Myrh Professions

== Basic Information ==
The following lists are of occupations appropriate to the Medieval and early Renaissance eras, particularly in Europe.
It's worth noting that during the Middle Ages, having a job was not strictly necessary. Yes, you needed some sort of income, but that didn't always mean you had to work at a single profession. Nobility could often get away with just owning enough land to provide for their households - and leave the actual working of the land to their servants. Yeoman might have a bit of land they work - not to get rich, but just to provide for the daily needs of themselves and their family. Commoners might have a few jobs each, and switch between them by season or as demand comes up - see Grain-based Local Currency for a discussion of how this works. The traveling life is also quite common in the era, with people going where the jobs are this month, and living lightly as a result.
On the other hand, some kingdoms in the era have established a system of Monopoly by Royal Decree which may make certain professions illegal unless you happen to be working for/with a particular nobleman who owns the contract on that industry. Between that and Trade Guilds (and the various laws stemming from them), it's always a good idea to a make a few inquiries before you set up shop in a new town.
Note: Most of the links below are currently dead. Links in Red do not have pages yet, and clicking on them will make a new empty page. Links in Blue go to an actual existing page, most of which have useful material for gaming.
Category 	Sub-Category 	Specific Occupations 	See Also
Agriculture 	Farmer 	ackerman, cowherd, crofter, dairymaid, dung carter, farmer, Freibauer, gardener, goatherd, hawker, hayward, Herder, horse trainer, ostler, Peasant, plowman, reaper, Serf, sheepshearer, shepherd, swineherd, thresher, tillerman, Vintner, Woodcutter, woolcomber, woolman, Yeoman 	merchant and craftsman (below)
Agriculture 	Hunter 	climmer, falconer, fewterer, forester, fowler, gamekeeper, hawker, hunter, huntsman, master of hounds, molecatcher, parker, rat catcher, sperviter, trapper 	merchant and craftsman (below)
Aquaculture 	fisherman 	fisherman, leech-collector, oyster raker, oysterer, seaweed harvester 	merchant (below)
Artist 	Visual Art 	Artist, artisan, artist's model, fresco painter, glasspainter, illuminator, limner, painter, sculptor 	craftsman (below)
Artist 	Literary Art 	Artist, composer, illuminator, limner, playwright, poet, writer 	entertainer (below)
Craftsman 	Most common types in Paris in 1292, in order from most to least common	shoemaker, furrier, tailor, jeweler, pastrycook, mason, carpenter, weaver, chandler, cooper, baker, scabbard maker, hatmaker, saddler, chicken butcher, purse maker, meat butcher, buckle maker, blacksmith, roofer, locksmith, ropemaker, tanner, rugmaker, harness maker, bleacher, cutler, glover 	Source: Magic Jar [1]
Craftsman 	Leatherworker 	bottelier, cobbler, cordwainer, currier, girdler, lorimer, malemaker, saddler, scabbard maker, shoemaker, tanner, thonger, vaginarius, 	
Craftsman 	Armorer or Weaponsmith 	armorsmith, arrowsmith, blacksmith, bladesmith, bowyer, fletcher, grinder (occupation), gunsmith, gunstocker, knifesmith, lancier, linen-armorer, mailmaker, merchant taylor, poleturner, scythesmith, stringer, swordsmith, vaginarius, weaponsmith 	
Craftsman 	Smith 	Blacksmith, blacksmith's striker, brightsmith, bronzefounder, buckle maker, coppersmith, farrier, foundryman, goldbeater, knifesmith, locksmith, redsmith, scythesmith, silversmith, smelter, smith, swordsmith, spooner, spurrer, tinker, tinsmith, Weaponsmith 	
Craftsman 	Miscellaneous 	accoutrement maker, alabasterer, architect, arkwright, Artisan, Baker, balancemaker, basketmaker, beekeeper, beerbrewer, bellfounder, bellmaker, besom maker, billier, bleacher, blockcutter, bodger, bog iron hunter, bonecarver, bookbinder, bookprinter, brazier (occupation), brewer, bricker, bricklayer, broderer, broom-dasher, brushbinder, builder, Butcher, buttonmaker, cabinetmaker, Calligrapher, campaner, canvasser, carder, cardmaker, Carpenter, Cartographer, cartwright, chainmaker, chandler, charcoalburner, cheesemaker, chicken butcher, clockmaker, clothier, coiner, combmaker, compasssmith, confectioner, Cooper, corsetier, cutler, delver, diamantaire, disher, draper, drycooper, drywaller, dyer, embroiderer, engraver, fabricshearer, feltmaker, fewtrer, fuller, furniture maker, furrier, gemcutter, gilder, glassblower, glazier, glover, gravedigger, grinder (occupation), Guild Master, hacker, harness maker, hatmaker, hatter, horner, ivorist, Jeweler, joiner, knacker, knapper, lacemaker, lampwright, lanternmaker, lapidary, latoner, leadworker, limeburner, limner, linen-armorer, linener, linenspinner, lutemaker, luthier, mailer, mapmaker, marler, marleywoman, Mason, master builder, meat butcher, Miller, milliner, miner, miniaturist, minter, mintmaster, moneyer, mirrorer, nailmaker, nedeller, netmaker, oilmaker, papermaker, parchmenter, pasteler, pattenmaker, Perfumer, pewterer, physician, pinmaker, plasterer, plattner, plumber, pointer, pot mender, potter, printer, purser, purse maker, quarryman, quilter, rectifier, reedmaker, roofer, roper, ropemaker, rugmaker, rugweaver, sailmaker, saltboiler, salter, sawyer, seamstress, shingler, shipwright, siever, silkmaid, silk-dresser, silk-maker, silk-mercer, silk-dyer, silk-carder, Spinner/spinster, stonecarver, stonecutter, Stonemason, tailor, tallowchandler, tapestrymaker, tapicer, tasseler, tenter, thacker, threadmaker, tile-burner, tile-theeker, tile maker, treen maker, turner, typefounder, upholder, vintner, waxchandler, Weaver, webber, wheeler, wheelwright, wiredrawer, woodcarver, woodcutter, woodturner	The ranks of a Guild: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master Craftsman, Guild Syndic - and any of these professions may be assisted by various grades of unguilded labourer.
Criminal 	Thief 	Bandit, Boothaler, Burglar, Charlatan, Conman, Cutpurse, Diver (criminal), Fence (criminal), Footpad, Pickpocket, Poacher, Quack, Shill, Silk-snatcher, Thimblerigger 	
Criminal 	Prostitute 	Bawd, Camp Follower, Courtesan, Prostitute, Stewsman, 	
Entertainer 	Musician 	Bard, fiddler, harper, jongleur, lutenist, Meistersinger, minnesinger, Minstrel, Musician, nakerer, piper, Singer, 	
Entertainer 	 	Actor, Bard, barker, bear-ward, Dancer, fool, Jester, Juggler, mummer, player (actor), playwright, Poet, Skald, Storyteller, Trobairitz, Troubadour, tumbler 	Commedia dell'arte
Government 	 	Ale-Conner, Bailiff, Captain of the Guard, Castellan, Catchpole, Chamberlain, Chancellor, Chancery Clerk, Cofferer, Coin-Stamper, Constable, Coroner, Diplomat, Emperor, Exchequer, Hayward, Herald, Jailer, Judge, Keeper of the Privy Seal, Keeper of the Rolls, Keeper of the Wardrobe, King, Knight, Lady, Landed Gentry, landlord, Liner, Lord High Steward, marshal, Master of the Revels, Pinder, Noble, Nobleman, Prince, Pursuivant, Reeve, Seneschal, Sheriff, Steward, Summoner (law), Tax Collector, Toll Keeper, Town Crier, Treasurer, Watchman, Woodward 	List of Noble Titles, Standard Royal Court
Government 	standard Noble Ranks, in order from most to least powerful: 	Emperor/Empress, King/Queen, Archduke/Archduchess, Prince/Princess, Marquess, Count/Countess, Viscount/Viscountess, Baron/Baroness, Baronet/Baronetess, Knight/Dame, Esquire 	List of Noble Titles, Standard Royal Court
Medicine 	 	alchemist, apothecary, barber-chirurgeon, chirurgeon, cunning man, doctor, leech, leech-collector, midwife, nurse, pissprophet, sawbones, surgeon, toad doctor, wise woman 	the healer, humorism, traditional medicine
Merchant 	 	acater, alewife, apothecary, banker, beer seller, bog iron hunter, boothman, chapman, collier, colporteur, costermonger, drover, eggler, fishmonger, fruiterer, fruitier, fueller, glass seller, greengrocer, grocer, Guild Master, harberdasher, hay merchant, hetheleder, innkeeper, ironmonger, lighterman, linen-draper, mercer, milkmaid, oil merchant, old-clothes dealer, oynter, peddler, pie seller, plumer, poulter, ragpicker, shrimper, skinner, spice merchant, spicer, stationer, taverner, thresher, unguentary, waferer, waterseller, weirkeeper, wine seller, wood seller, woodmonger, wool stapler 	Intrepid Merchant, Shill
Military 	Soldier 	Arbalestier, Archer, Argolet, Bodyguard, Bowman, Captain, Captain of the Guard, Crossbowman, Drummer, Guardsman, Halberdier, Knifeman, Knight, Mercenary, Militia, Pikeman, Scout, Sergeant, Sergeant-at-arms, Spearman, Spy, Squire, Viking, Watchman 	
Military 	Siege Engineer 	Cannoneer, Pioneer (siege), Sapper, Siege Engineer 	
Military 	Officer 	Admiral, Captain, Captain of the Guard, Castellan, Marshal 	
Military 	Camp Follower 	Accoutrement Maker, Armorer, Bowyer, Camp Cook, Camp Follower, Cartwright, Fletcher, lancier, linen-armorer, knifesmith, Mercenary, merchant taylor, Pioneer (siege), poleturner, Prostitute, Sapper, Scout, Siege Engineer, smith, Spy, vaginarius, Weaponsmith, 	
Religion 	 	abbess, abbot, almoner, anchorite, archbishop, beadle, beguine, bishop, canon, cantor, cardinal, cathar perfect, chantry priest, chaplain, clark, clerk, colporteur, curate, friar, hermit , metropolitan bishop, monk, nun, ostiary, palmer, pardoner, parish priest, pilgrim, pope, priest, primate (religion), sacristan, sexton, summoner (law), Theologian 	Cathedral, Chantry School, Convent, Indulgence, Monastery
Sailor 	 	bargeman, boatman, boatwright, canaller, ferryman, Fisherman, hobbler, lighter man, mariner, navigator, Riverboat Pilot, Sail Maker, sailor, sea captain, ship's captain, shipchandler, ship provisioner, Shipwright, waterman 	
Scholar 	 	Alchemist, Amanuensis, Apothecary, Astrologer, Barber-Chirurgeon, Bearleader, Calligrapher, Cartographer, Courtesan, Courtier, Cunning-Man, Dean, Herald, Herbalist, Librarian, Mathematician, Poet, Philosopher, Professor, Quack, Scribe, Scrivener, Tempestarii, Theologian, Tutor 	
Service Industry	Most common types in Paris in 1292, in order from most to least common	maidservant, Barber-Chirurgeon, restaurateur, water carrier, laundress, porter, doctor, bather (profession), copyist 	Source: Magic Jar [1]
Service Industry	 	accomptant, accoucheur, accoucheus, accountant, actuary, Amanuensis, attendent, bagger, bailiff, Barber-Chirurgeon, barrister, Bartender, bath attendent, bather (profession), Bodyguard, bodyservant, butler, Camp Cook, Camp Follower, carman, carter, cartier, carver, castellan, ceiler, cellarer, chamberlain, chimney sweep, chirurgeon, clouter, Coistsell, cook, copyist, Courtesan, Courtier, cowherd, cup-bearer, currier, dairymaid, dapifer, ditcher, diver, doctor, dog trainer, drayman, dresser, dung carter, executioner, famulus, farrier, Ferryman, Fortune Teller, gardner, gentleman's gentleman, gong farmer, groom, Groom of the Stool, Guide, harlot, Herald, horseleech, hurdle maker, Innkeeper, lady's maid, laundress, lawyer, leech, Legerdemainist, link boy, link man, maid, maidservant, Messenger, midwife, miller, napier, nurse, panter, paperer (needlemaking), pavior, pavyler, pissprophet, Poet, porter, potboy, privycleaner, procurator, prostitute, quartermaster, rag and bone man, raker, Rat Catcher, restaurateur, riveter, royal food taster, sawbones, Scribe, scullion, scullery maid, seneschal, Serf, Servant, Sin-Eater, Smelter, solicitor, sperviter, Stablehand, Stabler, stainer, Steward, stillroom, surgeon, tapster, teamster, toad doctor, treadmill worker, trencherman, userer, valet, wagoner, waller, water carrier, wattler, weeper, wetnurse, Whipping Boy 	
Unemployed 	 	beggar, buffoon, housewife1, pilgrim, transient, squatter, urchin, vagabond 	
== Other Eras ==
Many RPGs are Fantasy games, and will use some blend of this list with one or more other lists.
* For eras before this, see List of Ancient and Classical Professions, or List of Tribal Professions. Either may be used for particular cultures or species within a setting, as it's quite common to depict some "barbarians" at the edge of The Empire.
* For eras after it, from Reformation to Colonial Era and Golden Age of Piracy, and into the start of the Industrial Revolution, see List of Colonial Era Professions.
* For more cinematic occupations, see List of Fantasy Genre Professions.
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