Since Barbie's introduction as a teenage fashion model in 1959, the doll has been portrayed with many careers. Dolls are sold with sets of clothes and accessories that fit the career being portrayed. For example, the Lifeguard Barbie playset includes a Barbie, an outfit with shoes, a lifeguard chair, a dolphin, and a life preserver, while the Spanish Teacher Barbie includes a Barbie, an outfit with shoes, flashcards, a Spanish quiz, an easel, a notebook, a key chain, and a hairbrush.
According to Mattel, Barbie has had over 200 careers, recently including more STEM fields.
By category
Arts and media
Actor (1977, re-released 2008 and 2022; Western Star 1980, 1988, Silver Screen 1994, 1999, Between Takes 2000, 2001, Hooray for Hollywood 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) Artist (2008, 2012, 2018, 2022) Ballerina (1961, 1976, 1984, clothing pack 1995, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015) Cake baker (2014, 2019) Chef (clothing pack 1991, clothing pack 1995, clothing pack 1996, 2010, 2019, 2020, clothing pack 2022) Bakery chef (2018, 2021) Cookie chef (2014) Cupcake chef (2015) Dessert chef (2013) Pancake chef (2012) Pasta chef (2021) Pastry chef (clothing pack 2014, 2023) Pizza chef (2009) Smoothie chef (2016) Spaghetti chef (2017) Sweet chef (2013) TV chef (2009) Circus performer (1995, 2010) Dancer (2011) Ballroom dancer (1991, 2014) Cabaret dancer (2007) Can-can dancer (2009, 2011) Rockette (1992) Showgirl (2008) Fashion designer (1960, re-released 1995; clothing pack 1992, 2001, 2002, 2012, clothing pack 2015, 2022) Fashion editor (1965, 2000) Fashion model (1959, Fashion Model Collection 2000–2020, Top Model 2008, I can be... Fashion Model 2012, 2022) Fashion trend forecaster (1999) Film director (2015) Film producer (2005) Floral designer (2012) Game show host (1987) Interior designer (2022) Make-up artist (Barbie loves MAC 2007, I can be... Makeup Artist 2013, 2022) Musician (2017, 2019, clothing pack 2020, clothing pack 2022) Bard (2004) Keyboardist (2021) Lute player (Japan-exclusive Barbie Styled by Yuming 2000) Pianist (playset 1989) Rock star/guitarist (1986, Barbie and the Beat 1989, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2021) Saxophonist (clothing pack 2018) Violinist (2013, clothing pack 2021) Music producer (2021) News anchor (2010, 2019) Photographer Baby photographer (2008) Fashion photographer (2012) Pet photographer (2022) Photojournalist (2019, collaboration with National Geographic) Rapper (1992) Singer (Solo in the Spotlight 1960, re-released 1990 and 1995; Barbie and the Rockers 1986, Japan-exclusive 1987, Barbie and the Sensations 1988, Bandstand Beauty 1996, 2002, 2013, 2023) Country Western singer (Country Western Star 1994, Country Rose 1997, Rising Star 1998, 1999) Jazz singer (2007) Lounge singer (2006) Pop singer (Pop Sensation 2002, Pop Icon 2010, Pop Star 2019, Pop Star 2023) Sports reporter (2023) Stylist (2023) Hair stylist (2014, 2015, 2021) Wardrobe stylist (2023) TV news camerawoman (2018)
Business
Avon representative (1999) Babysitter (accessories only 1963, accessories only 1976, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015) Bake shop worker (Japan-exclusive 1998, 2006) Beach snack stand worker (playset 1992, playset 2021) Business executive (Career Girl 1963, re-released 2006; Day to Night 1985, re-released 2018; 1992, Working Woman 1999, clothing pack 2020, Barbie Rewind Career Girl 2021) Café worker (playset 1998) Candy and ice cream parlor worker (1988) Cashier McDonald's cashier (playset 1982, playset 1994, 2001) Pizza Hut cashier (playset 2001) See's Candies cashier (1999) Supermarket cashier (playset 1992) Chief Sustainability Officer (2022) Coffee shop worker (2020) Crepe shop worker (Japan-exclusive 1987) Department store worker Makeup department worker (playset only 1982) Fashion department worker (playset only 1982) Dog daycare owner (2019) Entrepreneur (2014) Farmer (2018, playset 2020, 2022) Chicken farmer (2019) Farmer's market stall owner (2022) Fashion boutique owner (2023) Florist (1999, 2021) Food truck operator (2020) Grocery store worker (2018) Ice cream cart owner (1987) Ice cream shop worker (1989, playset 1998, 2022) Mary Kay consultant (2003) Noodle bar worker (2020) Outdoor beauty store worker (Canada-exclusive 1999, 2002) Palmer's clothing store employee (Austria-exclusive 1996) Pet boutique owner (2008) Pet groomer (playset 1994, 2013, clothing pack 2020) Restaurant owner (Japan-exclusive 1990, 2021) Shopkeeper (Pioneer Shopkeeper 1996) Secretary (2007) Smoothie bar worker (2021) Waitress (2006, clothing pack 2012, 2017) Soda fountain waitress (Coca Cola Series 1998)