Best Occupations in Project Zomboid, ranked

As we draw ever closer to the release of Build 42, more and more players are looking to hop into Project Zomboid. This means plenty of opportunities for build-crafting and role-playing, starting with Occupations. Choosing whether you’re a Chef, a Lumberjack, or a Police Officer is pretty important, after all.

I’ve already explained how your character’s starting Traits, Occupations, and skills are really just the baseline of what you’ll get out of them in Knox Country. Yet, this baseline is what’ll help keep you alive in the early stages of the game, and it’s important to understand what your best options are. Further, different Occupations come with varying amounts of Trait points to spend right off the bat, so that’s another thing to keep in mind.

Down below, you’ll find my list of the very best Project Zomboid Occupations, which will help you make the most of your humble starting survivor.

Top 10 best Occupations to choose in Project Zomboid

Something to keep in mind about Project Zomboid‘s Occupations is that the majority of them modify your starting bonus Trait points. Most of them make it so that you’ll have to take up Negative Traits to balance out the Occupation’s default perks. In some cases, however, as with the Carpenter, you’ll get a few bonus Trait points to spend on stuff you deem valuable.

An easy way of avoiding this entire decision-making shindig is to go with the Unemployed Occupation, which gives you no starting boons but kicks you off with eight whole Trait points to spend however you see fit. I won’t recommend this to newcomers, however, because stacking up early experience in certain important skills is difficult, and you’d be better served by one of the Occupations featured below instead.

#10: Security Guard (-2 starting Trait points)

• +1 Lightfooted
• +2 Sprinting

Though it’s fairly straightforward and easy to balance out, the Security Guard’s ability to move quickly and the Night Owl Trait make them an excellent neither-here-nor-there type of Occupation. The Security Guard specializes in nothing, but they do make it easy to survive longer early on, letting you specialize in using books and other learning materials.

#9: Electrician (-4 starting Trait points)

• +3 Electrical

Though it may seem less important than most other Occupations on this list, the Electrician’s level 3 Electrical Skill grants them immediate access to vehicle hot-wiring, generator operation, and a wealth of related recipes for crafting. Sure, you’ll still need to work out your baseline survival skills, but electronics will be a breeze even early on.

#8: Lumberjack (0 starting Trait points)

• +2 Axe
• +1 Strength

The Lumberjack’s capabilities may well surprise you at a glance, but this Occupation is an excellent choice for newbies due to its potency with axes, improved melee capabilities in general, and a higher carrying capacity. Further, the Lumberjack’s Axe Man Trait makes axe-swinging even faster and gets your character faster at chopping down trees.

#7: Repairman (-4 starting Trait points)

• +1 Carpentry
• +2 Maintenance
• +1 Short Blunt Weapons

The Repairman is one of my personal favorites due to the Occupation’s propensity to keep all of my gadgets, guns, and gear in working condition. Maintenance is very important if you don’t want to waste valuable tools, and Carpentry lets you build stuff really quickly.

#6: Fire Officer (0 starting Trait points)

• +1 Axe
• +1 Fitness
• +1 Sprinting
• +1 Strength

A more versatile take on the Lumberjack Occupation, the Fire Officer is even more capable overall at the cost of losing the Axe Man Trait. With improved Fitness and Strength, in particular, your character will be a solid performer across the board.

#5: Mechanic (-4 starting Trait points)

• +3 Mechanics
• +1 Short Blunt Weapons

The Mechanic is a must-have Occupation for players interested in vehicles. A high level in Mechanics is handy all on its own, but the unique Amateur Mechanic Trait also grants your character the ability to repair all vehicle types right off the bat. Throw in some fancy new vehicle mods for good measure, and you’ll never leave your garage except on supply runs.

#4: Veteran (-8 starting Trait points)

• +2 Aiming
• +2 Reloading

The Veteran doesn’t really have an interesting gimmick to them in the same way that the Mechanic or the Lumberjack do. They are, however, extremely capable when it comes to killing zombies due to their Desensitized Trait, which prevents panicking. A solid go-to for those who don’t want to specialize all that much and want to use guns. Reloading, in particular, can be a pain to level up early, and the Veteran stacks up solid experience in this regard.

#3: Carpenter (+2 starting Trait points)

• +3 Carpentry
• +1 Short Blunt Weapons

Want to build stuff? The Carpenter Occupation should be your primary choice, if so! Carpentry is of extreme importance for players looking to settle down and establish a base, and having it at level 3 on day one is a huge boon. Barricades, better-looking furniture, and even entirely new structures are all on the table if your character is a Carpenter.

#2: Park Ranger (-4 starting Trait points)

• +1 Axe
• +1 Carpentry
• +2 Foraging
• +2 Trapping

The Park Ranger’s wide range of useful skills is already an excellent choice for survivalist characters looking to be out and about, but it’s going to be even more popular after Build 42 hits. Namely, with B42, Project Zomboid‘s inter-city wilderness will be brimming with animals and foraging opportunities, and the Park Ranger is positioned to be the perfect choice to leverage these resources. The Park Ranger can also move much more quickly through the underbrush, making it easier to lose the undead if push comes to shove.

#1: Burglar (-6 starting Trait points)

• +2 Lightfooted
• +2 Nimble
• +2 Sneaking

The Burglar is an excellent Occupation simply due to how versatile it is. Not only is sneaking around Knox Country way easier with this kind of character, but they can also hotwire vehicles from the get-go. You also kick off your run with a crowbar and a propensity to use it, making your new Burglar a powerhouse in the early stages of the game. Access to solid stealth options and motorized vehicles immediately opens up the whole map, making it easier to survive for long periods of time.

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