Funky Chicken. Salary: $36,000 

You found a gig at the KFC manufacturing plant as an assistant "make-sure-the-chicken-is-edible" processing line overseer-type person. It's a loud, stinky work environment, the pay is so-so, and being there makes you sad—but hey, there's room for advancement.

"All By Myself." Salary: $47,000 

You never liked being told what to do. You languished in school, but the six years it took you to finish that food sciences degree inspired you to create your own line of flash-frozen sous-vide microwaveable salads. It's hard work, but hey, business is booming. Well, business is okay. At the three stores that stock your product.

Seasoned Flavor Expert. Salary: $58,000 

You booked a sweet entry-level research gig at Colin's Condiments, and you're happily climbing the ladder there as you spend all your days doing your favorite thing—tinkering with flavors. Life is sweet. A little too sweet...add some citric acid, and voilà.

The Salesman. Salary: $80,000 

You pitch technologies and materials to big businesses on behalf of another big business. You work for a company that develops ingredients and machinery which could be useful for commercial food producers. Your expertise and understanding of the subject matter, combined with your sales skills, make you very valuable. That means you get paid well. You like that.

"That's Mister Funky Chicken Sir, to you!" Salary $120,000 

You hit the books hard in school, earned yourself a PhD in food biochemistry, and climbed the ranks to become head food technologist at Kentucky Fried Chicken—a very prestigious position. The work still makes you a tiny bit sad, but look at that paycheck.