Trainee. Salary: $25,000 or less
You're working for your dad and it will be at least a couple years before you have any shot at any real car repairs that aren't supervised by ol' pops—especially since you were hired straight out of high school with no real training. It's enough to make you want to quit. But it's family...and no one else will hire you.

Auto Mechanic at a Gas Station. Salary: $30,000
You have a fixed hourly wage. It's not great. But, sometimes, if you stay late enough, you can get an hour or two of time and a half. That usually buys you a dinner with your kids at Chuck E. Cheese. Wow. The kids...it's been so long since you've seen them.

Service Technician at an Independent Auto Shop. Salary: $36,000
You work on commission. You are out there practically every day praying someone's car will break down and, when it does, you beg people to let you (not your dumb co-worker Carl) fix it for them. Some days are good. Some days, nobody comes in and you don't get paid. It's the least fun kind of gamble, but it gets the bills paid. Usually.

Auto Mechanic at Car Dealership. Salary: $45,000
You work on commission and you can guarantee there will be work every day. A little tune up here, a little adjustment there and bam—money in your pocket. You're not rich, but you do pretty well and the hours are reliable, which is not too shabby.

NASCAR Pit Crew Member. Salary $200,000
You spent years and years working and getting certified and you finally made it to the big leagues. It took an incredible amount of learning and skill...and a friend who works for NASCAR to get you here. But now you're making $35,000-$55,000 per race, for about 30 seconds of work when the car comes around. It's beautiful (source).