Boardwalk Emperor. Salary: $21,000 or less 

After only three years of drawing caricatures on the boardwalk, you've put all the other street artists out of business. The boardwalk is yours, and yours alone. Now go tell your six roommates and celebrate with all the ramen and Ding Dongs today's take of $78 can buy.

Indie Movie Storyboard Artist. Salary: $32,000 

You decided to answer a Craigslist posting on a whim, and ended up doing storyboard and production sketches for a low-budget indie film. You were (admit it) surprised to actually get paid for your time, and even more surprised when you got hired by another crew right after. The money's not great, but the gigs should be fun...while they last.

Contract Police Sketch Artist. Salary: $44,380 

You took the time to learn all sorts of forensic identification skills, from sketch work to bone identification. It's been such an asset to the force, that they've even given you a full time job with the department. It's up to you whether or not you tell Lt. Daniels that the suspect you just drew is looking preeetty similar to his brother in law.

Dog Portraits for the Rich and Famous. Salary: $53,000 

You certainly didn't mean to end up here, but here you are, capturing Shmoodle-Doopums' best side in portraiture for a framed position of honor above Ms. Appletree's fireplace mantle. This is the ninth poodle portrait you've drawn this month, and you're beginning to see a trend. Shrug it off—after all, you could be drawing her bratty children.

Hoity-Toity Gallery Artist. Salary $92,000 

After selling a courtroom sketch to a national paper, hushed whispers of "Da Vinci-esque chiaroscuro" began circulating the elite underground art scene. Before you knew it, you had a sales agent and were being whisked around the country to exhibit your work at fancy art shows. You only sell about one piece a year, but no matter. They go for nearly $100,000 each.