionics technicians. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Auto mechanic Inspects, maintains and repairs cars and light trucks. Handbook title: automotive service technician. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • HVAC technician Works on heating, ventilation, cooling and refrigeration systems. Sees the parts of a building nobody else visits. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Jeweler Designs, makes, adjusts, repairs, appraises and sells jewelry. Can tell a real stone from a fake, which a heist plot will need. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Machinist Sets up and runs the equipment that makes precision metal parts, instruments and tools. Listed with tool and die makers.
  • Power line worker Installs and repairs the cables and wires of electrical power systems. A storm in the plot gives this character a reason to be outside in it. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Welder Joins, repairs or cuts metal parts with hand-held or remotely controlled equipment. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Wind turbine technician Maintains and repairs wind turbines. The work is at the top of the tower, so ask how this character feels about ladders. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Woodworker Makes cabinets, furniture and other products from wood, veneers and laminates. Typical US entry: high school diploma.

Transportation 9

  • Air traffic controller Coordinates the movement of aircraft to keep them a safe distance apart. Typical US entry: associate's degree.
  • Airline pilot Flies and navigates airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft. Handbook title: airline and commercial pilot.
  • Bus driver Carries people from one place to another. A school bus, a city route and a long-distance coach each give a different character. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Flight attendant Looks after the safety and comfort of airline passengers, from routine service to emergencies. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Harbor pilot Boards a ship for a short time and steers it through a confined waterway where local knowledge of tides, currents and hazards matters. Not part of the crew, which is the interesting part.
  • Locomotive engineer Drives long-distance and commuter trains between stations, working the throttle and airbrakes and watching the track and the gauges. Subway drivers are a separate job. Listed under railroad workers.
  • Ship captain Has overall command of a vessel and answers for its crew, cargo and passengers. Keeps the log of the ship's movements and oversees loading in port.
  • Taxi driver Takes people where they need to go. Listed with shuttle drivers, chauffeurs and ride-hailing drivers. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Truck driver Moves goods from one place to another in a heavy truck or tractor-trailer. Long stretches alone give this character time to think. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.

Arts and design 10

  • Animator Makes moving images and visual effects for media and entertainment. Thinks in frames, so expect a character who acts out a walk before drawing it. Listed with special effects artists. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Cartoonist Draws simplified or exaggerated pictures about politics, sport, advertising or comic subjects. Some write their own plots and captions, and others pair up with a writer.
  • Fashion designer Designs clothing, footwear and accessories. Decide what this character wears on a day off, because it is rarely what they make. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Florist Builds displays from live, dried and silk flowers and greenery, so hears about every wedding and every apology in town. Handbook title: floral designer. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Glass artist Blows, shapes, stains or joins glass, sometimes with high-heat equipment, and decorates it by etching or painting. A workshop with a furnace is a good place to set a scene.
  • Graphic designer Creates visual concepts, by hand or with software, that carry an idea to the people it is meant for. Notices every badly spaced sign and struggles to stay quiet about it. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Illustrator Makes the pictures for books, magazines and products such as greeting cards and calendars. More and more of the work is digital, or drawn by hand and scanned for color.
  • Painter A fine artist who paints landscapes, portraits and other subjects in watercolor, oil or acrylic, in any style from realistic to abstract. Listed under craft and fine artists.
  • Sculptor Makes three-dimensional art by molding and joining materials or by carving plaster, wood or stone. Some pieces use light, sound or motion.
  • Set designer Designs the spaces built for shows, productions and exhibits. Can turn plywood and paint into a castle that only has to look right from the front. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.

Community and personal care 10

  • Animal trainer Teaches animals obedience, performance, riding, security work or how to assist people with disabilities. Most work with dogs and horses, and some with marine mammals.
  • Childcare worker Looks after children's needs and helps their early development. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Concierge Helps people at a hotel, apartment block or office building with all kinds of personal services. Knows how to get anything, and who to ask. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Hairstylist Cuts and styles hair and provides other services related to personal appearance, and hears the town's news along the way. Listed with barbers and cosmetologists. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Pet groomer Bathes pets, mostly dogs and cats, cuts and styles their fur, clips nails and cleans ears, and spots problems that need a veterinarian.
  • School counselor Helps students build the academic and social skills they need. Listed with career counselors and advisors, who help people choose a path to a job. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Social worker Helps people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
  • Stable groom Looks after horses at a stable: feeding, grooming and exercising them, cleaning stalls and keeping saddles and tack in order. The Handbook calls the job groom, and it fits any century with horses.
  • Tour guide Leads people or groups to points of interest such as historic sites, museums and monuments. Knows the official story and usually a better one. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Zookeeper Plans diets and feeds zoo animals, cleans enclosures, watches for signs of illness or injury and often answers visitors' questions. May help raise young animals.

Food, farming and grounds 10

  • Arborist Cuts away dead or excess branches to keep roads, sidewalks and utility lines clear. Some diagnose tree diseases or shape ornamental trees. Handbook title: tree trimmers and pruners.
  • Baker Mixes ingredients according to recipes to make breads, pastries and other baked goods. The Handbook files bakers under Production. Decide how early the ovens go on, and who the first customer is. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Chef Oversees the daily preparation of food at a restaurant or other place where food is served. Handbook title: chefs and head cooks. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Farmer or rancher Runs a business that produces crops, livestock or dairy products. The Handbook files the job under Management. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Fishing boat captain Plans and runs a commercial fishing trip: which fish to go after, where, how and for how long. Supervises the crew, keeps the log and sells the catch.
  • Janitor Keeps a building clean, sanitary, orderly and in good condition. Often the one character with a key to every door. Typical US entry: no formal credential.
  • Landscaper Plants new outdoor spaces and looks after them: trims, fertilizes, mulches and waters. Some build patios and walkways or put in lighting and sprinklers.
  • Logger Harvests trees, the raw material for many consumer goods and industrial products. Handbook title: logging worker. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Pest control worker Removes insects, rodents and other pests from buildings and the ground around them. In a fantasy town, scale the pests up. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Waiter or waitress Takes orders and brings food and drinks to customers at their tables. Overhears more than any other character in the room. Typical US entry: no formal credential.

Protective service and military 10

  • Bailiff Keeps order in a courtroom. Listed with correctional officers. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Detective Gathers facts and collects evidence for criminal cases: interviews people, examines records and works a case until it is solved or dropped. Listed with police.
  • Firefighter Controls and puts out fires and responds to emergencies that threaten life, property or the environment. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Game warden Enforces hunting, fishing and boating laws, patrols outdoor recreation areas and runs search and rescue operations. Handbook title: fish and game warden.
  • Lifeguard Watches over people at beaches, pools and aquatic centers, enforces safety rules in and around the water and keeps an eye on hazards such as strong currents and severe weather.
  • Military service member Serves in the armed forces. Enlisted members carry out operations and run, maintain and repair equipment. Officers plan and lead, and may command aircraft, ships or armored vehicles. The Handbook describes the US military, so adapt the ranks for an invented country.
  • Police officer Protects lives and property. Patrol officers wear a uniform, cover a regular area and answer emergency and nonemergency calls. Some join mounted or motorcycle units.
  • Private investigator Gathers, analyzes and reports information for clients about legal or personal matters. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Security guard Protects property from illegal activity. A night shift in an empty museum, mall or office is a ready-made opening scene. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Ski patroller Checks slopes for unsafe conditions and helps skiers and snowboarders in trouble, from assessing an injury to getting someone down the mountain.

Business, law and management 11

  • Accountant Prepares and examines financial records. The first to notice when the numbers do not add up, which is how plenty of mysteries begin. Listed with auditors. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Chief executive Sets the strategies and policies that steer a whole organization toward its goals. Handbook title: top executive. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Court reporter Makes a word-for-word record of trials, depositions and other legal proceedings. Hears everything and says nothing. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Emergency manager Writes the plans for natural disasters and other emergencies and helps lead the response during and after one. Handbook title: emergency management director. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Event planner Arranges every part of a meeting, convention or other event. Calm on the surface, with a clipboard and three backup plans. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Hotel manager Makes sure guests enjoy their stay while the place runs efficiently and at a profit. Handbook title: lodging manager. Typical US entry: high school diploma.
  • Judge Oversees legal matters in court or in administrative proceedings. Every lawyer in the cast has to be polite to this character. Listed with hearing officers. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Lawyer Advises and represents clients in legal proceedings and transactions. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Mediator Helps two sides talk through a dispute and settle it outside the court system. Listed with arbitrators and conciliators. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • School principal Runs every operation of an elementary, middle or high school, the daily activities included. The Handbook files the job under Management. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Tax collector Works out how much tax is owed and collects it from people and businesses for the government. Rarely a welcome visitor, which makes a useful outsider. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.

Healthcare 12

  • Athletic trainer Works to prevent, diagnose and treat muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. Pairs well with an athlete elsewhere in the cast. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Dentist Diagnoses and treats problems with teeth, gums and other parts of the mouth. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Dietitian Plans and runs food service or nutrition programs that help people lead healthy lives. Listed with nutritionists. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Doctor Diagnoses and treats injuries and illnesses and helps patients stay healthy. Handbook title: physician. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Nurse Provides and coordinates patient care and teaches patients and the public about health conditions. Handbook title: registered nurse. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Optometrist Examines eyes, diagnoses and treats conditions of the visual system and prescribes corrective lenses. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Paramedic Assesses injuries and illnesses, gives emergency care and may take patients to a medical facility. Listed with EMTs. Typical US entry: a nondegree certificate after high school.
  • Pharmacist Dispenses prescription medicines and explains to patients how to use them. In a fantasy setting this is the apothecary. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Physical therapist Helps injured or ill people improve their movement and manage pain. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Prosthetist Measures, designs, fits and adjusts artificial limbs for patients. Listed with orthotists, who do the same with braces. A natural job in a setting with mechanical arms. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Surgeon A doctor who treats injuries and illnesses by operating. Listed with physicians. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Veterinarian Cares for the health of animals and works to protect public health. The patients cannot say where it hurts, so this character is good at noticing. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.

Science 12

  • Archeologist Studies where humans came from, how they developed and how they behave, working from what people left behind. Patient by training. Listed with anthropologists. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Astronomer Studies matter and energy at the largest scale: stars, planets and galaxies. Listed with physicists. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Chemist Studies the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products or knowledge. Listed with materials scientists. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Epidemiologist A public health worker who investigates the patterns and causes of disease and injury. In a story, a detective whose suspect is an illness. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Forensic science technician Helps criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. The careful one in a mystery cast, who will not guess before the results are in. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Forester Manages the overall land quality of forests, parks, rangelands and other natural resources. Listed with conservation scientists. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Historian Researches, interprets and writes about the past by studying historical documents and sources. Typical US entry: master's degree.
  • Meteorologist Studies, reports on and forecasts the weather and the climate. Handbook title: atmospheric scientist. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Microbiologist Studies microorganisms such as bacteria, algae and fungi. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Physicist Studies how matter and energy interact. Listed with astronomers. Typical US entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Psychologist Studies how people think, feel and behave by observing and recording how they relate to each other and to their surroundings.
  • Zoologist Studies animals, in captivity and in the wild, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Listed with wildlife biologists. Typical US entry: bachelor's degree.

How this list was compiled: List chosen for this site. The duty sentence on each card summarises the Handbook's own summary of the occupation and stays close to it; the character notes are written for this site. Each job is an occupation profile, or a named job type inside a profile, in the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ (checked 2026-09-18). Job duties were checked on 2026-09-18 against the occupation group pages at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/<group>/home.htm for all 25 groups (architecture-and-engineering, arts-and-design, building-and-grounds-cleaning, business-and-financial, community-and-social-service, computer-and-information-technology, construction-and-extraction, education-training-and-library, entertainment-and-sports, farming-fishing-and-forestry, food-preparation-and-serving, healthcare, installation-maintenance-and-repair, legal, life-physical-and-social-science, management, math, media-and-communication, military, office-and-administrative-support, personal-care-and-service, production, protective-service, sales, transportation-and-material-moving) and, for job types inside a profile, against the What They Do section of these profiles: craft-and-fine-artists, curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators, animal-care-and-service-workers, grounds-maintenance-workers, fishers-and-related-fishing-workers, police-and-detectives, recreational-protective-service-workers, military-careers, railroad-occupations and water-transportation-occupations. 'Typical US entry' is the Handbook's typical entry-level education for the profile as listed on 2026-09-18; it is left off where the Handbook gives no single level or where the job is only one type inside a wider profile. The 16 fields fold the Handbook's 25 groups: Arts and design; Media and communication; Entertainment and sports; Architecture and engineering; Healthcare; Education and libraries; Transportation; and Science (Life, Physical, and Social Science) are single groups. Business, law and management joins Business and Financial, Legal and Management. Computers and math joins two groups. Construction is Construction and Extraction. Community and personal care joins Community and Social Service with Personal Care and Service. Food, farming and grounds joins Food Preparation and Serving, Farming, Fishing, and Forestry, and Building and Grounds Cleaning. Repair and production joins Installation, Maintenance, and Repair with Production. Protective service and military and Sales and office each join two groups. Two jobs sit where a reader expects them, not where the Handbook files them: Farmer or rancher (Management) and Baker (Production). No pay, job-count or outlook figures are used. Licence: Duties summarised from the text of the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ (a US government work in the public domain); the selection, the fields and the character notes are own work.