Who Has Held More Jobs: Super Mario or Homer Simpson?

Two iconic characters who’ve both held countless jobs. I counted them.

Mario is a plumber. Even though I’m not sure anyone’s ever seen him doing any actual plumbing (other than sliding down pipes), he’s a known plumber.

Which is why a small nerd subculture was shocked — shocked! — when Nintendo recently updated Mario’s bio on the Japanese version of their website and declared he’s not just a plumber anymore.

All around sporty, whether it’s tennis or baseball, soccer or car racing, he does everything cool. As a matter of fact, he also seems to have worked as a plumber a long time ago…

And they’re right; Mario has branched out into so many other pursuits perhaps it IS reductive to consider him just a plumber anymore. Like, you wouldn’t just call OJ Simpson a football player anymore, right? Bad example.

As I was reading about Mario’s official bio change, it occurred to me he was now entering the territory of another fictional character known for his endless supply of random jobs: Homer Simpson. It’s even an ongoing joke on The Simpsons just how many different jobs Homer has taken on.

Believe it or not, no one’s ever put Mario and Homer head-to-head to see who has held MORE jobs. So I decided to devote way too much time to researching it and handling that very important tasks.

I compiled the full lists (below) of both of their jobs. I tried to include the first game/episode when they were seen with the job as well, although a few may be slightly off.

And the verdict is… Homer has Mario beat, but it’s damn close. Homer has held 147 jobs by my calculations. Mario has held 123 jobs.

Mario gets a big boost thanks to his athletic endeavors: I have him pegged as being a pro- or Olympic-level athlete in 49 different sports. And that’s with me only being somewhat generous. I could’ve padded it out even more by dividing some of those Olympic disciplines into more drilled down categories. (But even with full padding, he still would’ve fallen short of Homer.)

There are 14 jobs both Homer and Mario have done: Astronaut… babysitter/childcare… barber/hairdresser… boxer… chef… (Olympic) curler… fast food worker… farmer… firefighter… fisherman… inventor… pro/Mexican wrestler… soldier… and TV show host.

And I tried only to include jobs that could exist in reality, although I gave Mario things like “time traveler” and Homer things like “assassin” even though it happened during a Halloween episode. I didn’t include things like “father/husband” for Homer or “hero” for Mario. (Nor Mario’s costumes, like frog, Tanooki, etc.)

And now, on to the lists…

Super Mario’s jobs

1. Animal trainer, Donkey Kong Circus (Game&Watch)
2. Archaeologist, Mario’s Picross (GB)
3. Astronaut, Mario Party (N64)
4. Astronomer, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
5. Athlete, amateur wrestling, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
6. Athlete, archery, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
7. Athlete, badminton, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)
8. Athlete, baseball, Mario Superstar Baseball (GC)
9. Athlete, basketball (organized), Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS)
10. Athlete, basketball (street), NBA Street V3 (GC)
11. Athlete, biathlon, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS)
12. Athlete, bobsled/luge, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
13. Athlete, bowling, Mario Party (N64)
14. Athlete, boxing, Boxing (Game&Watch)
15. Athlete, crew, Parachute (Game&Watch)
16. Athlete, curling, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
17. Athlete, cycling, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)
18. Athlete, diving, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)
19. Athlete, dodgeball, Mario Sports Mix (Wii)
20. Athlete, equestrian, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)
21. Athlete, fencing, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
22. Athlete, figure skating, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
23. Athlete, football, Mario Party 8 (Wii)
24. Athlete, golf, Mario Golf (N64)
25. Athlete, gymnastics, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
26. Athlete, hammer throw, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
27. Athlete, hockey, Donkey Kong Hockey (Game&Watch)
28. Athlete, javelin, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
29. Athlete, judo, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
30. Athlete, jumper (long, high, triple), Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
31. Athlete, karate master, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
32. Athlete, motorbike, Excite Bike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium (Super Famicom)
33. Athlete, pole vault, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
34. Athlete, professional wrestler, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)
35. Athlete, race car/kart driver, Super Mario Kart (SNES)
36. Athlete, rhythmic gymnastics, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
37. Athlete, rock climber, Mario Party 3 (N64)
38. Athlete, rugby, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)
39. Athlete, runner/hurdler/steeplechaser, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
40. Athlete, shooting, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
41. Athlete, shot put, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
42. Athlete, skiing/ski jumping, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
43. Athlete, snowboarding, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
44. Athlete, soccer, Super Mario Strikers (GC)
45. Athlete, speed skating, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
46. Athlete, street fighting, Super Smash Bros. (N64)
47. Athlete, swimmer, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
48. Athlete, synchronized swimming, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)
49. Athlete, table tennis, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
50. Athlete, taekwondo, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
51. Athlete, tennis, Mario Tennis (Virtual Boy)
52. Athlete, volleyball, Mario Sports Mix (Wii)
53. Athlete, weightlifting, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
54. Attorney, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
55. Babysitter, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
56. Baker, Yoshi’s Cookie (NES)
57. Barber, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
58. Board game champion, Mario’s Game Gallery (Windows)
59. Breakdancer, Dance Dance Revoution: Mario Mix (GC)
60. Brewery worker, Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Game&Watch)
61. Car/bus washer, Mario Party 5 (GC)
62. Carpenter, Donkey Kong (Arcade)
63. Cement factory worker, Mario’s Cement Factory (Game&Watch)
64. Chef, Chef (Game&Watch)
65. Computer programmer, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
66. Construction/demolition worker, Wrecking Crew (NES)
67. Crane boat operator, Mario Party 6 (GC)
68. Criminal on work release/janitor, Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
69. Detective, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
70. DJ, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
71. Doctor, Dr. Mario (NES)
72. Drummer, Mario Party 3 (N64)
73. Farmer, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
74. Fast food worker, Mario Party 4 (GC)
75. Firefighter, Fire (Game&Watch)
76. Fisherman, Mario Party (N64)
77. Forest ranger, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
78. Gardener, Mario Party 6 (GC)
79. Grocer, Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! (Animated film)
80. Homemaker, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
81. Inventor, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
82. Juggler, Mario the Juggler (Game&Watch)
83. King, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
84. Lumberjack, Mario Party 2 (N64)
85. Mahjong player, Yakuman DS (DS)
86. Marine biologist, Octopus (Game&Watch)
87. Ocean salvage worker, Mario Party 2 (N64)
88. Office worker, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
89. Orchestral musician, Mario Party (N64)
90. Painter, Mario Paint (SNES)
91. Personal trainer, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
92. Pest control, Mario Party Advance (GBA)
93. Pharmacist, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
94. Photographer, Mario Party DS (DS)
95. Pilot, fighter plane, Super Mario Land (GB)
96. Pilot, paddle, Alleyway (GB)
97. Pilot, space, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
98. Pilot, submarine, Super Mario Land (GB)
99. Pirate, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
100. Plumber, Mario Bros. (Arcade)
101. Postal worker, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
102. Rapper, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
103. Referee, boxing, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out (NES)
104. Referee, tennis, Tennis (NES)
105. Rifleman, Yoshi’s Safari (SNES)
106. Safari guide, Mario Party 2 (N64)
107. Scientist (appears to be chemistry), Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)
108. Secret agent, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
109. Sheriff, Mario Party (N64)
110. Soldier, Vietnam, Mario’s Bombs Away (Game&Watch)
111. Student, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
112. Tank operator, Mario Party 5 (GC)
113. Theme park owner, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem (DS)
114. Thief, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
115. Tightrope walker, Mario Party (N64)
116. Time traveler, Mario’s Time Machine (SNES)
117. Toymaker, Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
118. Train conductor, Mario Party (N64)
119. Treasure hunter, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
120. TV show host, Super Mario Bros. Super Show (TV)
121. Typing instructor, Mario Teaches Typing (DOS)
122. Window washer, Mario Party 6 (GC)
123. Zookeeper, Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (DOS)

Homer Simpson’s jobs

1. Account executive, The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants (Season 23)
2. Acrobat, Goo Goo Gai Pan (Season 16)
3. Actor, film, Homer the Whopper (Season 21)
4. Actor, film voice acting, Angry Dad: The Movie (Season 22)
5. Actor, stage, Ned N Edna’s Blend (Season 23)
6. Actor, TV voice acting, The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show (Season 8)
7. Artist, caricaturist of open coffins, Springfield Up (Season 18)
8. Artist, conceptual, Mom and Pop Art (Season 10)
9. Artist, performance, Homerpalooza (Season 7)
10. Assassin, Treehouse of Horror XVIII (Season 19)
11. Astronaut, Deep Space Homer (Season 5)
12. Athlete, arm wrestling, Marge’s Son Poisoning (Season 17)
13. Athlete, boxer, The Homer They Fall (Season 8)
14. Athlete, curling, Boy Meets Curl (Season 21)
15. Athlete, Mexican wrestling, Jazzy and the Pussycats (Season 18)
16. Athlete, mountain climbing, King of the Hill (Season 9)
17. Athlete, softball, Homer at the Bat (Season 3)
18. Attack dog trainer, I Married Marge (Season 3)
19. Baby proofer, Bye Bye Nerdie (Season 12)
20. Bar owner, In the Name of the Grandfather (Season 20)
21. Bartender, Homer the Moe (Season 13)
22. Beef jerky manufacturer, Smoke on the Daughter (Season 19)
23. Blackjack dealer, $pringfield (Season 5)
24. Bodyguard, Mayored to the Mob (Season 10)
25. Bootlegger (alcohol), Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment (Season 8)
26. Bounty hunter, Sex, Pies, and Idiot Scrapes (Season 20)
27. Bowling alley employee/”Pin monkey”, And Maggie Makes Three (Season 6)
28. Butler, The Frying Game (Season 13)
29. Candlemaker, I Married Marge (Season 3)
30. Car designer, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (Season 2)
31. Carny, Bart Carny (Season 9)
32. Childcare provider (employee, not technically owner, that’s Marge), Children of a Lesser Clod (Season 12)
33. Chiropractor, Pokey Mom (Season 12)
34. Choreographer, Super Bowl Halftime Show, Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass (Season 16)
35. Clerk, Kwik-E-Mart night shift, Lisa’s Pony (Season 3)
36. Coach, little league football, Bart Star (Season 9)
37. College student, Homer Goes to College (Season 5)
38. Cook, diner, Kill the Alligator and Run (Season 11)
39. Critic, Film, A Star is Burns (Season 6)
40. Critic, Food, Guess Who’s Coming to Criticize Dinner? (Season 11)
41. Deacon, Pulpit Friction (Season 24)
42. Dishwasher, Greek restaurant, The Girl Code (Season 27)
43. Driver, ambulance, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife (Season 15)
44. Driver, chauffeur, Homer vs. Patty and Selma (Season 6)
45. Driver, ice cream truck, Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair) (Season 18)
46. Driver, snow plow (“Mr Plow”), Mr. Plow (Season 4)
47. Driver, tow truck, Midnight Towboy (Season 19)
48. Driver, trucker, Maximum Homerdrive (Season 10)
49. Duffman, Waiting for Duffman (Season 26)
50. Elephant ride operator, Bart Gets an Elephant (Season 5)
51. Executive, Globex Corporation, You Only Move Twice (Season 8)
52. Farmer, E-I-E-I-D’oh (Season 11)
53. FBI informant, financial crimes, The Trouble with Trillions (Season 9)
54. FBI informant, mob/undercover, Donnie Fatso (Season 22)
55. Film producer, Beyond Blunderdome (Season 11)
56. Fireman (volunteer), Crook and Ladder (Season 18)
57. Fish gutter, Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo (Season 10)
58. Fisherman, The Wife Aquatic (Season 18)
59. Foot Locker employee, Marge Gamer (Season 18)
60. Founder and Junior Vice President, Compu-Global-Hyper-Mega-Net, Das Bus (Season 9)
61. Garbage Commissioner, Trash of the Titans (Season 9)
62. Greenhouse manager, The Burns and the Bees (Season 20)
63. Grifter/con artist, The Great Money Caper (Season 12)
64. Grim Reaper, Treehouse of Horror XIV (Season 15)
65. Guard, Springfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, Wandering Juvie (Season 15)
66. Guard, Springfield Women’s Prison, Orange is the New Yellow (Season 27)
67. Gulp ‘n’ Blow drive-thru worker, I Married Marge (Season 3)
68. Hairdresser, Homer Scissorhands (Season 22)
69. Improv performer, Simprovised (Season 27)
70. Inventor, The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace (Season 10)
71. Krusty impersonator, Homie the Clown (Season 6)
72. Mall Santa, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (Season 1)
73. Manager, country Western music, Colonel Homer (Season 3)
74. Manager, pop music/young talent, A Star Is Torn (Season 16)
75. Marriage counselor/instructor, Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play (Season 17)
76. Mascot, Dancing Homer, Dancin’ Homer (Season 2)
77. Mayor, New Springfield, A Tale of Two Springfields (Season 12)
78. Mayoral candidate, Springfield, See Homer Run (Season 17)
79. Military, Army private, G.I. D’oh! (Season 18)
80. Military, Navy Reservist, Simpson Tide (Season 9)
81. Mini golf course assistant, I Married Marge (Season 3)
82. Minister (ordained), There’s Something About Marrying (Season 16)
83. Missionary, Missionary: Impossible (Season 11)
84. Mob boss, The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer (Season 18)
85. Monorail conductor, Marge vs. the Monorail (Season 4)
86. Moonshine taste tester, Rednecks and Broomsticks (Season 21)
87. Musician, barbershop quartet, Homer’s Barbershop Quartet (Season 5)
88. Musician, bass player, Covercraft (Season 26)
89. Musician, composer, Dude, Where’s My Ranch (Season 14)
90. Musician, grudge band frontman, That ’90s Show (Season 19)
91. Musician, one-man band, Bart Gets Famous (Season 5)
92. Musician, opera singer, Homer of Seville (Season 19)
93. Nuclear Power Plant, executive assistant executive to Mr. Burns, Homer the Smithers (Season 7)
94. Nuclear Power Plant, executive assistant to Carl Carlson, The Devil Wears Nada (Season 21)
95. Nuclear Power Plant, executive assistant to Roz Davis, Replacable You (Season 23)
96. Nuclear Power Plant, executive vice president, Weekend at Burnsie’s (Season 13)
97. Nuclear Power Plant, manager, Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore (Season 17)
98. Nuclear power plant, owner, C.E. D’oh (Season 14)
99. Nuclear Power Plant, safety inspector, Homer’s Odyssey (Season 1)
100. Nuclear Power Plant, technician, Homer’s Odyssey (Season 1)
101. Oil rig worker, Half-Decent Proposal (Season 13)
102. Owner, Animotion majority shareholder, HOMR (Season 12)
103. Owner, Denver Broncos, You Only Move Twice (Season 8)
104. Owner, detective agency (mentioned, not shown), King-Size Homer (Season 7)
105. Owner, Ziffcorp majority shareholder, There’s Something About Marrying (Season 16)
106. Panhandler, Milhouse Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (Season 15)
107. Paparazzo, Homerazzi (Season 18)
108. Personal assistant, When You Dish Upon a Star (Season 10)
109. Police chief, Papa’s Got a Brand New Badge (Season 13)
110. Prank monkey for Mr. Burns, Homer vs. Dignity (Season 12)
111. Private security/owner, Springshield, Papa’s Got a Brand New Badge (Season 13)
112. Public speaker, HOMR (Season 12)
113. Question-asker at product demonstrations, Springfield Up (Season 18)
114. Quizmaster, Kill the Alligator and Run (Season 11)
115. Railroad engineer (mentioned, not shown), Maximum Homerdrive (Season 10)
116. Roadie, How I Spent My Strummer Vacation (Season 14)
117. Rollercoaster repairman, Please Homer, Don’t Hammer ‘Em (Season 18)
118. Safety inspector for New England Kandy Company, The Town (Season 28)
119. Safety Salamander, See Homer Run (Season 17)
120. Salesman, door-to-door knives, I Married Marge (Season 3)
121. Salesman, door-to-door springs, The Old Man and the “C” Student (Season 10)
122. Salesman, door-to-door sugar, Lisa’s Rival (Season 6)
123. Salesman, grease (also collector), Lard of the Dance (Season 10)
124. Salesman, manure, Springfield Up (Season 18)
125. Salesman, mattress, The Boys of Bummer (Season 18)
126. Salesman, telemarketer, Lisa’s Date with Density (Season 8)
127. Salesman, traveling for Simpson & Son Revitalizing Tonic, Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy (Season 6)
128. Salesman, used cars, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife (Season 15)
129. Silhouette model, Midnight Towboy (Season 19)
130. Smuggler, drugs, Midnight Rx (Season 16)
131. Smuggler, snakes (courier job), To Courier With Love (Season 27)
132. Smuggler, sugar, Sweets and Sour Marge (Season 13)
133. Soccer referee, World Cup, You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee (Season 25)
134. Soccer referee, youth, Marge Gamer (Season 18)
135. Spokesman, impotency drug, Barting Over (Season 14)
136. Spokesman, walking billboard for blue pants, My Fair Laddy (Season 17)
137. Sprawl-Mart greeter, Goo Goo Gai Pan (Season 16)
138. Stand-up comedian, A Midsummer Nice’s Dream (Season 22)
139. Superhero, Simple Simpson (Season 15)
140. Town crier, Lisa the Iconoclast (Season 7)
141. TV, news talk show host, Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson (Season 23)
142. TV, panel talk show host, Today, I Am a Clown (Season 15)
143. TV, reality contestant, Helter Shelter (Season 14)
144. Union leader, Last Exit to Springfield (Season 4)
145. Writer, author of The Troll Twins of Underbridge Academy, The Book Job (Season 23)
146. Writer, blogger/webmaster, The Computer Wore Menace Shoes (Season 12)
147. Writer, fortune cookies, Hunka Hunka Burns in Love (Season 13)