Former lawyer Lee Shulin’s pay fluctuated wildly over the years as she switched jobs in search of a career she could shine in. In her first job 14 years ago as a senior associate in a big law firm, she made an enviable $8,500 a month. That was cut by nearly half when she left the firm for the public sector in 2010, and it dipped even further when she switched to the recruitment industry, where her income depended a lot on commissions.