First Job. Salary: $20,000 or less 

You get hired by Zales on a trial basis. The first week in, you warn the customer that your entire stock is full of badly colored gems with large inclusions. You feel good about being honest with your customer all the way to the unemployment line.

Jewelry Designer. Salary: $30,000

Your first week on the job as a designer and you get a very valuable stone that famous rapper, Jazzy Dee Jay Dee asks you to fit into a setting for his new fiance's ring. You make one hairline cut in it and it breaks in half. Where's that super glue?

Auction House Gemologist. Salary: $40,000

You've been properly appraising for a while and are selected to judge an art find on a 200-carat diamond. You'll get a nice commission, but nowhere near what the diamond is worth.

Jewelry Store Appraiser. Salary: $50,000

You find work doing what you love, appraising fine stones in the estate jewelry section of a posh Beverly Hills Jeweler. Everyone loves you and your services are sought out by the rich old ladies every day. Too bad you can't clear enough money in a paycheck to live anywhere near the neighborhood you work in.

Jeweler to the Stars. Salary: $150,000

You design your own line of rings and big jewelry that attracts the attention of Hollywood starlets and the entire rap community. Everyone wants your help picking out the best bling for their buck. They make you famous and you end up opening up your own shop in Beverly Hills. You buy yourself a summer home in the Caribbean. Life is good.