Punk Rock Jobs

Punks hate The Man and love DIY projects. You know, "Eat the rich" and all that anti-capitalist stuff. But the truth is, when you start getting older, living in a squat or punk house with 7 other housemates starts to become less appealing to a lot of folks. (Hats off to the old punks who are still living in punk houses!)

Less housemates means more rent, which means the possibility of a full time job. Lame! So the transition goes, from bondage pants to business suites.

There's a great podcast (that no longer seems to be making new episodes) called Killed By Desk where punks interview other punks about their day jobs. It's a really cool format that lets you learn about different careers, but the people telling you about the careers aren't boring recruiters or whatever. They're cool people who might have played in a band you know and love.

I was curious to see what kind of jobs the 77 or so people that were interviewed on Killed By Desk held. So I made a little list and organized it by general category.

Are you a young punk looking for your first job? Take a look at this list and see what other punks ended up doing to survive (and thrive).

The Punk Jobs List

Arts and Entertainment

• Musician
• Artist
• Movie Theater Programming Director
• Record Label Stooge
• Music Archivist
• Producer
• Dialogue/ADR Editor
• Stage Actress
• Dancer
• Singer
• Magician
• Entertainer
• Comedian
• Actor
• Pop Radio DJ
• Cartoonist
• Podcaster
• New Yorker Cartoonist
• Retired Showman
• Video & Commercial Director
• Creative Director
• Film Director
• Professional Punk Rocker
• Record Label Owner

Business and Management

• Marketing Consultant
• Nonprofit Entrepreneur
• Marketing Designer
• Manager, Film Distribution
• Union President
• Entrepreneur
• Branding Executive
• Marketing Executive
• Facilitator & Organizer for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Representation

Skilled Trades and Craftsmanship

• Automobile Mechanic
• Knifemaker
• Cabinet Builder
• Furniture Maker
• Green Roofer
• Mechanical Insulator
• Trade Show Installer
• Stained Glass Conservator
• Tattoo Artist
• Coffee Farmer
• Warehouse Worker
• Senior Principal, Practice Leader of Interior Design

Health and Wellness

• Mental Health Coach
• Doctor
• Holistic Dentist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Veterinarian
• Yoga Teacher
• Pet Care Professional
• Flight Surgeon
• Office Technology First Responder

Education

• High School Science Teacher
• High School ELA Teacher
• High School Drama Teacher
• Teacher
• Educational Technology Director
• Athletics Coach
• Math Professor
• Library Technician

Media and Communication

• Writer
• Author
• Magazine Editor
• Copywriter
• Television Producer
• Journalist
• Filmmaker

Technical and Engineering

• BIM Coordinator
• Draftsman
• Broadcast Engineer
• Graphics Pre-Press Specialist
• Database Developer
• Sound Manager
• Audio Engineer

Hospitality and Food Service

• Bar
• Venue Owner
• Bouncer
• Beer Distributors
• Bar Manager
• Chef/Owner, Superiority Burger
• Vintner (wine maker)
• Food Co-op General Manager

Sports and Athletics

• Pro Wrestler
• Boxing Punch Counter
• Athletics Coach
• Martial Arts

Government and Politics

• SF Mayoral Candidate
• NY City Councilman
• Economist Joint Committee on Taxation

Transportation and Logistics

• Ride-Hail Driver
• USPS Mail Carrier
• Road Manager
• Senior Planner BART

Legal and Social Services

• Social Worker
• Adult Protective Investigator

Science and Research

• Research Scientist
• Arachnologist

Religious and Spiritual Services

• Unitarian Universalist Minister

Miscellaneous

• Retirees