Short answers to the questions new players ask most, with links to the pages that go deeper.
How do I unlock contact missions?
Finish the opening tutorial, then rank up. Each job has a minimum rank, and contacts text you offers as you reach them. The getting started page covers the first session, and the all missions list shows the rank for each job.
What are the best contact missions for new players?
At rank 5 the Gerald and Lamar jobs open, and rank 6 opens the first Simeon jobs. They are short, mostly playable solo and a gentle step up from the tutorial.
Can I play solo?
Yes. Most contact jobs support one player, and you can keep a job invite only. A few require two or more, and the players column in the tables says which.
How do payouts work?
Classic jobs pay a share of a rank-based maximum depending on how long you take, plus difficulty and co-op bonuses. Newer strands pay set or completion amounts. See payouts and RP.
How do I replay a mission?
After you pass a job, start it again from the Pause Menu job list, call its contact and use Request Job, or wait for a text offering it.
What happens if I fail?
You earn no payout for that attempt and can retry straight away. Read difficulty and lives for Team Lives and restarts.
Which strands must be played in order?
Story-style strands run in sequence: Lowriders, Casino Story, A Superyacht Life, Short Trips, Operation Paper Trail, First Dose, Last Dose, Project Overthrow and Cluckin’ Bell. Once you have finished one, you can usually replay its jobs in any order from the Pause Menu.
How do I start the Casino Story?
Begin with Ms. Baker’s call or the Pause Menu job list. The first job opens in her office at the Diamond Casino. See Casino Story.
How do I start A Superyacht Life?
You need a Galaxy Super Yacht. Brendan Darcy’s call or the Pause Menu job list then offers the first job, which begins aboard the yacht. See A Superyacht Life.
What if I have a wanted level when I accept an invite?
You are asked to clear it for $200 per star, or you can lose the police first.
Do bonus weeks change the pay?
They can, since GTA Online changes with updates. Check in game for current events; this guide explains the base rules.
How many missions are in this guide?
There are 189 jobs across 22 strands, listed on the all missions page and grouped by contact on the contacts page.
Where should I start the walkthrough?
Go to the walkthrough for the jobs in an order that suits a first-time player.