A list of professions is one of the most reliable tools in improv theatre: someone shouts a job and you are off. The more concrete the profession, the easier it is for status, posture, language, and conflict to emerge almost by themselves — a lifeguard speaks differently from a surgeon, a gondolier moves differently from an insolvency administrator. Use this collection as an audience suggestion, to hand a scene partner a clear character, in a warmup, or as a deck of impulse cards. It ranges from the everyday (baker, bus driver) through crafts and science (goldsmith, oceanographer) to curiosities (court jester, lighthouse keeper) — sorted alphabetically from A to Z.
A
- Acoustician
- Acrobat
- Actor
- Acting agent
- Adult educator
- Agronomist
- Air traffic controller
- Anaesthetist
- Animal trainer
- Antiquarian
- Apiarist
- Archaeologist
- Architect
- Archivist
- Army officer
- Artist
- Assembly line worker
- Assistant
- Astrologer
- Astronaut
- Astronomer
- Athletic trainer
- Attorney
- Au pair
- Auctioneer
- Audio engineer
- Auditor
- Author
B
- Babysitter
- Baker
- Ballerina teacher
- Ballet dancer
- Balloonist
- Bandleader
- Banker
- Bank teller
- Bartender
- Beekeeper
- Bellhop
- Bicycle courier
- Bicycle mechanic
- Biologist
- Biotechnologist
- Blacksmith
- Bodyguard
- Boat builder
- Book binder
- Bookkeeper
- Bookseller
- Border officer
- Boxer
- Brewer
- Bricklayer
- Broker
- Builder
- Building cleaner
- Building engineer
- Bus driver
- Business consultant
- Butcher
- Butler
- Buyer
C
- Cab driver
- Cafe owner
- Call centre agent
- Camera operator
- Caravan dealer
- Cardiologist
- Caretaker
- Carpenter
- Cartographer
- Cartoonist
- Cashier
- Caterer
- Cellist
- Cemetery gardener
- Ceramicist
- Chancellor
- Chaplain
- Chauffeur
- Chef
- Chef de cuisine
- Chemist
- Chief editor
- Chief physician
- Childcare worker
- Chimney sweep
- Choirmaster
- Choir singer
- Choreographer
- Cinema operator
- Circus director
- Circus performer
- Civil engineer
- Civil servant
- Civil service volunteer
- Classical singer
- Climate activist
- Climate scientist
- Climbing technician
- Clockmaker
- Clown
- Coach
- Coffee roaster
- Comedian
- Comedy writer
- Composer
- Computer scientist
- Concertmaster
- Concierge
- Conductor
- Conference interpreter
- Confectioner
- Construction worker
- Consultant
- Controller
- Cook
- Copywriter
- Cosmetologist
- Counterbassist
- Court clerk
- Court usher
- Craftsman
- Creative director
- Credit officer
- Criminal investigator
- Croupier
- Cruise captain
- Cultural journalist
- Curator
- Customer adviser
- Customs officer
- Cutter
D
- Dairy worker
- Dance teacher
- Dancer
- Data protection officer
- Data scientist
- Deacon
- Dealer
- Debate coach
- Decorator
- Delicatessen owner
- Delivery driver
- Demolition worker
- Dental hygienist
- Dental technician
- Dentist
- Deputy
- Designer
- Detective
- Diplomat
- Director
- Disc jockey
- Dispatcher
- Diver
- Documentary filmmaker
- Dog groomer
- Dog trainer
- Doorman
- Drain cleaner
- Drama teacher
- Driller
- Driving instructor
- Drone pilot
- Drummer
E
- Economist
- Editor
- Electrical engineer
- Electrician
- Electronics technician
- Elementary school teacher
- Energy consultant
- Energy technician
- Engineer
- Entertainer
- Entrepreneur
- Environmental consultant
- Environmental officer
- Escape room designer
- Ethnologist
- Event manager
- Examiner
- Executioner
- Executor
- Exorcist
- Experimental physicist
- Explorer
- Export merchant
- Extreme sports athlete
F
- Facade cleaner
- Factory director
- Factory worker
- Family counsellor
- Farmer
- Farrier
- Fashion designer
- Ferryman
- Figure skater
- Film director
- Film producer
- Finance minister
- Financial adviser
- Firefighter
- Fish merchant
- Fisherman
- Fitness trainer
- Flight attendant
- Florist
- Food delivery courier
- Food scientist
- Food technician
- Foreign correspondent
- Forensic pathologist
- Forester
- Forger
- Forwarding agent
- Fortune teller
- Foster parent
- Founder
- Freelance writer
G
- Gallerist
- Garbage collector
- Gardener
- Gas station attendant
- General
- General practitioner
- Geologist
- Germanist
- Glassblower
- Glazier
- Goldsmith
- Gondolier
- Graphic designer
- Grain merchant
- Grave keeper
- Groundskeeper
- Gynaecologist
H
- Hairdresser
- Handyman
- Harbour worker
- Harpist
- Hatmaker
- Head chef
- Head hunter
- Head of department
- Head of household
- Head of marketing
- Head of purchasing
- Head of sales
- Head of warehouse
- Health inspector
- Healthcare worker
- Hearing aid technician
- Heating engineer
- Herbalist
- High-wire walker
- Historian
- Hockey player
- Homeless shelter worker
- Homemaker
- Horse trainer
- Hotel manager
- House cleaner
- Housekeeper
- Human resources manager
- Humanities scholar
- Hunter
- Hypnotist
I
- Ice cream parlour owner
- Ice cream vendor
- Illusionist
- Illustrator
- Importer
- Industrial climber
- Industrial mechanic
- Industrial merchant
- Influencer
- Innkeeper
- Insolvency administrator
- Inspector
- Insurance agent
- Insurance broker
- Interior decorator
- Interior designer
- Internist
- Interpreter
- Investment banker
- Investment adviser
- IT administrator
- IT consultant
J
- Jazz musician
- Jester
- Jeweller
- Jockey
- Journalist
- Judge
- Judo instructor
- Junior boss
- Juvenile court judge
K
- Kayak guide
- Kindergarten teacher
- Kitchen hand
L
- Laboratory assistant
- Laboratory technician
- Labourer
- Landlord
- Landscape architect
- Landscape gardener
- Laundry worker
- Laundromat owner
- Lawyer
- Leadership coach
- Lecturer
- Librarian
- Lifeguard
- Lifestyle coach
- Lighthouse keeper
- Line judge
- Linguist
- Literary critic
- Lobbyist
- Locksmith
- Locomotive engineer
- Logistician
- Lorry driver
- Lumberjack
M
- Magician
- Maid
- Makeup artist
- Manager
- Mandolinist
- Marathon runner
- Marine biologist
- Marine engineer
- Market crier
- Market researcher
- Marketing director
- Marriage counsellor
- Mason
- Massage therapist
- Master chimney sweep
- Master of ceremonies
- Mathematician
- Mayor
- Mechanic
- Mechanical engineer
- Mechatronics technician
- Media designer
- Medical researcher
- Medical technician
- Merchant
- Messenger
- Metalworker
- Meteorologist
- Microbiologist
- Midwife
- Military officer
- Military police officer
- Milkman
- Miller
- Miner
- Minister of culture
- Minister of defence
- Minister of finance
- Missionary
- Model
- Monk
- Mortician
- Motor vehicle mechanic
- Motorcycle mechanic
- Mountain farmer
- Mountain guide
- Mover
- Museum curator
- Music manager
- Music teacher
- Musician
N
- Nail salon owner
- Nanny
- Nature guide
- Naturopath
- Navigator
- Nephrologist
- Network administrator
- Neurologist
- Neurosurgeon
- News editor
- Night watchman
- Notary
- Numismatist
- Nun
- Nurse
- Nursing home director
- Nutritionist
O
- Oboist
- Obstetrician
- Oceanographer
- Oenologist
- Office clerk
- Officer
- Oncologist
- Opera director
- Opera singer
- Operating room nurse
- Optician
- Organ builder
- Organist
- Ornithologist
- Orthopaedist
- Owner
P
- Packaging designer
- Painter
- Palaeontologist
- Pantomime
- Paper merchant
- Paramedic
- Park ranger
- Parking attendant
- Parole officer
- Party leader
- Passport officer
- Pastor
- Pastry chef
- Patent attorney
- Pathologist
- Pearl diver
- Pedagogue
- Pedicurist
- Personal trainer
- Personal assistant
- Personnel director
- Pest exterminator
- Pharmacist
- Philosopher
- Photographer
- Physical therapist
- Physicist
- Pianist
- Piano builder
- Piano tuner
- Pilot
- Pimp
- Pizza delivery driver
- Pizza maker
- Playwright
- Plumber
- Poet
- Police officer
- Political scientist
- Politician
- Pollster
- Porter
- Portrait painter
- Postal worker
- Postman
- Potter
- PR consultant
- Preacher
- Presenter
- Priest
- Prime minister
- Principal
- Printer
- Prison guard
- Private detective
- Private secretary
- Producer
- Professor
- Program director
- Programmer
- Prompter
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Publicist
- Publisher
- Puppet maker
- Puppeteer
- Purchasing agent
Q
- Quality inspector
- Quality manager
- Quantum physicist
- Quince farmer
- Quiz master
- Quiz trainer
R
- Rabbi
- Race car driver
- Race rider
- Radio presenter
- Radiologist
- Railway worker
- Ranger
- Ranger guide
- Real estate agent
- Receptionist
- Refuse collector
- Registrar
- Reporter
- Rescue swimmer
- Researcher
- Restaurateur
- Retailer
- Rhetoric coach
- Rickshaw driver
- Ringmaster
- Road builder
- Roadie
- Robotics engineer
- Roofer
- Rose grower
S
- Saddler
- Sailing instructor
- Sailmaker
- Salesperson
- Sanitation worker
- Scaffolder
- Scholar
- School secretary
- Scientist
- Screenwriter
- Sculptor
- Secretary
- Security guard
- Senator
- Server
- Set designer
- Sewer worker
- Sexton
- Ship captain
- Ship mechanic
- Shipbuilder
- Shoemaker
- Shopkeeper
- Sign language interpreter
- Silversmith
- Singer
- Singer-songwriter
- Ski instructor
- Sniper
- Social worker
- Sociologist
- Software developer
- Soldier
- Soloist
- Sommelier
- Sound engineer
- Speech therapist
- Speed skater
- Spice merchant
- Sports coach
- Sports manager
- Sports presenter
- Spy
- Stage director
- Stamp dealer
- Stand-up comedian
- State prosecutor
- Statistician
- Steelworker
- Stevedore
- Stonemason
- Storyteller
- Street cleaner
- Street musician
- Streetworker
- Stuntman
- Submarine captain
- Subway driver
- Sumo wrestler
- Superstar
- Surf instructor
- Surgeon
- Surveyor
- Sushi chef
- Swimming instructor
- Switchboard operator
- Sword swallower
- Systems analyst
T
- Tailor
- Tattoo artist
- Tax consultant
- Tax officer
- Taxidermist
- Teacher
- Technical journalist
- Technician
- Telecom service technician
- Telegraph operator
- Telephone operator
- Television host
- Television producer
- Teller
- Theatre director
- Theatre educator
- Theologian
- Therapist
- Thief
- Tightrope walker
- Tiler
- Tour guide
- Tourist information officer
- Tow truck driver
- Town clerk
- Toy maker
- Trade representative
- Train conductor
- Train driver
- Translator
- Travel agent
- Travel organiser
- Treasurer
- Truck driver
- Tutor
- Typist
U
- Undertaker
- University professor
- Upholsterer
- Urologist
- Usher
V
- Vagabond
- Valet
- Vegetable farmer
- Venture capitalist
- Veterinarian
- Vicar
- Video editor
- Videographer
- Violinist
- Virologist
- Visual artist
- Voice coach
- Voiceover artist
- Volunteer
W
- Waiter
- Waitress trainer
- Wandering journeyman
- Warden
- Warehouse clerk
- Warehouse manager
- Washer
- Waste manager
- Watchmaker
- Water polo player
- Water rescuer
- Watchman
- Weapons dealer
- Weatherman
- Web designer
- Wedding planner
- Welder
- Wellness coach
- Whaler
- Wholesale merchant
- Window cleaner
- Wine grower
- Winemaker
- Woodworker
- Writer
X
- X-ray technician
- Xylophonist
Y
- Yacht captain
- Yoga teacher
- Yoga therapist
- Youth court judge
- Youth worker
- YouTuber
Z
- Zookeeper
- Zoologist
- Zumba instructor
Tip: roll a die or ask the audience to shout a letter, pick one from the list, and the improv scene takes off.