How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real Stories. Career Insights

By Mirav Ozeri - Career Insights JournalistBusiness Entrepreneurship Arts Performing Arts Careers

How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real Stories. Career Insights episodes

May 18 Inside The Career Of a Death Investigator
We talk with legendary NYC death investigator Barbara Butcher about what it really takes to walk into a death scene, read the evidence, and help the dead get justice. We also get honest about the human cost, the pay, and what she learned from 23 years and more than 5,500 investigations. Barbara shares the realities of forensic investigation, the emotional toll of the job, how people enter this career field, and how much death investigators can make in cities like New York and across the U.S.
If you enjoyed this episode, head over to how much can I make that info and check out our unique and unusual careers category →
Connect with Barbara Butcher:
Instagram - @butcher.barbara
X - @OCMEForensics - https://x.com/OCMEForensics
Facebook Page - @barbarabutcherofficial - https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraButcherOfficialPage/
Website: https://www.barbarabutcherofficial.com/
Barbar's book: What The Dead Know →
Netflix Series: Homicide New York →
Watch Barbara on Oxygen’s new true-crime series: “The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher” →
0:00 A Teaser Death Scene Mystery
0:48 Welcome And What A Death Investigator Does
4:06 Training For The Job And Getting Hired
6:39 Reading A Life To Solve A Death
8:13 Families Truth And Testifying In Court
14:20 9-11 Recovery And The Toll
16:58 A Typical Day Then Pay Today
22:25 Cases That Haunt Cold Cases And New Tech
31:53 What The Dead Know
33:49 New Chapter, TV shows, reinventing yourself after retiring
38:25 Legacy Late Career Success And Closing

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Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
42 min
May 11 From Czechoslovakia to MoMA: How Sculptor Alex Kveton Built a Real Art Business
How to Build a Real Art Business: Selling Sculpture, Gallery Representation, and the Long Game - with Alex Kveton
What does it actually take to make a living as a sculptor? In this episode, we sit down with sculptor Alex Kveton and Barbara to trace a career that began with escaping communist Czechoslovakia and grew into a thriving fine art business - with stainless steel sculptures placed in prestigious institutions including MoMA and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, and represented by galleries across the United States.
We go beyond the highlight reel. Alex breaks down the unglamorous realities of building a sustainable creative career: navigating gallery commissions, pricing original sculpture, handling competition in the fine art market, and why there is no single "big break" - only consistent, strategic effort over time.
If you're an artist wondering how to sell sculpture, get gallery representation, price your work, or turn a creative practice into a real livelihood, this episode is a grounded, experience-backed roadmap.
Alex's Website: https://www.alexkveton.com/

Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
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Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
29 min
May 04 Landscape Designer Career & Pay: How to Start Garden Design with Dean Riddle
Landscape Designer Career
Landscape design is one of those careers that blends creativity with real earning potential - and you don’t need a degree to get started. In this episode, we talk with landscape designer and gardener Dean Riddle about what it actually takes to build a career in landscaping, what garden designers really do, and how much you can make.
We also talk about the realities of gardening in the Northeast- especially in places like New York and New Jersey - including short growing seasons, winter downtime, deer pressure, and how climate change is already changing what grows and when.
If you’re looking into landscaping careers, garden design jobs, or how to start a landscaping business without a degree, this episode gives you a clear, real-world look at what goes into the work and the potential earnings.
To hear more about good paying careers. You can build without a degree, head to HowMuchCanIMake.info We have over 80 episodes with a growing library of articles with real data and insights on different jobs. You can listen to people in those roles talk about what the day to day is really like, how they got in, and how much they make.
Dean's Gardens Pictures:
https://www.shelterupstate.com/journal/makingasplash
https://janeboothnewenglandgardens.com/2015/02/19/riddle-of-the-catskill-mountains-gardens-illustrated/
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
23 min
April 27 Jewelry Designer Career: Startup Costs & How to Build a Profitable Jewelry Business
Jewelry Designer
A jewelry business can look effortless online, but behind it is real work—pricing, production, sourcing, and staying profitable as gold and silver prices rise. In this episode, jewelry designer Serena Van Rensselaer breaks down how to build a jewelry brand, from learning silversmithing to turning it into a sustainable business. We cover jewelry designer income, pricing strategies, startup costs, and how revenue comes from direct sales, wholesale, and collaborations with movies like Flow.
If you’re searching for how to become a jewelry designer, jewelry business income, or creative careers in New York and beyond, this episode gives a clear, real-world look at what it takes.
Curious about other creative jobs and what they actually pay? Visit HowMuchCaniMake.info and explore the Creative Careers category. You’ll find episodes featuring working professionals who explain how they got started, what the job is really like, and realistic salary ranges—so you can make informed career decisions.
Connect with Serena:
Website: https://www.serenavr.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenavanrensselaer/
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
21 min
April 20 Career Reinvention: How One Producer Pivoted Across Industries
Career Reinvention
Thinking about changing careers? We talk with Cynthia Cohen about how she pivoted without starting over by building on existing skills instead of erasing the past. From New York to today’s remote work landscape, we break down what it really takes to switch careers, stay competitive in a shifting job market, manage fear, and turn your experience into new opportunities.

Cynthia's Website: https://rightarmproductions.com/
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
20 min
April 13 TV Producer Career Insights: Behind the Scenes After Filming Ends
TV Producer Career Insights
Explore the career insights of a TV producer with Robin Feldman as she reveals what happens after filming wraps. This episode delves into the essential post-production phases, from managing tight deadlines and budgets to overcoming daily production challenges. Robin shares her journey breaking into the TV industry in Vancouver, highlighting key success factors like persistence, professionalism, and collaboration in a showrunner-driven environment.

Gain valuable job advice about broadcast vs. streaming schedules, union dynamics, freelance work, negotiating rates, and how side hustles can boost earnings. Whether you're considering a career change or curious about career opportunities in television production, this episode offers practical tips and insider knowledge about the job market and making money in the entertainment industry.

Additional related episodes include insights from a TV camera woman, a sitcom writer, and a network TV news editor, providing diverse perspectives on career paths in the TV world.
* Listen to the camera woman episode: <https://www.howmuchcanimake.info/episodes/tv-camera-woman-invisible-yet-essential?rq=tv>
* Listen to the Sitcom writer episode episode<https://www.howmuchcanimake.info/episodes/mcox9j001f097nm6l0gaanemfr0fns?rq=sitcom>
* Listen to Network TV News editor <https://www.howmuchcanimake.info/episodes/the-job-of-tv-news-editor?rq=tv%20news%20editor>
This episode was first published in February. 2025
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
33 min
April 06 Inside a NASA Contractor Job: Systems Engineer Salary & Artemis Missions
Systems Engineer
This week—timely with Artemis II—we revisit a standout episode with NASA contractor systems engineer Johanna Siegel.
Johanna reveals what it really takes to build mission-critical hardware for the Artemis program—and the career opportunities and earnings potential that come with it. In this deep dive, discover how engineers translate complex requirements like radiation protection and life support systems into hardware that protects astronaut lives, plus real salary insights and how to break into aerospace engineering careers.
If you're exploring aerospace engineering, space careers, or high-paying STEM jobs, this episode gives a clear look at the real work behind keeping humans alive in space.
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
26 min
March 30 A Photographer's Job: Inside the Business of Photography
Photographer
In this episode of How Much Can I Make?, we dive into the world of photography as a career, exploring job ideas, earnings, and success factors with professional photographer Phil Mansfield. From the early days of film to modern lifestyle assignments, Phil shares career insights and explains how a photography career evolves over time.
We break down how photographers get paid, how creative professionals price their work, and why usage rights and licensing fees are critical to understanding the real value of an image.
Along the way, we uncover career opportunities and essential skills that separate professionals from amateurs, even in the smartphone era. The real value lies in vision, storytelling, reliability, and problem-solving for clients.
If you’ve ever wondered how to become a professional photographer, what photographers earn, and how the business functions, this episode offers clear career insights and practical job advice behind the lens.
Connect with Phil Mansfield
Website: https://www.philmansfield.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philmansfieldphotography/
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
30 min
March 23 Fencing Coach Career: Salary, Training & How to Get Started
Fencing Coach
What does it take to turn fencing into a rewarding career—and how much can a fencing coach earn?
In this episode of How Much Can I Make?, fencing coach Pamela Dressel shares invaluable career insights about making money in this niche sport. She dives into lightning-fast strategy and the unglamorous grind of footwork and conditioning.
We cover coaching income, private lessons, club models, and the real skills behind the sport—strategy, discipline, and teaching.
If you’re curious about niche sports careers or looking for a unique path with earning potential, this episode gives you a clear, practical look inside the fencing world.

Connect with Pamela:
Pam's fencing club: https://www.ontargetfencingclub.com/
USA fencing site: https://www.usafencing.org
Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
27 min
March 16 Hypnosis as a Career: Inside the Job of a Professional Hypnotherapist
Hypnotists
Explore the intriguing career opportunities in hypnosis with a professional hypnotist Tommy Giorlando.
In this episode we dive deep into the job market for hypnotists, uncovering what the work entails, the training required, and the factors that contribute to success in this unique field. Tommy shares valuable career insights about how hypnosis works, its practical benefits, and why this profession is more than just stage shows. Discover earnings breakdowns between stage performances and private hypnotherapy sessions, and learn how making money as a hypnotist is achievable through building client trust and sustained business strategies.
Whether you’re considering a career change, interested in side hustles, or curious about entrepreneurship in alternative professions, this episode offers essential job advice and inspiration for your career journey.
Connect with Tommy
Website: http://www.hockeytownhypnotist.com
10% discount on first session: https://hockeytownhypnotist.com/referral-discount?am_id=mirav7749
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommygiorlando/

Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Take my QUICK CAREER QUIZ and see your matches, NO EMAIL, NO HUSTLE, just 5 questions:
Visit howmuchcanimake.info
Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.
In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.
39 min