Well done! Two more points for you, HomeInMyShoes! Orwell was an officer with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma. I had actually expected this to be the first correct answer. Assignment to all participants: Re-read his essay
Shooting an Elephant. 
Douglas Adams: bodyguard. HIMS
William S. Burroughs: exterminator. pdurrant
John Clare: lime burner. pdurrant
Don DeLillo
William Faulkner
Zane Grey: dentist. poohbear_nc
Thomas Hardy: architect. Shayne Parkinson
Joseph Heller
Langston Hughes
John Keats: surgeon's assistant. Bookpossum
Stephen King: high school janitor. Orlok
Philip Larkin: librarian. Bilbo1967
Harper Lee: airline reservation clerk. HIMS
Hilary Mantel: social worker. Bookpossum
Herman Melville: customs inspector. poohbear_nc
George Orwell: police officer. HIMS
Anne Rice: insurance claims examiner. HIMS
J. D. Salinger
Kurt Vonnegut: car dealer. HIMS
William Carlos Williams: doctor. pdurrant
architect
blacksmith's apprentice
bodyguard
car dealer
customs inspector
dentist
doctor
entertainment director on a luxury liner
exterminator
high school janitor
hotel busboy
insurance claims examiner
librarian
lime burner
parking attendant
police officer
reservation clerk for an airline
social worker
surgeon's assistant
university postmaster
HomeInMyShoes - 5 points
pdurrant - 3 points
Bookpossum- 2 points
poohbear_nc - 2 points
Bilbo 1967 - 1 point
Orlok - 1 point
Shayne Parkinson - 1 point
Clear lead for HomeInMyShoes now, but there are still five points to be had, so everybody with one point or more can still go for the win!
One hint: One of the answers is a real hoot.