credit to Emma, Cams, Tooey, Jen, and many others
Careers (such as engineer or glassblower) start out with apprenticeships, as opposed to regular old jobs that you just work at, like barmaid or hostler. Apprenticeships are bought, start around age seven to ten, and progress from there to journeyman status, and finally to Mastery. Not everyone becomes a master of their craft, mind, but masters are the ones who get to set up shop and take on apprentices of their own.
Indentured service is another type of employment. That's where a child's family sells their child into service which lasts for a set number of years. Indentured servants are protected by law to a certain extent, but it's not the sort of law that's strenously enforced.
Casual work is also fairly easy to find in the city, along the lines of bartending, errand running, even prostitution. Keep in mind that, no matter the job, most people stay in one chose profession throughout their lives.
The List
This list has been split into two subheadings: legal jobs and slightly shadier jobs. If you're looking for a job for your rogue character, feel free to scroll to the bottom half of the list. A star next to your choice of profession indicates that it is overplayed, and you should choose another. An exclamation point indicates something the Steelsings RP has seen very few of.
Legal Jobs
Actor: One who acts at amphitheaters and such before the public, either for money or pure entertainment. See Player.
!Animal Handler: Goes around to villages, showing the villagers a variety of tamed animals. They also sell the creatures, and train wild animals.
!!Apiarist: One who operates beehives to produce honey and related products, such as beeswax.
Apprentice: A young individual studying under a Master to learn a specific trade. When the apprentice has reached a certain age or skill level, they move on to Journeyman status.
!Architect: One who is skilled in the art or science of designing buildings and other structures.
Archer: One who shoots their opponents/enemies with a bow and arrows. May also compete in archery tournaments where they try to win prizes. Note: This is not enough of an occupation to support a person in itself.
!Armorer: Those who make armor.
Artist: One who created and sold art for a living, either paintings or sculptures.
*Baker: Rarely make bread themselves; bakers owned ovens large enough and hot enough to cook bread in, so women would make their own dough, bring it to the baker, and have it baked into loaves.
!!Barber: Cut people's hair.
*Bard: One who sings songs and recites poems and lore, or performs on one or more musical instruments. Also known as a minstrel, and often seen traveling with a troupe of Players.
Barkeep: The owner of a bar; the bar may also serve as an inn. See also Innkeeper.
!!Barker: Someone with a loud voice who advertises things in a marketplace, often obnoxiously and as loudly as they possibly can.
**Barmaid: A woman who serves drinks in a bar. Some double as prostitutes.
Beekeeper: See Apiarist.
!!Beerseller: One who brews and sells beer in villages, bars, or just individually to thirsty buyers.
Beggar: One who lacks the funds for a house or food, who sits in a public place, begging passers-by for money. The lowest class of society, even worse than a servant.
**Blacksmith: An artisan who worked in iron, turning it into all kinds of things; nails, hinges, handles, weapons, ploughs, horse shoes, etc.
Bodyguard: One who guards others, often high-ranking people, for a fee.
Bookbinder: One who put the pages of a manuscript together to make a book. This job required precision, as remaking pages was difficult and time consuming because they were written by hand.
!!Bookkeeper: An accountant for a business or a noble.
Bowyer: Bowyers made bows from wood.
!!!Brewer: A brewer makes and sells beverages. Similar to a beerseller, but not limited to beer.
Brothelkeeper: A person, usually an older woman, who owns and manages a house of prostitution.
!!!Bucklemaker: Made buckles out of a variety of different materials.
!Builder: An artisan paid by the Crown to construct buildings, bridges, and other structures. Similar to engineers, but lower ranked and less respected.
!Butcher: One who sold meat and bought livestock to slaughter and sell.
Candlemaker: A craftsman who creates candles from melted beeswax and tallow (animal fat) around a fiber wick.
Candlestick Maker: This job, similar to a blacksmith, requires steady hands. From iron and other metals, they shape a base for a candle, which is sold separately. Candlesticks come in different shapes and sizes.
Capmaker: They made caps which were usually worn by the working class.
!!Cardmaker: Those who made cards, which were tools with wire teeth used to clean wool or cotton before spinning.
**Carpenter: They made things out of wood, such as houses, furniture, wagons and tools. They were often skilled in math, woodwork and the use of tools.
!Chandler: A dealer in candles, scented oils, soaps, paints, etc.
!!!Charioteer: The driver of a chariot, and sometimes the maker as well.
Chef: Note: not the same as a cook. A chef didn't work for the one person. They were hired by various people for special dinners and meals. Specialize in more exotic meals.
Cleric: A member of a clergy (a clergy is a body of ministers of the temples. They teach people the religious ways, and all about the gods and goddesses they worship).
Clerk: One who is employed to keep accounts, copy letters, keep records, etc.
Clothmaker: One who makes cloth by weaving, stitching, and embroidery.
Cobbler: One who makes, sells, and repairs shoes.
Cook: Someone who made meals, but only worked for low wages. Other than the winter weather, there was no refrigeration, so food was preserved in salt. Not the same as a chef.
!Cooper: A cooper made and repaired tubs and barrels for a low fare.
Cordwainer: A person who made shoes; see also Cobbler.
Currier: They worked with animal's hides, curing or tanning them.
!!Cutler: One who made knives and silverware.
Dairymaid: A maid who milks cows; the milk is then given to the maid's employer, who sells it or drinks it.
***Dancer: Usually a woman who is paid to dance before a person or audience, either privately or publicly. Could be considered a Player.
!!Dishwasher: Rarely known as a job name; a person who is hired by either a cook, or the people who hired the cook, to clean dishes, and repair them if necessary.
Distiller: Maker of alcoholic spirits.
!!Diviner: An expert in divination, or the practice of foretelling the future. Also see Seer. Usually scams unless they have the Sight.
**Draper: One who dealt with fabrics and sewing.
**Dressmaker: One who made dresses from a large variety of fabrics. See also: Tailor.
Drunkard: A person who spends his time getting drunk. Most, or all, of their funds are spent on ale of any kind. One of the lowest classes of society. Not a paying job.
Engineer: A tradesman who did things such as build bridges, expand/reinforce castle walls and build various equipment used for battle. Often dangerous, math skills necessary.
*Falconer: A person who trains and works with birds of prey.
*Farrier: Farriers inspect, trim and shape horses' hooves. They also nail the horseshoes made by blacksmiths to the hooves.
Fisher: A fisher was someone who fished for a living much like a farmer sold crops and livestock. Fish spoiled quickly, so it usually was sold for higher prices.
*Fletcher: One who made arrows for firing from bows.
*Florist: One who grows plenty of flowers, and then sells them for a reasonable price.
*Fuller: They made clothes, and also cleaned them.
Gambler: One who gambles for a living, often cheating.
*Gardener: One who keeps gardens tidy. Not only do they tidy a garden, they also plant gardens. Sometimes make herbal mixes which they sell that cure illnesses, add a nice flavour to food, and so on.
Girdler: A leather worker who made girdles and belts. They usually made them for the army.
!!Glassblower: Someone skilled in blowing bottles from molten glass.
Glover: A maker and seller of gloves.
Goldsmith: One who made and sold items made of gold, also could be a banker.
!!!Gravedigger: A person who is paid to dig holes in the ground to serve as graves.
Hatmaker: They made hats which were worn by people with any status. See also Milliner.
**Healer: Healed sick or injured people with the use of herbs and/or magic. Requires several years of training and apprenticeship. Read about Healers for more detailed information.
**Hedgewitch: A certain type of mage specializing in healing, childbirth, minor spells and little things. See the Art of Magictutorial for more about writing a Gifted character. Helver: Usually a man who is known to be a black or gold smith, who makes the hilts and handles of weapons and tools.
*Herbalist: One who deals in medicinal herbs.
**Horse Trainer: One who prepares horses for a rider. They train and breed horses.
!Hosier: Someone who sells stockings, gloves, socks and nightcaps.
*Hostler/Ostler: One who cares for horses and works as a stable man.
Hunter: A hunter is a man who pursues wild animals for food or sport. If they do not keep the game for themselves, they sell it.
!Illuminator: Someone who illustrates scenes or pages in books.
Jack-of-all-trades: One who can turn their hand to anything but who has no one special skill. As stated by the name, they can work in most, if not all, areas of trade.
Jeweler: A person who made and sold jewelry.
Journeyman: One level up from apprentice; a person studying in a particular craft, not quite at Master level but fairly advanced.
Kitchen Hand: They assist cooks in preparing and storing food and cleaning work areas. If no dishwasher is hired, a kitchen hand washes dishes and utensils.
Labourer: Paid money to repair or build practically anything; some also work fields with farmers or commoners. Usually work long hours.
!Leecher: A person who uses leeches to remove poisoned or bad blood or clears a wound. They also have the pleasure of amputations. They were good at science.
Librarian: A person who is appointed the head of a library. They make sure the books and texts in the library are in good condition, etc.
*Lister: A dyer, which was someone who coloured fabric before it was used in weaving.
*Maid: Maids could come in several varieties-- the lowest form was a scullery maid, who was a cook's helper and dishwasher. The highest class of maid is the lady's maid.
Mage: One who makes a living by their magical prowess; the Gift or the Sight. More about writing a mage character can be found in the Writing Gifted Mages tutorial.
Mason: A builder in and dresser of stone. They sold the stone statues and objects to nobles and commoners for average wages.
*Mercenary: A soldier who fights for money, rather than his own country. They often switch sides, fighting where the pay is best.
Mercer: A dealer in silk, velvet and such fabrics.
Merchant: A trader and dealer in foreign and local goods. They traveled around a lot, but were rewarded with decent profits.
*Midwife: A woman who helps a pregnant woman before birth, during and after birth. She makes sure the child and mother are well, and helps ease the mother's pain and nausea. She helps rid the home of evil spirits.
Milliner: One who is a maker of and dealer in women's hats, ribbons, etc.
Minstrel: See Bard.
Monk: A man who is bound to a temple and religion. Made vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience. Take care of their temples, pray to their gods and goddesses, teach others of their gods and goddesses.
Painter: They decorated towns for festivals and celebrations and required very little, if any, training. Selling artwork was another thing they did to earn money.
!!Parchment maker: One who makes parchment from the skin of a sheep or goat. The parchment is then sold to write on, or paint on.
!!Perfumer: One who makes and sells perfumes and scented oils.
!!!Pewterer: They make pewter (a mix of tin and lead and other metals) and meld it into various objects which they sell.
!!Pickler: One who preserves food in vinegar or salt brine, or sometimes with added sugar. This process prevents food from spoilage.
Pimp: A man who protected and supported prostitutes under his care. Also known as a souteneur.
!!Pinner: A pin maker.
!!Plasterer: One who uses linen or other fabric spread with medicinal substances for application to the body as a healing agent or protective support.
Player: One who acts (most commonly known as an actor), but could also be one who juggles, dances, sings, or does anything else for the purpose of entertaining others.
Potter: The craftsman who made ornaments, statues, cooking pots and other objects. Their work was valued, especially household items, because of their everyday value.
Priest/Priestess: A worshipper of the gods and goddesses; they work at temples and shrines. Unlike monks, priests take no vows of celibacy, poverty or obedience.
**Prostitute: A woman (hardly ever a man) who is paid by men (or women) for sexual services. They are lower class women, and can be distinguished by their dress, manner, speech and locale.
Saddler: Those who made saddles, bridles, horse collars and harnesses.
Scholar: A scholar is someone who has graduated from a university, and dedicates their life to writing books and documents.
**Scribe: One who formally makes copies of manuscripts, and performs several clerical duties. They can be hired by a person to write wills or important documents. Mostly used in temples and palaces.
Scrivener: A professional writer.
**Seamstress: A maker of womens' clothing.
Seer: A person who can see the future or prophesize what is to come.
Sellsword: Similar to a mercenary; blade-for-hire.
Shearman: Those who trimmed the cloth as it was manufactured.
Shipwright: Someone who built and designed ships. This job was usually very profitable, and shipwrights were in demand of kings and rulers because they could help in a war by building was vessels.
Silversmith: One who worked in the crafting and shaping of silver; similar to Jeweler.
!!Skinner: They dealt in animal hides.
Sledman: They made sleds and carts and wagons.
Soap Maker: A craftsman who made soap from animal fat, vegetable oil, and reactions from several chemicals.
Spicer: They dealt in spices, buying and selling and trading.
Spinner: Someone who spins fleeces or bats of carded wool into yarn.
Spur and Bitmaker: Someone who made spurs and bits.
Swordsmith/bladesmith: One who made and sold swords and other blades.
Tailor: Maker or repairer of mens' clothes.
Tanner: Someone who works to turn animal hide into leather. Very smelly.
Tapiter and Coucher: People who made and repaired tapestry and carpets.
Thatcher: They had the job of covering roofs in reeds or straw.
Tilemaker: One who makes tiles.
Tiler: One who lays the tiles made by tilemakers on floors of houses. They were paid low wages. Waterleader: Someone who transported and sold drinking water.
Translator: Someone who translates for others from one language to another.
**Weaver: Weavers made things like baskets, clothes and even furniture. For some it was just something on the side, but for the more fortunate it could make a decent profit, although this wasn't common.
Winedrawer: Someone who worked at a vineyard or taphouse. They drew wine from barrels and were able to taste it and tell its quality, age, and origin.
Woodcutter: A strong man paid to chop wood for fires and homes. Also kept pathways clear in forests and woods. Not very high pay.
Slightly Shadier Jobs
Remember, many illegal jobs can be combined with a legal profession to provide a cover for criminal activities.
*Assassin: One who kills people for money. Generally well-versed in all sorts of weaponry and combat.
Bandit: A robber, usually runs with a gang of fellow marauders. See also Highwayman.
Burglar: A kind of thief who breaks into houses or other establishments in the middle of the night with intent to steal.
Catburglar: Much like a burglar, but far sneakier. More agile, silent, and professional.
!Confidence trickster: Also known as conmen or conwomen. They earn the confidence of another person or persons through a false identity and then rip them off for all they're worth.
!Cutpurse: Similar to pickpockets, except they steal a person's purse by cutting its strings. Best for crowded areas.
Fence: One who receives and disposes of, usually by selling, stolen goods. Not to be confused with a smuggler.
Forger: One who forges documents; papers, letters, signatures. Must be literate.
Healer: Also a legitimate occupation, but there are healers who work for criminal organizations such as the Rogue.
Hedgewitch or hedgewizard: Again, a legitimate occupation that can be put to use for criminals.
!Highwayman: Sit on the roads and stop wagons and travelers to steal their goods. Often, but not always, found in groups.
Lockpick: One who picks locks.
*Mage: Like the abovementioned magical occupations, this is a legal occupation that can be turned to foul use.
!Master of disguise: Someone who specializes in the art of disguise, including costumes and makeup.
Mole: One who infiltrates another organization or setting and integrates themself with the people there in order to gain information.
Pickpocket: One who steals from others by taking money and goods directly out of pockets.
!Professional seducer: Similar to a whore, except that they generally either kill or injure their client post coitus and steal all their money. Aren't always paid for the sex, either.
*Thief: A very general word for someone who steals from others for a living.
!Smuggler: One who transports stolen or illegal goods from place to place, often across country borders or on ships.
Spy: Someone who specializes in the collecting of useful information without being caught or noticed.
Whore: Being a whore isn't actual an illegal occupation, but lower city whores are under the protection of the Rogue. A woman who has sex with other people for money.