Disc Jerky. Salary: $20,000 or less

You're the guy the local chicken joint calls to help with their low-budget commercial, and they don't even help you out when your equipment gets all greasy. It could be worse—you could work there every day. Now off to the next gig...at the taco shop.

Knob Jockey. Salary: $32,000

You're the guy the local Thunderdome calls to run sound when Smackdownstravaganza comes to town. Those are the good gigs...but sometimes you've got to travel to neighboring towns just to stay in business. You also do bar mitzvahs.

Wave Junky. Salary: $47,000

You're the staff recording engineer at one of the few local studios. That means anybody who wants to make a decent indie record around these parts goes through you. At least you can say you knew them before they were famous.

Audio Houdini. Salary: $72,000

You're a hired gun for sound in Hollywood, and all the top producers know your name. You're an expert in explosions and spaceship wooshes, which makes you a shoe-in for the next Transformers flick. Nice.

Maestro. Salary $100,000+

You've got your own studio in the city, and produce for all the up-and-comers in the music industry. You've rubbed shoulders with heads of all the big record labels, and you're never short on work. As the boss, your schedule is nice and flexible, too.