The Sims 4, jobs play a vital role in shaping Sim’s life, earning, unlocking new relations, and affecting their daily routine. Whether Sim plans to develop into a prominent actor, a competent scientist, or a high powered business leader, the right career path can make all the distinction.
How Careers Work in The Sims 4

Careers in The Sims 4 fall into three categories:
- Traditional Careers – These require Sims to leave the house for work.
- Active Careers (from Expansion Packs) – Sims must travel to work and complete specific tasks (Get to Work careers like Detective, Doctor, and Scientist).
- Freelance & Work-From-Home Careers – These allow Sims to earn money from home, such as Freelancers, Influencers, and Writers.
Your Sim’s career progress depends on:
✅ Job Performance – Completing daily tasks, maintaining a good mood, and building the required skills.
✅ Promotion Requirements – Leveling up specific skills and networking with coworkers.
✅ Work Mode Choices – You can set your Sim to “Work Hard” for better performance or “Take It Easy” to reduce stress.
Now, let’s explore the best career paths for different playstyles!
Best Careers for High Salaries 💰
If you want your Sim to earn a fortune, these careers offer the highest salaries:
Astronaut (Interstellar Smuggler Branch) 🚀

💰 Top Salary: §14,868/week
🎓 Required Skills: Fitness, Rocket Science
📌 Why It’s Great: High pay, cool space interactions, and the ability to build rockets.
Doctor (Get to Work Expansion) 🏥

💰 Top Salary: §13,920/week
🎓 Required Skills: Logic, Handiness
📌 Why It’s Great: Active career with hospital gameplay, delivering babies, and curing Sims.
Style Influencer (Trendsetter Branch) 🎨

💰 Top Salary: §12,000+/week
🎓 Required Skills: Charisma, Painting, Writing
📌 Why It’s Great: Work-from-home flexibility and social media interactions.
Business (Investor Branch) 📈

💰 Top Salary: §12,992/week
🎓 Required Skills: Charisma, Logic
📌 Why It’s Great: High salary and stock investment interactions.
Scientist (Get to Work Expansion) 🧪

💰 Top Salary: §11,115/week
🎓 Required Skills: Logic, Mischief, Handiness
📌 Why It’s Great: Fun lab experiments, building inventions, and even creating a SimRay that can freeze Sims!
💡 Money Tip: Some part-time jobs (like Odd Jobs or Freelancing) can earn more than traditional careers when used creatively.
Best Work-From-Home & Freelance Careers 🏠
If you prefer flexible schedules, try these careers:
Freelancer (Base Game) ✍️

💰 Potential Salary: Varies (up to §5,000+ per gig)
🎓 Required Skills: Writing, Programming, Painting, Photography
📌 Why It’s Great: Work at your own pace, take on gigs, and choose from Freelance Artists, Writers, Programmers, or Fashion Photographer.
Social Media (Public Relations or Internet Personality Branch) 📱

💰 Top Salary: §10,560/week
🎓 Essential Skills: Charisma, Comedy, Mischief
📌 Why It’s Great: Earn cash from home by livestreaming, acquiring followers, and advancing brands.
Writer (Author Branch) 📖

💰 Top Salary: §8,000+/week
🎓 Required Skills: Writing
📌 Why It’s Great: Earn a passive income from publishing books, making money even after retirement!
💡 Pro Tip: Combine the Writer’s career with the Painting or Photography skill to create multiple income streams.
Best Careers for Fun Gameplay 🎭
If you want careers that add unique experiences to your game, try these:
Actor (Get Famous Expansion) 🎬

💰 Potential Salary: Varies based on gigs
🎓 Required Skills: Charisma, Acting
📌 Why It’s Great: Join Plumbob Pictures, audition for gigs, and star in commercials, TV shows, or movies!
Detective (Get to Work Expansion) 🚔

💰 Top Salary: §13,260/week
🎓 Required Skills: Logic, Charisma
📌 Why It’s Great: Solve crimes, interrogate suspects, and arrest criminals in this active career.
Conservationist (Island Living Expansion) 🌊

💰 Top Salary: §9,000+/week
🎓 Required Skills: Logic, Charisma, Fitness
📌 Why It’s Great: Help clean up Sulani, save marine life, and witness the island change over time!
How to Succeed in Any Career 🚀
Here are the best tips for fast promotions and career success:
Complete Daily Tasks 📌
Each career has a daily task (e.g., Practice Writing for Writers, Study Opponents for Athletes). Completing these speeds up promotions.
Level Up Required Skills 🎓
Check the Career Panel to see which skills are needed for promotion. Use Skill Cheats if you want to max them instantly:
📌 Example: stats.set_skill_level Major_Logic 10
Keep Your Sim in a Good Mood 😊

Different careers require different ideal moods:
- Focused – Best for Science, Programming, and Business careers.
- Inspired – Best for Writing, Art, and Music careers.
- Confident – Best for Acting, Politics, and Sales jobs.
Use Lot Traits to boost moods! (e.g., Home Studio helps artists).
Network with Coworkers 🤝
Building friendships with coworkers increases job performance and may unlock work bonuses.
Use Career Cheats for Instant Promotions 💼

Type careers.promote [career name] in the cheat console to level up instantly.
📌 Example: careers.promote scientist – Promotes your Sim in the Scientist career.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right career in The Sims 4 depends on your playstyle—whether you want high salaries, work-from-home flexibility, or fun gameplay interactions.
By maximizing skills, maintaining good moods, and using cheats when needed, your Sim can reach the top of their career fast!
What’s your favorite career in The Sims 4? Let us know in the comments! 🎮✨