What was Walter White's job in Breaking Bad?
Quick answer
At the start of Breaking Bad, Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who also works part-time at a car wash to make ends meet. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, he turns to making illegal drugs to secure his family’s future, becoming the criminal known as “Heisenberg.”
Key facts
- Show
- Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008–2013)
- Created by
- Vince Gilligan
- Walter White played by
- Bryan Cranston
- Setting
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Walter is a brilliant chemist whose career never took off. Years before the show begins, he co-founded a company called Gray Matter Technologies but sold his share for $5,000. It later became worth billions, a regret that drives much of his anger.
How the story begins
- On his 50th birthday, Walter is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer.
- Worried about leaving his pregnant wife Skyler and teenage son Walter Jr. with nothing, he looks for fast money.
- He partners with former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to cook methamphetamine.
- His chemistry skill makes their product unusually pure, pulling him deeper into the drug trade.
The title comes from a Southern US expression, “breaking bad,” meaning to turn to crime or go wild.
Awards and acclaim
- Bryan Cranston won four Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actor in a Drama.
- Aaron Paul won three for Supporting Actor.
- The show won 16 Emmys in total and is often ranked among the greatest TV series ever.
The Breaking Bad universe
| Title | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking Bad | Series, 2008–2013 | Walter White |
| Better Call Saul | Prequel series, 2015–2022 | Lawyer Saul Goodman |
| El Camino | Film, 2019 | Jesse Pinkman after the finale |
See which shows feature Saul Goodman. Walter’s chemistry lessons often appear in the show; for real chemistry, read the pH scale.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.