In Project Zomboid, choosing an occupation is the first step when creating a character. Players can choose from a wide variety, each providing various benefits, different skills, and a number of trait points. Certain occupations may help players manage their moods, while others can help get a head start on more difficult-to-level skills. Overall, occupations offer a wide range of variety from character to character, so be sure to experiment with different builds.
What is an Occupation?
Occupations are starting classes or specializations that also serve as a character's backstory. Occupations can come with powerful, exclusive traits and provide a variety of starting points to spend. Each occupation comes with different starting skills, such as fitness or strength. Additionally, players can choose to start with a custom occupation to fully determine their starting build.
Occupation List
| Icon | Occupation | Skills | Traits | Starting Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksmith | +4 Blacksmithing +1 Maintenance +1 Short Blunt | Blacksmith Knowledge | -6 | |
| Burger Flipper | +2 Cooking +1 Maintenance +1 Short Blade | Keen Cook | 2 | |
| Burglar | +2 Lightfooted +2 Nimble +2 Sneaking | Burglar | -6 | |
| Carpenter | +4 Carpentry +1 Carving +1 Maintenance +1 Masonry +1 Short Blunt | - | -2 | |
| Chef | +2 Butchering +4 Cooking +1 Maintenance +1 Short Blade | Keen Cook | -2 | |
| Construction Worker | +1 Carpentry +1 Long Blunt +1 Maintenance +2 Masonry +2 Short Blunt | - | -2 | |
| DIY Expert | +1 Carpentry +2 Maintenance +1 Masonry +1 Short Blunt | Inventive | -2 | |
| Doctor | +6 First Aid +1 Short Blade | - | 0 | |
| Electrician | +5 Electrical | - | -2 | |
| Engineer | +1 Carpentry +1 Electrical +1 Masonry | - | -4 | |
| Farmer | +4 Agriculture +1 Animal Care +1 Strength | - | 0 | |
| Firefighter | +1 Axe +1 Fitness +1 Running +1 Strength | - | 0 | |
| Fishing Guide | +1 Butchering +3 Fishing +1 Foraging | - | -2 | |
| Fitness Instructor | +3 Fitness +2 Running +1 Strength | Nutritionist | -6 | |
| Lumberjack | +2 Axe +1 Maintenance +1 Strength | Ax-pert | 0 | |
| Mechanic | +4 Mechanics +1 Welding | Vehicle Knowledge | -4 | |
| Nurse | +3 First Aid +1 Fitness +1 Lightfooted | Night Owl | 0 | |
| Park Ranger | +1 First Aid +1 Foraging +1 Knapping +1 Carving +1 Trapping | Herbalist | -4 | |
| Police Officer | +4 Aiming +1 Nimble +1 Reloading | - | -4 | |
| Rancher | +1 Fitness +4 Animal Care +3 Butchering | - | 0 | |
| Security Guard | +1 Lightfooted +2 Running +1 Short Blunt | Night Owl | -2 | |
| Tailor | +4 Tailoring | - | 2 | |
| Veteran | +2 Aiming +2 Reloading | Desensitized | -8 | |
| Welder | +4 Welding | - | -4 |