"I hate bugs so much." Salary: $30,000 

Your hate of roaches is topped only by your hate of homework. Your dreams of being a top pesticide developer (a.k.a. world's biggest bug smusher) is shattered when you flunk out of college. You settle for a career at "Dewey Deadbug Pest Management Services" and get your kicks just the same―smaller scale, but more personal.

Junior Research Assistant/Coffee Jerk. Salary: $40,000 

You're a junior research assistant because you only have a bachelor's from a lesser-known college. You're looking at runoff samples comparing different products developed by the smug jerks in R&D in different soil types and climate zones. It's a little less than thrilling.

Sir Lancelot Over Here. Salary: $49,000 

Your background in agricultural science and environmental studies made you a shoo-in for that dream job at that sweet regulatory agency. Though the salary is super average, your office is small, and the work is sometimes grueling since you don't really have the resources to beat the big ChemCo's, you're fighting the good fight. And you sleep tight at night.

Professor Monsanto. Salary: $75,000 

You knew that Ph.D would pay for itself one day. By mid-career, you're out of student debt, supporting a family, and have all these grad students swarming you. Who knew you'd have such a great supply of people eager to work for free in exchange for a letter of recommendation. You make them wash your car sometimes, too.

Senior Researcher, Mega Chemicals. Salary: $115,000 

You put in the work for a Ph.D in chemistry. If anyone knows what they're doing when it comes to chemistrifying up effective and safe pesticides for all purposes, it's you. All the biggest manufacturers want you to head that R&D―the salary up there is just an opener, and most of them are offering a signing bonus.