Hah! there's a big difference between doing something as a career and making a living from it! You simply can't do it for the money, trust me, there are better ways. Most of us build because we are called to do so and it's a vocation that I don't question anymore. I built my first "instrument" when I was seven and started building dulcimers in high school. I started building ukes 21 years ago on Molokai and currently build 45 to 50 ukes a year. I'm still waiting for the money! And that's "working" 60 to 70 hours a week. But there is nothing else I would choose to do. And except for the days on end when I have to sand and buff, every work day seems like a day off.
As far as building your first uke goes, a kit from someone like Hana Lima is a great way to start. You'll immediately know whether or not it's something you want to pursue. And as opposed to "the old days" (I learned from tearing apart Kamakas) there are a ton of resources on the Internet. Even YouTube has some worth while tutorials.
Keep it fun.
Chuck Moore
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
http://www.moorebetahukes.com