Entry-Level Tech. Salary: $29,000 

You're just getting your start, so you can't complain about the pay yet. Plus, you've been told that if you just stick with it, you'll get a raise soon. You decide to take a certification course, just to make sure that raise happens sooner rather than later.

Dreamin' of that Degree. Salary: $31,000 

You've been working at the same hospital for eight years, and you're starting to get the urge to expand your horizons (and fatten up your wallet a bit). Maybe it's time to get that associate's degree and move up a little in the world. Finding time to go to school, though, is another story.

Climbin' the Ladder. Salary: $34,000 

Well, it turns out everyone from your mom to your high school English teacher was right: having the degree makes a difference. You had your pick of hospitals when deciding which job offer to accept. After long and careful thought, you chose the one with the highest salary, the nicest co-workers, and the best coffee.

Best of the Bunch. Salary: $40,000 

It pays to stick with something. Despite the crazy pace of life and the erratic schedule, you still love what you do, even after so many years. The newbie techs all look up to you as a fount of wisdom...a fount of wisdom with an enviable paycheck.

Scoping out Retirement. Salary: $45,000 

All those years of work have paid off. You're kicking it in the lap of luxury at a private hospital, where you only see a handful of patients a day, and that paycheck you're getting would have you believing you're working a lot harder than you actually are. You're glad you stuck it out in the early days, because this is so worth it.