Probably Stolen Starting Occupations: Every Start Compared
Nine starts are playable. Apprentice (550 Credits, 200 rent, extra Storage Bay) is the easiest; Rat Wrangler has the most cash (600). Gunsmith and Aquafarmer start with only 150, and Fence and Gunsmith pay 250 rent. Fence, Gunsmith, Chemist and Rock Bottom skip the Mentor tutorial.
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All playable starts
| Occupation | Cash | Rent | Key kit | Tutorial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | 550 | 200 | Extra Storage Bay; food and daily necessities | Optional |
| Water Merchant | 400 | 200 | Water tester, tablets, filter, worn portable Water Purifier, worn Bottle Printer | Optional |
| Fence | 450 | 250 | Smuggler’s Bay, 2 Dream Dust, heavy pistol, 3 keycards, Black Lamp | Skipped |
| Chemist | 300 | 200 | Worn Evaporator, chemical gear, scanner, mini smuggling stash | Skipped |
| Hydroponic Farmer | 450 | 240 | Worn Hydroponic System, nutrient tablets, 2 Nutrifruit + 2 Fillerweed seeds | Optional |
| Gunsmith | 150 | 250 | Gun printer, 4 guns, ammo, Class I firearms licence | Skipped |
| Rat Wrangler | 600 | 200 | Rat cage with feeder, 6 rats, knife, labeler, Immunity Serum | Optional |
| Aquafarmer | 150 | 240 | 2 worn aquaculture systems, a Tilapia pair, roe, fish feed | Optional |
| Rock Bottom | 0 | 200 | Nothing but the lease | Skipped |
Values are before starting perks, which apply last. Junker, Organ Dealer, Street Food Vendor, Moonshiner and Pharmacist exist in the files but cannot be started in the release build.
Which start should you pick?
| If you want… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| An easy first run | Apprentice | Most forgiving cash, normal rent, Mentor tutorial and extra storage |
| Steady production income | Water Merchant | Water Trading is unlocked from the start; water sells to almost everyone |
| Black-market trading | Fence | +30 Black Market and the Underground Exchange open, but −30 Security |
| A guns business | Gunsmith | Class I licence on Day 1, +25 Security — but only 150 Credits against 250 rent |
| Farming | Hydroponic Farmer | A working Hydroponic System and seeds; Retired Farmer referral unlocked |
| Animals | Rat Wrangler or Aquafarmer | Rats give the most starting cash; fish start with very little |
| A story with pressure | Chemist | Weekly cartel Dream Dust quota; missing it can end the run |
| The hardest challenge | Rock Bottom | 0 Credits and no equipment |
Recommendations are planning advice from the starting numbers, not tested win rates.
Start-specific notes
| Occupation | Unlocks and rules |
|---|---|
| Water Merchant | Water Trading project unlocked; Gutterflow (250) and Rustwater (350) taps still cost extra |
| Fence | Underground Exchange unlocked; Black Lamp attracts thieves selling stolen goods |
| Chemist | Cartel protection blocks normal theft and insurance; Security starts at −15 |
| Hydroponic Farmer | Retired Farmer referral unlocked; the System has two stuck Eco and two stuck Ruined modules |
| Gunsmith | Licence I needs Security 20 to keep; Security officers revoke it if standing drops below 0 / 30 / 60 for tiers I / II / III |
| Rat Wrangler | Retired Breeder referral unlocked; the rat-farming achievement is granted at start |
| Aquafarmer | Aquaculture project unlocked (Aquaculture II costs 1,200); Water Trading is not |
Read next: Chemist and cartel quotas · Rat ranching guide · Hydroponic System guide · Rock Bottom start
First-week habits for every start
- 01
Reserve rent first
Fence and Gunsmith pay 250 on Day 7; Gunsmith and Aquafarmer begin with only 150, so sell something early.
- 02
Use the kit before buying more
Run one full trading or production cycle with what you start with before expanding.
- 03
Starting stock is not cash
Do not count starting inventory as guaranteed income until it actually sells.
Read next: Rent by difficulty · Starting perks
Common questions
What is the best starting occupation in Probably Stolen?
For a first run, Apprentice: 550 Credits, 200 rent, an extra Storage Bay and the full Mentor tutorial. Water Merchant is a strong production start.
Which occupations skip the tutorial?
Fence, Gunsmith, Chemist and Rock Bottom skip the Mentor intro.
Can I play Junker or Moonshiner?
No. They exist in the game files but cannot be started in the release build.
Sources & version notes
Community game-data research (static, not in-game tested). Sources reviewed November 2, 2026. This guide does not claim an independent in-game test.
- Nico Wiki: starting occupations
Occupation list, starting cash, rent and availability.
- Nico Wiki: Fence
Kit and ±30 reputation modifiers.
- Nico Wiki: Gunsmith
Kit, licence and revocation lines.
- Nico Wiki: Water Merchant
Kit and Water Trading unlock.
- Nico Wiki: Hydroponic Farmer
Kit and seeds.
- Nico Wiki: Aquafarmer
Kit and Aquaculture unlock.
- Nico Wiki: Rat Wrangler
Kit and achievement.
- Nico Wiki: Apprentice
Kit and starting cash.