Public politics is clearly a loss leader for a much more lucrative career in private politics. Since Sarah Palin quit her Alaska governor position in July 2009, the hybrid Republican-Tea Partier has dwarfed some recent high profile salaries on Wall Street.

Palin pulled a modest $125,000 a year as governor of Alaska. In nine short months as a private worker, she has raked in a cool $12 million. That’s almost a 1000% pay increase. Here’s how she did it:

Speaking Engagements

Palin receives an average $100,000 for speaking at a single event, as arranged by the Washington Speakers Bureau. However, she doubled that to $200,000 to speak at a fundraising event for the Juravinski Cancer Center and St. Peter’s Hospital in Canada.

TV Show: Sarah Palin’s Alaska

The Discovery Channel (DISCA) will reportedly pay Palin $250,000 for each episode of her new reality show Sarah Palin’s Alaska. The show is scheduled for 8 episodes, bringing the total to $2 million.

*Palin’s earnings from Fox News (NWS) have not been disclosed.

Book: Going Rogue

Palin reportedly received $7 million from Harper Collins to write her autobiography Going Rogue.

I still think Sarah Palin is one of the savviest business women around …