Occupations as listed on the 1881 census for Semley
| Labourer | 53 |
| Farmer | 21 |
| Employed by the railway | 19 |
| Farm / Agricultural labourer | 18 |
| Farm servant | 15 |
| Glover | 10 |
| Carpentry trade | 9 |
| General servant | 8 |
| Dairyman / Dairywoman | 7 |
| Dressmaker / needlewoman | 7 |
| Grocer / victualler / baker / draper | 6 |
| Blacksmith trade | 5 |
| General labourer | 5 |
| Housekeeper / housemaid / parlourmaid | 5 |
| Assistant / helper / errand boy | 4 |
| Game keeper | 4 |
| Stonemason trade | 4 |
| Laundress / washerwoman | 3 |
| Shoe / bootmaker | 3 |
| carpenter / wheelwright | 2 |
| Carter | 2 |
| Domestic servant | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| Governess | 2 |
| Haulier | 2 |
| Sawyer | 2 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Baptist minister | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Brickyard Labourer | 1 |
| Builder / PM preacher | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Cabinet maker | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coal yard foreman | 1 |
| Dairy manager | 1 |
| Jobbing man | 1 |
| Woodman | 1 |
| Land owner | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Pedlar | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Pupil teacher | 1 |
| Rector of Semley | 1 |
| Sub postmaster | 1 |
| Threshing engine driver | 1 |