Occupations as listed on the 1871 census for Semley
| Ag Labourer | 100 |
| labourer | 34 |
| Farmer / dairyman | 23 |
| Domestic Servant / general servant / servant / farm servant | 20 |
| Glover | 18 |
| Railway | 16 |
| Retired / Annuitant | 11 |
| Housekeeper | 9 |
| Stonemason | 6 |
| Carpenter | 5 |
| Blacksmith | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 4 |
| Gamekeeper | 4 |
| Grocer / Grocer + Baker / Grocer + Shoemaker | 4 |
| Sawyer | 4 |
| Gardener | 3 |
| Schoolmistress | 3 |
| Butcher | 2 |
| Groom / Ostler | 2 |
| Innkeeper / Publican | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Nurse / Nursemaid | 2 |
| (Carpenter) Parish Clerk | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carpenter and Wheelwright | 1 |
| Cattle dealer and Farmer of 50 acres empl 2 men and a boy | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Chelsea Pensioner | 1 |
| Chimney Sweep | 1 |
| Church of England Clergyman | 1 |
| Coal Porter | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Police constable for Semley, Wilts | 1 |
| Rope? Maker | 1 |
| Seamstress? | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Shopkeeper | 1 |
| The Hawker | 1 |
Notes:-
| 1 | Ag labourer includes farm labourers |
| 2 | Stonemason included "Mason", and "Mason's assistant" etc |
| 3 | Railway includes all of those employed by the railway in varying capacities |
| 4 | There was no "Big house" in Semley, therefore there were few people employed in the service industry |
| 5 | Number 4 by the occupation Blacksmith does not mean there were 4 Blacksmiths in the village - it means 4 people were employed in the trade. See the census for details. |