Ask HN: How do you earn your money?

I'm currently a student and wonder how developers tend to earn their money? Do you work for someone as an employee or have you got your own company? Or is it a mixture of both throughout your careers?

I do work part time as a developer in a start up and can't help feeling i'm building a dream for someone else. Not that the experience isn't really good, (It definitely is and I learn more in work than in uni!) but i can't help feeling that the current university paradigm of work hard, good grades, get a job seems to be bit of a misnomer unless you're happy building things to make others wealthy whilst you earn £30,000 a year?

Unless i'm missing something important, I am young and naive after all!

This is a subjective question. I just want to get a few thoughts especially from you old timers who want to tell a youngster some home truths! :)