Archer [Basch > Vaan > Ashe > Penelo > Balthier > Fran]
Uses bows and light armor. Best in-battle item usage through lores. Decent long-range damage. Provides elemental damage through special ammo. Provides magic breaks. Draws from STR + SPD for damage.
Black Mage [Ashe > Penelo > Fran > Vaan > Balthier > Basch]
Uses staves and mystic armor. Best offensive spell-casting. Staves boost elemental magic damage.
Breaker [Fran > Vaan > Balthier > Penelo > Ashe > Basch]
Uses hammers, axes, shields and heavy armor. High (inconsistent) physical damage. Provides all four breaks. No magic, with the [random] exception of Shades of Black. Draws from VIT + STR for damage. Lacks item lores.
Hunter / Shikari [Vaan > Balthier > Basch > Fran > Ashe > Penelo]
Uses daggers, ninja swords, shields and light armor. Potentially fastest job. High comboability. Good evasion-tanking. Can provide protective White Magic in late game. Draws from STR + SPD for damage.
Knight [Vaan > Ashe > Fran > Balthier > Penelo > Basch]
Uses swords, shields and heavy armor. Provides good physical damage and sturdy defense. Provides curative magic in late game. Draws from STR for damage but needs MAG for White Magic. Below average speed due to a sole Swiftness license.
Machinist [Fran > Basch > Ashe > Vaan > Balthier > Penelo]
Uses guns and light armor. Slowest attack charge time. Weapon damage doesn't scale with stat gains. Provides assorted Time Magic. Doesn’t draw from any stats.
Monk [Vaan > Ashe > Fran > Penelo > Balthier > Basch]
Uses poles and light armor. Average damage. Excellent health and decent evasion. Provides physical breaks. Provides curative and protective magic in late game. Draws from STR for damage but needs MAG for White Magic.
Red Mage [Ashe > Penelo > Fran > Vaan > Balthier > Basch]
Uses maces, shields and mystic armor. Moderate physical damage. Provides wide assortment of White and Black Magic. Provides exclusive access to Arcane Magic. Draws from MAG for damage (plus STR if you choose Greatswords through Espers).
Samurai / Mononofu [Ashe > Vaan > Penelo > Fran > Basch > Balthier]
Uses katanas, mystic armor and Genji gear. Highest comboability via katanas. Provides good [random] Black Magic through Shades of Black. Draws from STR + MAG for damage.
Time Mage [Ashe > Fran > Vaan > Basch > Balthier > Penelo]
Uses bowguns and heavy armor. Average damage and high speed. Provides status effects through special ammo. Provides complete access to Time Magic. Provides magical breaks through Espers. Draws from STR for damage.
Uhlan [Ashe > Penelo > Vaan > Fran > Basch > Balthier]
Uses spears and heavy armor. Excellent physical damage. Provides physical breaks through Espers. Provides limited and poor access to Black Magic. Low magic damage. Draws from STR for damage.
White Mage [Vaan > Balthier > Fran > Basch > Ashe > Penelo]
Uses rods and mystic armor. Excellent damage against the (prominent) Undead type. Best defensive spell-casting.
Ashe, Penelo and Fran all have innate Cure. Vaan, Balthier and Fran have innate Steal. Basch has innate Libra. Vaan and Basch have the highest STR and HP, Ashe the highest MAG and Fran the highest VIT.