Backgrounds are the starting jobs you can choose from during character creation in Starfield. Learn about all 21 Backgrounds to choose, what Backgrounds are, if there are Background exclusives, and if you can change Background mid-game below!

All Backgrounds Guides
List of All Backgrounds	Best Backgrounds Tier List

List of All Backgrounds

21 Backgrounds to Choose From

All Backgrounds and Starting Jobs
Beast Hunter	Bouncer	Bounty Hunter	Chef
Combat Medic	Cyber Runner	Cyberneticist	Diplomat
Explorer	Gangster	Homesteader	Industrialist
Long Hauler	Pilgrim	Professor	Ronin
Sculptor	Soldier	Space Scoundrel	Xenobiologist
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Starfield gives you the option to choose between 21 Backgrounds (i.e. jobs) during character creation.

Beast Hunter

Starting Skills	Description
Gastronomy	Access to brand new worlds means access to brand new ingredients, and there is almost no limit to the delicious foods and drinks a talented chef can prepare.
Ballistics	Centuries of conflict have proven that when it comes to threat elimination, few things stack up to the reliable power of high-speed projectiles.
Fitness	In space, the greatest commodity is oxygen, and the increased lung capacity gained by a regular physical fitness regimen is essential to survival.

The Beast Hunter background specializes in survival and anything related to wildlife. If you want the necessary skills to get out there and gather data on flora and fauna and any hostile creatures, this background is perfect for you!

Best Beast Hunter Build

Bouncer

Starting Skills	Description
Security	While the standardized digital locking mechanism is renowned for its security, any code can be broken with the proper training.
Fitness	In space, the greatest commodity is oxygen, and the increased lung capacity gained by a regular physical fitness regimen is essential to survival.
Boxing	Once considered a "sport of kings," boxing is still practiced as a recreational competitive activity, but its combat applications can't be denied.

Settlements across the planets don't have a shortage on rowdiness! The Bouncer background will have you focus on unarmed attacks and physical fitness, making it ideal if you want to settle things with your bare hands.

Best Bouncer Build

Bounty Hunter

Starting Skills	Description
Piloting	As more people journey into space, the number of those certified to effectively pilot various types of spacecraft has increased dramatically.
Boost Pack Training	Specialized training and innovations in personal mobility systems have allowed for unfettered exploration on alien worlds.
Targeting Control Systems	Missile weapons are favored because they can lock onto an enemy ship, but an intimate knowledge of tracking systems can make them even more effective.

Galaxy criminals, beware! The Bounty Hunter background has skills that will not let any ne'er-do-wells escape their chosen fate.

Best Bounty Hunter Build

Chef

Starting Skills	Description
Gastronomy	Access to brand new worlds means access to brand new ingredients, and there is almost no limit to the delicious foods and drinks a talented chef can prepare.
Dueling	Considered by many to be a lost art, close attacks with a melee weapon can often be deadlier than ranged combat when carried out by a skilled practitioner.
Scavenging	There are those who can find just about anything, and their success is usually dependent on knowing how, and where, to look.

The Chef background looks to specialize in resource gathering, melee weapons, and creating food used for restoring health. You will have to make sure you're proficient in fighting with melee weapons, like knives and swords though.

Best Chef Build

Combat Medic

Starting Skills	Description
Wellness	By embracing an active lifestyle and good nutrition habits, one may improve their overall sense of health, and even gain prolonged life expectancy.
Medicine	Only through advancements in medical training and technology has humanity been able to withstand the galaxy's many dangers.
Pistol Certification	Considering the popularity of the personal sidearm in the Settled Systems, familiarity with such weapons is often considered essential.

The Combat Medic unsurprisingly focuses your character on health and armor. Your health bar and armor durability are likely going to be stronger. It'll probably be easier to regain health and repair armor as well. Combat Medics specialize in the use of pistols!

Best Combat Medic Build

Cyber Runner

Starting Skills	Description
Security	While the standardized digital locking mechanism is renowned for its security, any code can be broken with the proper training.
Stealth	For a combatant who values discretion above all else, the ability to approach a target while undetected and kill with a silenced weapon is as terrifying as it is effective.
Theft	While not entirely honorable, and certainly not legal, it is nonetheless occasionally necessary to discreetly remove property from someone's person.

Cyber Runners are essentially your classic thief class! Cyber Runners specialize in lockpicking, sneaking and stealth kills, and stealing. Yes, crime still happens in outer space!

Best Cyber Runner Build

Cyberneticist

Starting Skills	Description
Lasers	Personal laser weapons are in widespread use across the Settled Systems, and specialized training can greatly increase their effectiveness.
Medicine	Only through advancements in medical training and technology has humanity been able to withstand the galaxy's many dangers.
Security	While the standardized digital locking mechanism is renowned for its security, any code can be broken with the proper training.

Cyberneticists have taken advantage of the advanced technology and robotics of the times to become experts at laser weapons, advanced ways of healing, and mastering the digipick. Expect to also be able to craft more durable armor!

Best Cyberneticist Build

Diplomat

Starting Skills	Description
Persuasion	In the Settled Systems, the nuanced ability to listen and discuss can often accomplish far more than simply shooting first and asking questions later.
Commerce	In the Settled Systems' free market economy, almost anyone with the right skillset can open and run a successful business.
Wellness	By embracing an active lifestyle and good nutrition habits, one may improve their overall sense of health, and even gain prolonged life expectancy.

Diplomats use their mastery of speech to easily persuade NPCs and get bargains at shops. Expect to get away with dialogue options other Backgrounds probably won't and get discounts at most shops you go to.

Best Diplomat Build

Explorer

Starting Skills	Description
Lasers	Personal laser weapons are in widespread use across the Settled Systems, and specialized training can greatly increase their effectiveness.
Astrodynamics	Advanced technology is one thing, but it takes skill, patience, and a little bit of love to coax even more capability out of a ship's grav drive.
Surveying	Humanity now has access to untold alien worlds, and the ability to decipher all that data while on the ground has become an essential skillset.

Explorers will likely have an easier time discovering planetary traits and encountering the necessary flora and fauna to fully survey a planet. They also are more well-equipped to handle laser weapons.

Best Explorer Build

Gangster

Starting Skills	Description
Theft	While not entirely honorable, and certainly not legal, it is nonetheless occasionally necessary to discreetly remove property from someone's person.
Shotgun Certification	The cornerstone of close quarters combat, or CQC, the shotgun has proven a simple, deadly weapon for hundreds of years.
Boxing	Once considered a "sport of kings," boxing is still practiced as a recreational competitive activity, but its combat applications can't be denied.

The Gangster background makes you a rebel in space society. Rules mean nothing when you can just take whatever you want, however you want it. This background will have you specialize on stealing and just wrecking havoc across the galaxies.

Best Gangster Build

Homesteader

Starting Skills	Description
Surveying	Humanity now has access to untold alien worlds, and the ability to decipher all that data while on the ground has become an essential skillset.
Geology	Newly discovered minerals mined from alien planets and moons have directly led to some incredible technological advancements.
Weight Lifting	Weight training can significantly increase one's ability to carry weapons and equipment, both in space and on the ground.

Having Homesteader as your background will make studying Settled Systems way more fun! This background focuses on being able gather more resources on alien planets and collect data studying the surrounding on each one.

Best Homesteader Build

Industrialist

Starting Skills	Description
Persuasion	In the Settled Systems, the nuanced ability to listen and discuss can often accomplish far more than simply shooting first and asking questions later.
Security	While the standardized digital locking mechanism is renowned for its security, any code can be broken with the proper training.
Research Methods	By skilfully employing both new and time tested methods, a researcher may complete projects faster, and even gain unexpected insights.

The Industrialist background allows you to proliferate projects, making you the leader of innovation on Settled Systems! This background will have you easily complete projects, possibly making more powerful weapons and equipment.

Best Industrialist Build

Long Hauler

Starting Skills	Description
Piloting	As more people journey into space, the number of those certified to effectively pilot various types of spacecraft has increased dramatically.
Weight Lifting	Weight training can significantly increase one's ability to carry weapons and equipment, both in space and on the ground.
Ballistic Weapon Systems	While there have been significant advancements in ship-borne weaponry, sometimes the simplest tool is the most effective.

The Long Hauler background is perfect for those who wants to collect every sample the galaxies have to offer! You will utilize your ship here in gathering resources from various planets.

Best Long Hauler Build

Pilgrim

Starting Skills	Description
Surveying	Humanity now has access to untold alien worlds, and the ability to decipher all that data while on the ground has become an essential skillset.
Gastronomy	Access to brand new worlds means access to brand new ingredients, and there is almost no limit to the delicious foods and drinks a talented chef can prepare.
Scavenging	There are those who can find just about anything, and their success is usually dependent on knowing how, and where, to look.

Having a Pilgrim background will let your adventures be full of wonder and discovery! Skills include surveying planets, discovering new food and drinks, and increased looting chance on containers.

Best Pilgrim Build

Professor

Starting Skills	Description
Astrodynamics	Advanced technology is one thing, but it takes skill, patience, and a little bit of love to coax even more capability out of a ship's grav drive.
Geology	Newly discovered minerals mined from alien planets and moons have directly led to some incredible technological advancements.
Research Methods	By skilfully employing both new and time tested methods, a researcher may complete projects faster, and even gain unexpected insights.

There's a lot of things that needs to be discovered out there in the galaxies. Having the Professor background can help you with that goal, being able to utilize your ship for the journey, gather more resources, and complete research projects easier.

Best Professor Build

Ronin

Starting Skills	Description
Stealth	For a combatant who values discretion above all else, the ability to approach a target while undetected and kill with a silenced weapon is as terrifying as it is effective.
Dueling	Considered by many to be a lost art, close attacks with a melee weapon can often be deadlier than ranged combat when carried out by a skilled practitioner.
Scavenging	There are those who can find just about anything, and their success is usually dependent on knowing how, and where, to look.

The Ronin background will have you as a wanderer, specializing in sneaking and stealth kills and scavenging for loot. This background also will have you specialize in melees, so fighting close-ranged is your forte.

Best Ronin Build

Sculptor

Starting Skills	Description
Persuasion	In the Settled Systems, the nuanced ability to listen and discuss can often accomplish far more than simply shooting first and asking questions later.
Medicine	Only through advancements in medical training and technology has humanity been able to withstand the galaxy's many dangers.
Geology	Newly discovered minerals mined from alien planets and moons have directly led to some incredible technological advancements.

The Sculptor background will have you specialize in medicine and geology. Keep the people healthy with your skills!

Best Sculptor Build

Soldier

Starting Skills	Description
Ballistics	Centuries of conflict have proven that when it comes to threat elimination, few things stack up to the reliable power of high-speed projectiles.
Boost Pack Training	Specialized training and innovations in personal mobility systems have allowed for unfettered exploration on alien worlds.
Fitness	In space, the greatest commodity is oxygen, and the increased lung capacity gained by a regular physical fitness regimen is essential to survival.

The Soldier background specializes in, you guessed it, armed combat and warfare. Explore the galaxies with your warrior instincts!

Best Soldier Build

Space Scoundrel

Starting Skills	Description
Persuasion	In the Settled Systems, the nuanced ability to listen and discuss can often accomplish far more than simply shooting first and asking questions later.
Pistol Certification	Considering the popularity of the personal sidearm in the Settled Systems, familiarity with such weapons is often considered essential.
Piloting	As more people journey into space, the number of those certified to effectively pilot various types of spacecraft has increased dramatically.

The Space Scoundrel background specializes in roaming the galaxy, using words to get what you want or your pistol when things go south. This is the perfect background if you want to go the "space cowboy" route.

Best Space Scoundrel Build

Xenobiologist

Starting Skills	Description
Lasers	Personal laser weapons are in widespread use across the Settled Systems, and specialized training can greatly increase their effectiveness.
Surveying	Humanity now has access to untold alien worlds, and the ability to decipher all that data while on the ground has become an essential skillset.
Fitness	In space, the greatest commodity is oxygen, and the increased lung capacity gained by a regular physical fitness regimen is essential to survival.

Having a Xenobiologist background will grant you the skills of an observer specializing in unknown alien species. This background gives you skills that can help your observation. Oh, and you also specialize in lasers.

Best Xenobiologist Build

[File Not Found]

Starting Skills	Description
Wellness	By embracing an active lifestyle and good nutrition habits, one may improve their overall sense of health, and even gain prolonged life expectancy.
Piloting	As more people journey into space, the number of those certified to effectively pilot various types of spacecraft has increased dramatically.
Ballistics	Centuries of conflict have proven that when it comes to threat elimination, few things stack up to the reliable power of high-speed projectiles.

The [File Not Found] background is basically Starfield's default background. Nothing is set in stone with your character and your starting skills are mostly fundamental. This background can possibly be something for your own.

Best File Not Found Build

What are Backgrounds?

Determine Your 3 Starting Skills

Your choice of Background during character creation determines the 3 Skills your character inherently starts the playthrough with. The choice is important if you already have a build or playstyle in mind and want to get a headstart in the skills that'll set your character up for it.

All skills from all 5 skill trees are available to you, regardless of your choice of Background, and some Backgrounds even share the same starting skills, so the choice of Background will primarily affect the start of your playthrough.

Best Backgrounds Tier List

No Negative Side Effects

Backgrounds set you up with skills that only provide bonuses or buffs to your character. This is unlike Trait selection, which is the next step after choosing Backgrounds, where Traits provide both positive and negative effects to your character.

Are There Background-Exclusive Missions?

Unconfirmed but Backgrounds Do Affect Dialogue Options

It's currently unknown if there are missions only available to specific Backgrounds. However, your choice of Background does affect dialogue options available during character interactions. In the screenshot above, the Beast Hunter Background has the dialogue option to request a higher payment for a side mission.

Background-exclusive dialogue options also appear during Persuasion

Additionally, specific Backgrounds may be better at persuading certain characters over others. This could affect the outcome of some missions, if you're unable to successfully persuade NPCs without the necessary Background's persuasion bonus.

Persuasion Guide

Can You Change Background Mid-Game?

Most Likely Not

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to change your Background after completing the character creation process.

If you want to change your Background due to the starting Skills, you can definitely just spend the Skill Points you earn via level up on the skills necessary for your desired build. It’s currently unknown to what extent you can respec your skill points.

How to Change Background

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