Couldn't nobles use alternating color bands to distinguish them? That feels like it would provide a rather significant number of additional options.
The nobles do have color differences to keep them apart, mostly in clothing.
I made many of the administrators have a purple hair and teal clothing combination, however, because the various jobs are color-coded to help make distinct jobs more visually distinct. The difference between a broker and a bookkeeper is in the item in their hands (a gold coin and a sack of goods vs. a book, respectively), but they are otherwise similar to let you see that they are similar types of jobs.
Also, "bands" can be problematic - if they're only one pixel wide, nobody's really going to be able to distinguish what color they are. "Blobs" are easier to distinguish... which is why I try to rely upon hats, since they are just slightly differently-shaped blobs of color that can be very easily distinguished.
Anyway, I'm very close to finishing, now. I only have thieves, consorts, dungeon masters, hammerers, captains, and advisors to go. I should have this done tommorow.
Oh, and sense it seems like a habit now to post a new sprite every post...
Tax Collector