Anyone who’s tried the deep and intricate world of Project Zomboid must know by now there are several occupations and traits one can choose from, although only a few are the best. With character creation being one of the most significant decisions in any match, even without mods, players need to think twice before diving into the zombie-infested world of the game. Thankfully, you can choose a few things to make your imminent death in this title more bearable.
[Updated on December 24, 2024: Added five new occupations to the list that include some of the changes in Build 42 and updated some images.]
The 10 Best Starting Occupations in Project Zomboid
Ever since the long-awaited release of Build 42 in Project Zomboid, there has been an influx of new traits and occupations that shake up how the early days of the apocalypse play. While some from Build 41 still remain strong, we’ve updated a few, as well as prepared some new ones to help you survive a little longer in Knox Country.
10. Construction Worker
Don’t let the name fool you, as this one doesn’t really help with building things faster in Project Zomboid; still, it doesn’t mean it is a useless occupation to grab. The great thing about this one is the large boost of +3 Short Blunt, which is quite useful if you’re using certain weapons of that category. Plus, the Carpentry bonus is also welcome but not the greatest of the bunch.
9. Chef
The best thing about this starting occupation is the Keen Cook trait, which provides knowledge of food recipes. You can start with a lot of recipes right off the bat and prepare some nice meals in these trying teams. It might not seem like the most powerful choice during the early portions of the game, but once you run out of canned food, you’ll love these dishes.
8. Livestock Farmer
One of the new occupations in Build 42 of Project Zomboid is Livestock Farmer, and it is quite fun. However, you either need to spawn at a farm or build one to make the most out of it. With huge boosts to Butchering and Agriculture, you can have an almost endless supply of food, as long as you don’t mind doing a bit of hunting and butchering your farm inhabitants. Nothing beats the smell of fresh bacon during a zombie-infested morning, right?
7. Fire Officer
It might be surprising for some to see this occupation so far behind on the list, but that’s because we believe the other “Officer” one is a bit better. The great thing about picking a Fire Officer is the boost in Axe skills, Fitness, Running, and Strength. When it comes to early-game occupations, this one is great, but most of the starting skills aren’t hard to level up, so it is better to pick other choices that include skills like Aiming.
6. Police Officer
Let’s start with those who want to live their Leon S. Kennedy fantasy in Project Zomboid with the Police Officer occupation as one of the best. This starting choice is fantastic for those who want to handle guns easier at the start of the game. Initially, it might be hard to find weapons and even a bad idea to use them too soon. They attract zombies and can even be counterproductive. However, knowing how to shoot will go a long way once you raid some of the game’s military areas. You’ll get minus four starting points, so we recommend grabbing All Thumbs and Overweight to even things out.
5. Park Ranger
This is ideal for those who want to live deep inside the forest. If you didn’t know, there are many ways to live off the land, and a Park Ranger can do so without any major issues. You’ll get points in Carpentry, Foraging, Trapping, and Axe, making it ideal for a forest survival playthrough. Sadly, you’ll begin with minus four points, meaning you need some negative traits. In this case, we recommend picking Slow Reader and Claustrophobic.
4. DIY Expert
You might assume that when the apocalypse hit, people abandoned their homes in pristine condition, leaving everything behind. But that’s far from the truth. As chaos erupted, people drained gasoline from cars and left homes in disrepair before making their escape. In Project Zomboid, the DIY Expert—formerly known as Repairman—is one of the most valuable occupations. It offers bonuses to Carpentry, Maintenance, and Short Blunt skills, making it ideal for players who want stronger melee weapons and the ability to build barricades. Plus, it comes with a handy perk: a -4 point cost. To maximize your build, consider taking traits like Disorganized and High Thirst. The latter won’t be a major concern early on since water supplies are plentiful during the first days of survival.
3. Engineer
Our favorite, even if it isn’t in the first spot, is Engineer. It only provides bonuses to Engineer and Carpentry, but it is super useful due to the recipes it gets. You can build traps and devices that you can’t learn from magazines, making this occupation a tinkerer’s dream. Furthermore, you get experience bonuses for the aforementioned skills, leveling them up much faster, and we all know how challenging it is to level up specific skills in the game. Overall, it is a great occupation that you should try at least once.
2. Burglar
Burglar has become a fantastic profession now that Build 42 is here. With the revamped stealth system, you can finally avoid zombies by sneaking around. Furthermore, the ability to hotwire vehicles as soon as the game begins is fantastic because you circumvent some of the usual skill requirements. It might not be the strongest in terms of combat, but since you’ll be avoiding the undead, you won’t have to worry about face-to-face encounters.
1. Carpenter
Lastly, we have Carpenter as the best occupation in Project Zomboid. When looking at the long run, you know the game will cut off electricity and water, and you’ll need to set a base to protect yourself. You should pick this one to make a sturdier base or even wall off a whole gated community. It starts with three levels of Carpentry and two starting points, meaning it is a perfect trade-off.
Recommended Traits for Any Playthrough
We couldn’t leave without mentioning some good and bad traits you should pick for any build. Here are a few we recommend for you:
Positive Traits:
- Inconspicuous
- Graceful
- Outdoorsman
- Handy
- Blacksmith Knowledge
Hunter
Negative:
- Slow Reader
- Overweight
- Pacifist
- Prone to Illness
- Weak Stomach
- Reluctant Fighter
Picking any of the above things will make things a lot easier, but remember, you’ll eventually die. Still, it is good to see how long you last and to let you live alone in this zombie-riddled county. Remember to pick the best occupations in Project Zomboid and a few useful traits.