General:
* Profession: Focuses on a specific field of work.
* Occupation: Emphasizes the work itself.
* Vocation: Suggests a calling or strong sense of purpose.
* Line of work: A more informal way to describe someone's job.
* Path: Refers to the journey or trajectory of someone's professional life.
More specific:
* Calling: A strong desire or feeling that one is destined for a particular profession.
* Pursuit: Emphasizes the active and focused effort involved in a career.
* Trade: A skilled occupation, usually involving manual labor.
* Craft: Similar to trade, but often implies more artistic or creative skills.
* Walk of life: Used broadly to describe a person's overall profession or social standing.
Formal:
* Avocation: A hobby or non-professional pursuit.
* Calling: A strong inner drive or desire to pursue a particular career path.
* Livelihood: The means by which a person earns a living.
* Employment: A more general term for any paid work.
The best synonym to use will depend on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.