SeaWorld Intern. Salary: unpaid

You didn't get the veterinary position you wanted, so you're fetching coffee in the PR department. Maybe that sweet brochure on mackerel and codfish will catch the dolphin trainer's eye? Sigh. Probably not...

Dolphin Trainer Apprentice. Salary: $20,000 

A low-budget water park has agreed to take you on as an apprentice. Sure, they've only got one dolphin and you spend most of your time cleaning out the tuna fish habitat, but everyone starts somewhere.

Assistant Dolphin Trainer. Salary: $25,000 

You're actually beginning to bond with your dolphin. Today, you and Emma felt a momentary connection. As for bonding with your team; you're one of five dolphin trainers, but sometimes it feels like you do seventy percent of the cleaning.

Dolphin Trainer. Salary: $30,000 

SeaWorld called. They're interested in hiring you for a full-time dolphin training position. You're stoked, but after the bad press SeaWorld's gotten, maybe it's best you keep this information to yourself, for a while at least.

Dolphin Show Manager. Salary: $35,000 

Under your leadership, the park has purchased four new dolphins, overseen two baby dolphin births, and the show has never been more popular. Tickets sell out every day, even in the winter months.