Millwright Apprentice. Salary: $35,000 

You're working part-time and getting trained to be a full-time worker, so things are pretty okay right now. You're learning the trade and getting paid. It's not a fortune, but it's a whole lot better than being a full-time unpaid intern.

New Contractor. Salary: $45,000 

You've just started out, so you're still building your client base. You have some really long breaks in between jobs, but you've been using that time wisely by working on advertising, getting to know the factories and plants in your area, and writing the next great American novel. You're hustlin', but not for long.

Factory Employee. Salary: $54,000 

You have a job to go to every day and a paycheck that comes every two weeks. You could probably make more with contract gigs, but it's nice to have some consistency. This way, you never have that anxiety between jobs. It's safe (financially, not physically—you face danger every day). And you're okay with that.

Experienced Independent Contractor. Salary: $65,000 

Thanks to your reputation as a reliable, no-nonsense millwright, you barely have a week between contract jobs. Because your work is top-quality, you can charge top-dollar without worrying about jobs falling through or demand drying up.

Contractor in Houston. Salary: $76,000 

Houston needs some machines repaired and they'll pay mega bucks for the right person. That person is you. You tried the other cities, but you were tired of the lies, the greed, and the lower paychecks. You're ready for a city that throws money at you for your hard-earned skills.