Hapless Volunteer. Salary: $0

You watched Pocahontas. That's enough training, right? You caged the hawks together with the baby rabbits so they can be friends, and you put those two injured bobcats together so they can talk through their differences. For some reason, the vet doesn't want you back.

Well-Intentioned Do-Gooder. Salary: $0

You're still a volunteer, but the shelter seems to think you're doing okay. They ask you to come in on weekends, and when you're there, you're always trying. You do get scratched an awful lot, and honestly, you still can't tell the difference between a broad wing and a black hawk, but you're working on it.

Paid Wildlife Rescuer. Salary: $20,000

You work for the shelter full-time, bringing in wounded animals and tending to the cages. You know your stuff, and you don't mind the long hours. On weekends, you teach a class at the local YMCA called "Animals That Don't Want to be Your Friend." It's tough work, but you love what you do.

Independent Wildlife Rescuer. Salary: $31,000

You put in your time working for a shelter, and now you're busting out on your own. You applied for—and received—a county permit, so now you run your own small team that cares for injured animals in your community. You're a frequent wildlife presenter at local schools, and you were even in the local paper. In town, people refer to you as "That Animal Guy."

Wildlife Center Director. Salary: $55,000

You run the big wildlife center in your region, and you're locally famous for your hard work and success. Your team got called when there was an oil spill, and since you all showed up and did excellent work, you're thinking you just might get called again sometime in the future. In the meantime, you're happy being a resource for smaller shelters in the area and championing the wildlife rescue cause.