History Main / StockSuperheroDayJobs

* [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara Zor-El/Linda Danvers]] (Supergirl). Cub photographer for San Francisco news channel KSF-TV Station in the early 70's, reporter for Catco Worldwide Media in the [[Series/Supergirl2015 TV series]].

* [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara Zor-El]] was a student advisor in the 70's.

* [[Characters/SupermanTheCharacter Clark Kent/Kal-El]] (Superman)
* [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Peter Parker]] (Spider-Man) is a freelance news photographer rather than a reporter, but he still has the connection to a news organization.

* [[Comicbook/AstroCity Asa Martin]] (Samaritan). Actually a fact-checker rather than a reporter, but still for a newspaper.

* [[Comicbook/SpiderMan Philip Urich]] (Hobgoblin)

* [[Characters/TheSentry Robert Reynolds]] is a reporter for an ''encyclopedia'', at least in ''ComicBook/AgeOfTheSentry''.

* [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]] (Batman)

* [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] (Iron Man). Although in most continuities, he does have legitimate credit as a scientist

* [[Characters/{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]] (Batgirl) in [[ComicBook/Batgirl2011 Post-Flashpoint-continuity]] and ''ComicBook/BatmanThrillkiller''.

'''Forensic Scientist [[Characters/TheFlashWallyWest Wally West]]:''' It's one way.

* Most of [[LegacyCharacter the]] [[Franchise/TheFlash Flashes]] have been affiliated with the police in some way or another, usually as CSI, but none as a full fledged officer.
* [[Characters/NightwingDickGrayson Dick Grayson]] (Nightwing)

* Comicbook/SavageDragon.

* [[Characters/TheMightyThorThorOdinson Thor]] spent some time as a paramedic.

* Comicbook/TheSpectre. Jim Corrigan and [[Comicbook/GothamCentral Crispus Allen]] are both big-city detectives. In between was [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]], previously a member of a galactic police force.

* [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm]] ([[Characters/FantasticFourTheFantasticFour Human Torch]]) was a firefighter for a time, which is ironic considering [[PlayingWithFire his powers]].
* [[Comicbook/{{Hawkman}} Katar Hol]] (Hawkman)

* Dan Garret (Comicbook/BlueBeetle), when he's not an AdventureArchaeologist.

* [[Comicbook/{{Vigilante}} Patricia Trayce]] (Vigilante)

* [[Comicbook/ElongatedMan Ralph Dibny]] (Elongated Man)
* [[Comicbook/TheSpectre Jim Corrigan]] (The Spectre)

* Zig-zagged with Characters/JessicaJones, who became a private eye after a ''[[DarkAndTroubledPast very]]'' [[DarkAndTroubledPast failed attempt at super-heroing]], but finds herself all too frequently (for her liking) pulled into super-hero related crimes.
* Jessica Drew, the original Comicbook/SpiderWoman (who was the inspiration for Jessica Jones).
* [[Characters/HawkeyeKateBishop Kate Bishop]], the second Hawkeye, goes into business as a private eye in her 2016 series, following in Jessica Jones' footsteps.

* [[Characters/DaredevilMattMurdock Matt Murdock]] (Daredevil)
* [[Comicbook/SheHulk Jennifer Walters]] (She-Hulk)

* [[Comicbook/ResurrectionMan Mitchell "Mitch" Shelley]] (Resurrection Man)

* [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Charles Bullock]] (Blackwing)
* [[Characters/BatmanHuntress Helena Wayne]] (Huntress of Earth-Two)

* [[Comicbook/{{Vigilante}} Adrian Chase]] (Vigilante). His sucessors Alan Welles and Dave Winston were a judge and a balliff.

* The Characters/{{Robin}}s, particularly [[Comicbook/Robin1993 Tim Drake]] before he dropped out of High School.
* The original Characters/{{Batgirl}} in most TV and film adaptations[[note]] though she was a college graduate when first introduced in the comics[[/note]], and [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie Brown]] in her own series.

* Most of the Comicbook/XMen were this in the beginning. Several of them have lasted long enough to grow up and become ''teachers''. Whether the institute is a full-blown SuperheroSchool or a mutant school where only ''some'' of them are superheroes depends on the writer.

* [[Characters/TheUnbeatableSquirrelGirl Doreen Green]] (Squirrel Girl)

* In ComicBook/UltimateMarvel, [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan Spider-Man]] and the [[Comicbook/UltimateXMen X-Men]] are teenagers. So is the [[ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour Human Torch]], but he doesn't go to school until the post-ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}} ReTool; prior to that, he's a Career Superhero.

* [[Characters/SupergirlTheCharacter Kara Zor-El]] again. In Pre-Crisis continuity she started out as a high-school student, but she grew up and graduated in the universe. [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 In]] [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Post-Crisis]] [[ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth continuities]] she remained a high-schooler.

* [[Characters/IncredibleHulkBruceBanner Bruce Banner]] (Hulk), when he's employed, is employed as one of these.

* [[Franchise/TheFlash Jay Garrick and Barry Allen]] (The Flash)

* [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards']] ([[Characters/FantasticFourTheFantasticFour Mister Fantastic]]) main source of income, besides Career Superheroing (q.v. below)
* [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Peter Parker]] ''again''.
* [[Comicbook/TheAtom Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi]] (The Atom)

* [[Characters/{{Morbius}} Michael Morbius]] worked as a hemato(patho)logist during one of his stable periods.

* Most of the Comicbook/XMen have been teachers at one time or another, since they have a SuperheroSchool.
* [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Susan Storm]] ([[Characters/FantasticFourTheFantasticFour Invisible Woman]]), during the "Wolf at the Door" arc.
* [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Peter Parker]] ''yet again!''

* [[Characters/BatmanHuntress Helena Bertinelli]] (Huntress) is an English teacher.

* [[Characters/SupergirlTheCharacter Kara Zor-El]] was a student advisor in the 70's.
* Ray Palmer (the Atom), specifically in the 90s ''Film/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' MadeForTVMovie, is a high school science teacher, rather than a brilliant university physicist.

* All the [[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]], particularly after ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006''.

* The Comicbook/XMen

* [[Characters/SupermanConnerKent Conner Kent]] (Superboy), especially in the Hawaiian years.
* [[Characters/TheFlashWallyWest Wally West]] (The Flash), especially during a brief period when he was on the outs with the Keystone authorities, and the city of Santa Marta literally ''hired'' him as their Official Superhero.

* [[Characters/VenomEddieBrock Eddie Brock]] (Venom), [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor when he's not a villain]]
* [[Characters/IncredibleHulkBruceBanner Bruce Banner]] (Hulk), most of the time.

* The ''Comicbook/{{Runaways}}'', since they don't go to school and are constantly...on the run.

* Comicbook/{{Spawn}}. It's easier to stay off the grid when you're undead.

* [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]]'s friend D-Man.

* The ''ComicBook/BatmanThrillkiller'' version of [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]].

If you happen to run a Fiction500 Company, then you've got a great position for a future in superheroics. You won't ever have to worry about money, and, as a busy socialite with few tedious day-to-day obligations, it's expected that you'd be out and about, enjoying life. If no one ever sees you, then they'll figure you just spend all your time out on the town, never suspecting that you really spend your time beating the crap out of criminals. Plus, if you act like a moron, [[ObfuscatingStupidity everyone will think you're too incompetent to be a hero,]] and if you're seen bolting the scene (to get in uniform, of course), everyone will just think you're a [[MilesGloriosus snobbish coward]]. It's the perfect cover--just don't expect to have a sparkling reputation. You'd be following such masters of social deception as:

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' and friends, at least before superheroing was outlawed. Played straighter in the sequel.

* All the [[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]], particularly after ''ComicBook/CivilWar''.

Let's face it, your basic superhero simply can't do without a day job these days. They may be strong enough to punch an EldritchAbomination [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu in the face]], but they've still got to pay the bills. And unless they're a already wealthy or the opportunistic sort, they're probably not going to be paid for their trouble. So, they have to do something else in order get by.

* [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm]] ([[Characters/FantasticFourTheFantasticFour Human Torch]]) was a firefighter for a time, ironic considering [[PlayingWithFire his powers]].

Here's a job with most of the perks of being a Policeman with much less restriction. Here, you don't have to worry about hours, tricking partners, or being accused of negligence. Your hours are yours to dictate, meaning that, as soon as you get a case, you can pretty much investigate as your hero identity any time you want. However, you've lost the ability to be in the know; unless you work closely with the police (or are willing to break the law in the name of good by snooping at their files), the only info you'll get will come from people who walk into your office, meaning that you'll probably only get a few cases a month. Of course, these will probably be incredibly interesting, especially once you make a name for yourself as a detective who can solve even the strangest cases. You'll start off as a gumshoe, but you'll have such role models as:

* [[Franchise/SailorMoon Michiru Kaiou]] is an art teacher in at least one continuity. Her teammate Setsuna Meiou works as a school nurse.

Let's face it, your basic superhero simply can't do without a day job these days. They may be strong enough to punch an EldritchAbomination [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu in the face]], but they've still got to pay the bills. And unless they're a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob or the opportunistic sort, they're probably not going to be paid for their trouble. So, they have to do something else in order get by.

So here's a handy list of jobs your typical superhero should consider when planning a career in heroics (if you somehow [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob don't need a job]]... lucky you):

!![[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob Busy Socialite]]

* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'': [[DemonSlaying Devil hunting]] is both a private business and a public service. Devil hunters are generally too inscrutable and , but Denji's job as the latter makes him into a CelebritySuperhero thanks to his HenshinHero abilities. [[spoiler:In Part 2, he decides to become a Student, as he wanted to finally attend school for the first time in his life. He has some shades of Freelance Bum, as he ends up the sole provider for himself and a young girl, but his school doesn't allow part time jobs, forcing Denji to scrounge money from odd jobs and scams. Denji wants to go public, though it's not clear if that's for financial stability or just to be famous.]]

Let's face it, your basic superhero simply can't do without a day job these days. They may be strong enough to punch an EldritchAbomination [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu in the face]], but they've still got to pay the bills. And unless they're a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob or [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Action_Comics_176_Muscles_for_Money.aspx the opportunistic sort]], they're probably not going to be paid for their trouble. So, they have to do something else in order get by.

* [[Characters/TheFlashWallyWest Wally West]] (The Flash)

** In one episode of ''Series/LoisAndClark'', he does one job disguised as a police officer or security guard.