Fish Out of Water. Salary: $1000 or less 

The first day of swim class you have no idea how to teach fifteen four-year-olds how to swim simultaneously. You forget to make a lesson plan; one kid won't stop screaming; another tells his mother he almost drowned, even though he wouldn't even get in far enough to get his head wet. You're a fish out of water...in the water.

Summer Job. Salary: $5000

You like your job as a lifeguard and swim instructor at a local summer camp. They also expect you to keep track of the chlorination in the pool and keep things clean. It's a nice gig, but after the summer the pool closes and you're out of a job. It was nice while it lasted.

Full-time Teaching. Salary: $22,000

You've been teaching swim classes at the YMCA since high school and they finally promote you to full-time instructor. Your salary jumps from $10 an hour to $11.25 an hour. Go buy yourself an ice cream cone to celebrate—better make it a junior cone, with a coupon.

High School Swim Coach. Salary: $50,000

You're so happy you went back to school to get your teaching degree. Now you are in charge of the high school girls' swim team and make an extra $3,000 a year on top of your salary teaching health class. You don't even mind that you have no personal life, as you have swim practice every day after school and meets on weekends. The local swim club is even offering you a summer position to head up their swim team when you're not teaching. Things are looking up.

Swim-School Owner. Salary: $60,000+

You've made a splash in the swimming world and have coached your high school team's national victory. Now you've decided to open up your own private swim academy so that you can make a good income and have freedom in your schedule. You even give classes in Hawaii. You're doing what you love, you swim every day. You're healthy, happy, and life is good.