What jobs can wizards and witches do within the world of magic?

Question

This Cracked article reminded me of the reason why I asked this question.

What jobs were open to wizards and witches in the world of magic?

From crowd scenes at Quidditch competitions it seems that there are many wizards and witches out there but not many occupations are listed [in the books]. So that leads me to think either there are many jobs not listed or no one actually needs to work after they graduate.

To clarify I am not asking what Muggle related jobs there may be or even what jobs the Ministry of Magic has available. The books pretty much divide it into teaching, government, shop owner, reporter, writer and Quidditch player.

Answer 1

Employment options we see or that can be inferred:

• The Ministry. Employs a large percentage of witches and wizards in Britain.
• Hogwarts. Employs a score, give or take, of teachers and a few other staff (Filch, Mme. Pomfrey, Mme. Pince, at least).
• St. Mungo's. No idea how many they employ. I'd guess an absolute minimum of 50, probably closer to 100.
• Gringotts. Sure, most of the workers there are goblins, but Bill Weasley works for Gringotts, so they have some employees, even if they're all off-site.
• Shops. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of shops in Diagon Alley, and a dozen or two more in Hogsmeade. We only see the proprietors of most (except the twins' assistant), but there must be more.
• Supply Chain. Just like in our world, most shop owners don't make all their products. Even those who do (e.g. It's implied Olivander makes all his wands, the Weasley twins enchant all their own products) have to get the raw materials somewhere. I really have no idea on this, but I'd have to guess at least twice as many people as work in shops.
• The Service Industry. Somewhat surprisingly, we don't see this much in the books, but, e.g. caterers, personal assistants, whatever else people will pay another to do for them.
• Entertainment. This is so big I'll break it down a bit.
  • Press. The Daily Prophet, The Quibbler, the various wizarding wireless (radio) stations.
  • Bands. We see/hear several bands/music groups.
  • Quidditch. There are 13 quidditch teams in Britain, so 91 on the field, who knows how many substitutes, coaches, managers, owners, greenskeepers, ushers, vendors, announcers, and probably more categories I overlooked.
  • Authors. Gilderoy Lockhart, the authors of all the kids' textbooks, and other books in, e.g. the Hogwarts Library and the bookstore in Diagon Alley.
• Old Money. People, e.g. Lucius Malfoy, the Potters before they were killed, who have enough money they don't have to work.
• Housewives. And househusbands if you insist on gender equality.

And I'm sure there are fairly large categories I've missed. I don't think there's any shortage of jobs in the Wizarding World.

Answer 2

The article makes a distinction between Aurors and people who work for the Ministry of Magic but the Aurors do work for the Ministry. Since Cracked makes that distinction then I will as well. Here is a quick list of the different departments in the Ministry of Magic from HP Lexicon:

Department of Magical Law Enforcement

• Improper Use of Magic Office
• Magical Law Enforcement Squad
• Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office
• Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects
• Wizengamot and Wizengamot Administration Services
• Council of Magical Law
• Magical Equipment Control

Department of Magical Games and Sports Here you'll find not only the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters but also the Official Gobstones Club and the Ludicrous Patents Office.

Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes The Department operates teams which can respond at a moment's notice to a magical accident. These teams include:

• Accidental Magic Reversal Squad

Also referred to as the Accidental Magic Reversal Department in earlier editions of the book, this team is the first on the scene when a magical accident or catastrophe occurs. The team will include trained Obliviators to modify memories of Muggles on the scene.

• Invisibility Task Force

Although not specifically stated as being in this department, it seems logical, since this group casts various forms of invisibility magic to hide magical places and creatures from Muggle eyes (DP).

• Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee

This group is responsible for creating alibis and providing alternative (non-magical) explanations for magical accidents to pass along to the Muggles.

Department of International Magical Cooperation The dept. duties include: working with magical governments of other countries setting standards for trade creating regulations for things like cauldron thickness worked with Department of Magical Games and Sports on the Triwizard Tournament They also work with the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats International Magical Office of Law International Magical Trading Standards Body

Department of Magical Transportation

• Apparition Test Center
• Broom Regulatory Control
• Floo Regulation Panel/Floo Network Authority
• Portkey Office

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

• Office of Misinformation: Beast Division
• Centaur Liaison Office
• Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures
• Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau
• Pest Advisory Board
• Werewolf Capture Unit
• Werewolf Registry
• Being Division
• Goblin Liason Office
• Office of House-Elf Relocation
• Werewolf Support Services
• Spirit Division

Department of Mysteries

Committee On Experimental Charms

If you add in all of the support staff that any bureaucracy needs you have a lot of jobs.

If we add in Kevin's answer we have a lot of different jobs.

Answer 3

They also breed animals like dragons like Rons brother does, this might be a working branch, also they need lots of stuff (like plants) for their potions even if one could wonder if they actually use a lot, most wizards most be rentiers (people who don't work) not spending lots of inherited gold simply because they don't need to, they all kind of nobles. Also wizards own land which they may trade... But in fact muggles are probably doing must of the work like providing food because wizards can't create that. Most working wizards seem to work by the ministary of magic, which must have it's money from the British government, so again muggles provide food and wizards don't do much, they probably having so much politics, rivalries, wars simply because they are bored.