What Were The Best Paying Jobs In Ancient Rome?
In the bustling streets of ancient Rome, fortunes were made, and lives were transformed through a wide variety of professions. While some jobs, like doctors and famous actors, may sound familiar even today, others not so much. Imagine charioteers racing through the Circus Maximus or triumvirs shaping the fate of empires.Â
While being the Emperor of ancient Rome was definitely the highest-paid job in ancient Rome, its job security was pretty low. In this article, we look into 13 ancient Roman jobs that paid handsomely. So grab your toga, and let’s go explore!
Charioteers
Gaius Appuleius Diocles, a Roman chariot racer originating from present-day Spain, enjoyed unparalleled success in his career. His earnings amounted to an astonishing 35,863,120 sesterces. Dr. Peter Struck of the University of Pennsylvania estimates this to be equivalent to a net worth of approximately 15 billion dollars in today’s money.
Doctor
During the Roman Empire, eminent physicians could earn around 250,000 sesterces annually, equivalent to approximately $9,750 in today’s currency. Stertinius Xenophon, a renowned physician, served as the personal medic to several emperors, earning an impressive 600,000 sesterces per year through his service at the imperial court. Antonius Musa, the physician of Emperor Augustus, received a salary of 30,000 sesterces annually for his medical services.
Actor
In ancient Rome, the notion of an “actor” was way different than noawadays. Instead of actors in the modern sense, there were performers who portrayed different characters in theatrical performances, encompassing comedies, tragedies, and other forms of entertainment.
Construction And Mining
Marcus Licinius Crassus, a well-known Roman politician of the 1st century BCE, was undoubtedly one of the wealthiest Romans of his time, if not in Rome’s entire history. He amassed his fortune through various ventures such as construction, silver mining, and lucrative loans. Notably, he even established a “fire brigade” for the city of Rome, showcasing his influence and resources.
Comedian
While many comedians received modest compensation, those who gained exceptional popularity could amass significant wealth. Figures such as Aesopus and Roscius, known for their performances in both dramas and comedies, belonged to this select group.
Lawyer
While advocates may not have accumulated vast wealth solely through their legal practice, their services were in high demand among the affluent and powerful members of Roman society. Wealthy clients often retained the services of skilled advocates to protect their interests in legal matters, such as property disputes, inheritance cases, and criminal defense.
Self-Employed
Self-employment isn’t exactly a new concept. Most of the time, the highest-paid people in Ancient Rome were self-employed, drawing income from estates and a wide range of investments, income-generating loans, and, unfortunately, slavery.
Gladiator
Under Emperor Tiberius’s rule, a veteran gladiator earned 100,000 sesterces for just one fight. To put this in perspective, it exceeded the earnings of over 1,300 soldiers, equals roughly 400 teacher salaries, or amounts to around a third of a senator’s income.
Patrician
The patricians were basically the fancy elite families of Rome who had a big say in politics, law, and how things went down in society. They got their wealth and status from family inheritance, often owning tons of land and crafting some sweet business deals.
Triumvir
Triumvirs were like the power squad leaders who jointly called the shots in Rome. Their authority usually came from military victories, and they could rack riches through conquering lands, scoring loot from wars, and doling out favors to their peeps.
General
The military big shots who succeeded in battles could pile up some serious coin through all the winning. They’d grab loot, land, and cushy gigs after getting a couple of wins under their belt.
Governor
Governors in the rich provinces had the hookup to milk their subjects for personal gain. They’d tax, trade, and tap into local resources for cash flow, often bending the rules in their favor along the way.
Senator
Senators were part of the Roman Senate, the crew that governed in the Republic and the Empire. These folks had serious political clout and usually came from wealthy families with big estates and businesses.
Emperor
Obviously, the highest-paying job in ancient Rome was being the Emperor. However, being an emperor had pretty bad job security. Many emperors, like Julius Ceasar, ended up getting assassinated.
14 Most Crowded Places On Earth
