Friends: What Is Chandler's Job?

Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) is one of the main sources of comedy in "Friends." His quick wit and sarcastic demeanor never wait long to poke fun at a situation, no matter how serious it is. His humor, while fun and entertaining, seems to also be a defense mechanism to cover up for the parts of his life he is doing less good with. For instance, he likes to poke fun at himself for being borderline afraid of women. His childhood provides an endless supply of comedic gold with his drag queen father and erotic author mother. But one place viewers see him struggle the most is with his job. 

We get little hints about his job. In Season 8, Episode 21, he says that someone has been doing data reconfiguration and statistical factoring, which prompts Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) to reveal she thinks she knows someone who does that. Chandler then reminds her that it is him; he does that. And we figure out later in the series that he does statistical analysis and data reconfiguration ... whatever that means. 

Of course, throughout the decade's worth of episodes, we don't really get any explanation. Actually, the showrunners do a pretty good job of staying away from the occupational reveal for the duration of the show. What we do know is that Chandler makes enough money to support Joey (Matt LeBlanc) as he struggles through the acting industry. And we also know that he is absolutely miserable. Throughout the series, there are moments where his friends face questions about his job, and they can't pull his occupation out of the recesses of their brains to acknowledge his work. 

In Season 4, Episode 12, the gang gets together to play a high-stakes game. While Ross (David Schwimmer) plays host to the event, the men's team, with Chandler and Joey, take on the women's team of Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) in a match to see who knows each other better. What hangs in the balance is none other than their apartments. The ladies have agreed that if they lose, they will swap apartments with the guys. Of course, with Monica's wonderful rent-controlled apartment up for grabs, the men eagerly agree. 

With the game on the line, the women are faced with one final question — what is Chandler Bing's job? As the panic sets in, Rachel comments that she knows it has to do with numbers. Monica adds that it also has to do with transponding. Finally, Rachel screams out the answer that he must be a "transponster," to which Monica reminds her that it isn't even a word. 

The scene became something of an iconic moment that proved the men knew the women better. But more importantly, even with the apartment on the line, the girls couldn't even come up with a real word to describe what Chandler does for a living. It is a bit of a sad realization that the people who are most important to Chandler can't figure out (or don't even make the effort to learn) what their friend does for a living. 

What do we know about the rest of the group? Monica is a chef and has always been. Joey is an actor. While he takes on a few gigs here and there to try and make ends meet, he is an actor — Dr. Drake Ramoray to you. Ross is a paleontologist, and even though he gets razzed by the group for being a nerd, he is the only one who seems to have his professional life together. 

Meanwhile, Rachel's job is a primary focus of the series. Initially unemployed, she finds work as a server at Central Perk before landing in the fashion industry, where she belongs. Phoebe is a bit of a free spirit who doesn't work as steadily, but it is she is a masseuse when Rachel's boyfriend makes a pass at her. That only leaves Chandler, who we know from Season 8, Episode 21 that he does things with numbers and data. However, there is one moment in the entire series that gives us a more solid answer. 

Season 9, Episode 11 featured a conversation where Monica says she wants Chandler to do something he loves, not statistical analysis and data reconfiguration. He responds that he had to quit his job for her to learn what he does. Like many "Friends" moments, it was a gag within a gag as we also waited until Season 9 to finally know what his job is.