Classroom Assistant. Part-Time: $217.50/week

Your foot is in the door and you're working part-time covering lunch breaks and afternoon playground sessions. You might only lose your temper every two weeks...not great, but better than every day.

Classroom Assistant. Full-Time: $330/week

You're flexible. You've got energy like a spark plug—closing one day, opening the next, and doing recess every day. It's totally draining, but knowing that your can-do attitude will take you far motivates you.

Daycare Teacher. Full-Time: $370/week

You're moving on up the ladder. You now have your own classroom and you are so the boss of it. You teach the kids something new every day, and still manage to learn a thing or two yourself.

Assistant Daycare Director. Full-Time: $435/week

You've hung in there a while and now you're overseeing teachers, appeasing upset parents, and hiring new teachers who remind you of yourself eight to ten years ago.

Daycare Director. Salary: $42,000/year

Your dedication, hard work, and bachelor's degree in early childhood education have paid off. Both the licensing agency and the daycare owner are thrilled to have you, and the kids are your biggest fans. Give yourself a gold star. You've earned it.