What is the Best Job for a Villager in Minecraft 2026? (Ultimate Ranking + Trading Guide)
In Minecraft's 1.21+ updates, villager trading remains a game-changer for infinite resources, emeralds, and god-tier gear. Whether you're building emerald farms, speedrunning, or gearing up for the Ender Dragon, the right villager jobs unlock unlimited potential. This guide ranks all professions based on 2026 data, covers job site blocks, profitability, discounts via zombie curing, and step-by-step trading hall builds. From librarians offering Mending books to farmers churning emeralds from crops, learn optimal setups for Java and Bedrock editions.
Quick Answer: The Best Villager Job is the Librarian
The Librarian tops the charts for unmatched value--especially Mending enchanted books, essential for infinite durability on gear (Zap-Hosting, Godlike.host). Reroll lecterns in Java 1.21.5 until you hit treasures like Unbreaking III or Frost Walker.
Top 3 Jobs:
- Librarian (Lectern): Mending books (10-30 emeralds post-discount), bookshelves, enchanted gear. Infinite enchants without RNG tables.
- Armorer (Blast Furnace): Diamond armor sets for 19-21 emeralds, perfect for Nether/End runs.
- Farmer (Composter): 20 wheat = 1 emerald--pair with auto-farms for endless emeralds.
Teaser Ranking for Emerald Farms: 1. Librarian, 2. Armorer, 3. Farmer, 4. Fletcher, 5. Tools/Weaponsmith. Stats show farmers yield ~1 emerald per 20 crops, scaling infinitely with iron farms (Yuzukaki).
Key Takeaways
- Librarian Mending: 10-30 emeralds; cure 3-5x for 1-emerald minimums (Zap-Hosting).
- Farmer Crops: 20 wheat/carrots/potatoes = 1 emerald; easiest early-game emerald source.
- Discounts: Zombify/cure villagers 2-3x to slash prices (e.g., diamond gear from 30+ to 1 emerald).
- Top 5 for Emerald Farms: 1. Librarian, 2. Armorer, 3. Farmer, 4. Fletcher (sticks/arrows), 5. Tools/Weaponsmith.
- Restocks: Twice daily (11AM/5PM in-game) if beds/workstations accessible.
- 2026 Tip: Java allows pre-trade lectern rerolls; Bedrock trade rebalance ties books to biomes.
Complete List of All Minecraft Villager Jobs and Job Site Blocks (2026 Update)
Minecraft has 13 professions (plus Unemployed and useless Nitwit). Place a job site block near an unemployed villager to assign it--first trade locks the trades.
| Job | Job Site Block | Key Trades | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Librarian | Lectern | Enchanted books (Mending), bookshelves, lanterns | #1 for enchants; biome-rebalanced in 1.20.2+ |
| Armorer | Blast Furnace | Diamond armor (19-21 emeralds) | Nether/End essential |
| Farmer | Composter | Crops → emeralds (20:1), golden carrots | Auto-farm goldmine |
| Cartographer | Cartography Table | Treasure maps, banners | RNG for ocean/woodland explorers |
| Butcher | Smoker | Meat → emeralds, stews | Low priority |
| Fletcher | Fletching Table | Sticks/arrows → emeralds, tipped arrows | High-volume emeralds |
| Cleric | Brewing Stand | Rotten flesh → emeralds, ender pearls, glowstone | XP farm synergy |
| Fisherman | Barrel | String/fish → emeralds, golden carrots | Niche |
| Leatherworker | Cauldron | Leather → emeralds, saddles | Low demand |
| Toolsmith | Smithing Table | Enchanted diamond tools (18-20 emeralds) | Mining must-have |
| Weaponsmith | Grindstone | Enchanted diamond swords | Combat focus |
| Mason | Stonecutter | Stone → emeralds, terracotta | Building utility |
| Shepherd | Loom | Wool → emeralds (18:1), dyes | Wool farm profits |
| Nitwit | None | No trades | Useless; green robes |
| Unemployed | None | Reassignable | Break block to reset |
Data from Apex Hosting, Beebom, Godlike (2026). Bedrock vs Java: Minor trade pool diffs; Java excels in librarian rerolls.
Minecraft Villager Professions Guide: From Nitwit to Master Traders
Villagers level up (Novice → Master) via trades, unlocking better offers. Zombie Curing: Infect with zombie (retains job), cure with Weakness potion + golden apple--grants permanent discounts (3-5 cures = 1-emerald floors). Jobs retain post-cure. Reassignment: Break workstation for unemployed state; Nitwits can't work. Restocks: 2x/day at workstations.
Top 5 Most Profitable Villager Jobs for Emerald Farms and Trading (1.21 Update)
- Librarian: Mending/Unbreaking; reroll pre-trade in Java.
- Armorer: Diamond chestplate/leggings (19-21 emeralds).
- Farmer: 20 wheat = 1 emerald; "Iron farm + Farmer = infinite emeralds" (Zap-Hosting).
- Fletcher: Sticks (32:1 emerald), tipped arrows (2 emeralds + 5 arrows → 5 tipped).
- Tools/Weaponsmith: Enchanted diamond pickaxes/swords (18-20 emeralds).
Cleric Bonus: Rotten flesh → emeralds/XP; glowstone for builds. Shepherd: 18 wool = 1 emerald with farms.
Librarian Villager: Best Bookshelves and Enchanted Trades
Deep dive: Place lectern, reroll by breaking/replacing until Mending (Java 1.21.5, Yuzukaki). Levels: Novice (paper→emeralds), Master (Mending 10-30 emeralds). 9 trades total; cure for 1-emerald bookshelves/lanterns (GTXGaming).
Armorer, Tools/Weaponsmith: Diamond Gear Efficiency
Armorer: Full diamond sets post-discount. Toolsmith: Efficiency V picks (18 emeralds). Weaponsmith: Sharpness swords. "Diamond gear + enchanted books = full set" (Yuzukaki).
Fletcher, Farmer, Cleric: High-Volume Emerald Generators
Fletcher: Arrow trades scale with farms. Farmer: Crop ratios unbeatable. Cleric: XP via flesh farms.
Pros & Cons: Best Villager Jobs Compared (Emeralds vs Gear vs Utility)
| Job | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Librarian | Mending, infinite enchants | RNG rerolls | All players |
| Farmer | Easy emeralds (20:1 crops) | Basic outputs | Emerald farms |
| Armorer | Diamond armor cheap | Late-game focus | Combat/Nether |
| Fletcher | Tipped arrows, sticks | Arrow dependency | PVP/arrows |
| Cartographer | Treasure maps | Expensive, RNG | Exploration |
| Mason | Terracotta/stone | Building niche | Aesthetics |
| Shepherd | Wool/dyes | Farm required | Dyes/emeralds |
Librarian wins utility; Farmer for pure emeralds.
Bedrock vs Java Edition: Key Villager Job Differences in 2026
Java: Lectern rerolls pre-trade; biome book rebalance (1.20.2+). Bedrock: Trade rebalance experiments; minor pool diffs (e.g., quartz from clerics rarer). Both support curing/discounts, but Java edges for optimization (Godlike).
How to Set Up the Perfect Villager Trading Hall: Step-by-Step Guide
Checklist:
- Breed/Cure: 10-20 villagers; cure 3-5x each for discounts.
- Assign Jobs: Beds + workstations (e.g., lectern for librarians).
- Build Hall: 1x1 cells with boat/trapdoors; name tags prevent despawn.
- Farm Synergy: Iron golem farm → Farmer emeralds → Mending gear (Java 1.21.5 case: Yuzukaki).
Mini Case: Iron → Farmer emeralds → Armorer/Tools → Librarian books = god gear.
Villager Discount Trading Optimization and Raid Farming Strategies (2026)
Discount Steps: Zombify (trap zombie), cure 3-5x (min 1 emerald). Raids: Hero of Village buffs prices. Speedrunning: Farmer/Librarian priority (easy emeralds → Mending). Raid farms yield totems + discounts (Destructoid).
Least Useful Jobs: Nitwit Analysis and When to Avoid
Nitwit: No trades, just vibes--avoid breeding them. Leatherworker: Leather armor useless. Butcher: Meat ratios poor vs auto-kills. Skip unless niche.
FAQ
How do I get the best librarian trades like Mending in 2026?
Reroll lectern pre-trade (Java); cure for discounts. Target Master level.
What are the most profitable villager trades in Minecraft 1.21 update?
Farmer crops (20:1), Fletcher sticks, iron/wool via farms.
Can I reset villager jobs and trades after locking?
No--first trade locks. Reassign unemployed only.
What's the difference between armorer and toolsmith diamond gear?
Armorer: Armor sets. Toolsmith: Picks/axes (enchanted).
How to build a top emerald farm with villagers?
Iron farm → Farmer/Shepherd; auto-crops/wool.
Are cartographer treasure maps worth trading for?
Yes for speedruns/exploration; RNG-dependent.
Bedrock vs Java: Which has better villager jobs?
Java for rerolls; Bedrock similar post-rebalance--both viable.