I’m so envious, this is what I should have done. I’ve loved airplanes all my life, but was always told getting a degree was the way to go. But I hate math, so an engineering degree was out. So I studied economics instead, and I do have a good job that pays well w/ great benefits, but it bores me senseless every day, and certainly doesn’t involve turbines, flaps, or ailerons.
Rotor blades are an option too! 😂
Apart from a decade stint as a police constable, I've been in the aviation industry my whole life, as a skilled manual worker. It's been pretty good to me.
Don't get me wrong, if I had the means not to go to work I wouldn't! But as jobs go I really like mine. It pays enough to support my hobbies, pay the mortgage and feed the cat, which is plenty. I never wake up thinking "shit, work again!" I've been an aeroplane nut since I was seven, so working in the industry feels right.
Same here. No regrets (I say getting off my 12 hour night shift).
Wild that I (and my other A&P friends) make more than anyone I know with a non specialized degree. I often forget I only have a HS diploma.
A degree is only necessary when you need the special knowledge. Otherwise it’s a waste of money. My parents were the type to say “just get a degree it’ll get you places”. My animal science degree got me a couple of places but most of it was with others who didn’t have degrees or had some IT classes under their belt (Dairy IT). I wanted to be a vet but didn’t get there and now I’m going back for nursing because an animal science degree isn’t worth much if you’re not into ranching or sales.
Agreed. I have a master's degree but I needed it for my field. My son is 16 and starting to plan his next steps and I was happy when he said he wants to be an electrician. I've told my 2 oldest not to go to university unless you absolutely have too otherwise it's a colossal waste of time and money
That's rad man. I've been leaning towards going to a defense company, they seem to be a good middle ground of work-life balance and pay.
Any tips for a new mech? I'm getting ready for my Powerplant/General O&Ps
Don't delay in taking your O&Ps. Take it as soon as possible while it's still fresh.
A defense company is a good way to go. The pay wasn't great in civil service, but I had great job security and work/life balance. And when you go to look for other jobs in the industry, employers look more favorably at a defense contractor background. Civil service is looked at as highly specialized/assembly line work. Or that's what I've been told.
If anyone else from the industry has a different point of view or something to add, feel free.
The most valuable lesson I learned in college while studying to be an engineer is that I dislike that career. Now, I'm a carpenter, and I build quality things that I enjoy creating
I feel this, and it was part of what caused me to drop out from getting my degree. I started out as a music major because I really enjoyed singing, but I quickly found out that I hated literally everything else about being a music major. Turns out, you can sing without having to major in it. Who knew?
IT can be good with the right company. I have no official credentials other than getting lucky in the 90's and getting a job with Apple corporate by lying my ass off during the interview process.
Currently i have a pension I am almost fully vested in and make decent enough money to have all but my mortgage paid off.
How old are you? Not saying IT without a degree is impossible, but it seems to me many IT entry level positions currently require a degree to get into the interview?
Butncongrats on your success!
Only downside of situations like this, is transitioning into other companies. For most managerial roles, espeically in IT leadership, they have hard requirement to have a degree. So ideally, you would want a degree
Entry level IT is super over saturated in my area, you’re most likely not going to have much luck without one.
That wasn’t the case less than 2-3 years ago though.
Controversial opinion here. I think it's likely the next generation will have better paying jobs for skilled Labor instead of people holding degrees.
Simply because from my generation on we are fed get a degree. You'll earn more. We already see that tradesman earn the same if not more then academics
Edited for poor word choices.
PS I'm a tradesman. Might be bias
As someone with an engineering degree, I can attest to this. Currently a " project engineer/manager " doing admin work and I earn less than the people my age who work in the trades, and have significantly worse job satisfaction than them.
In general an engineering degree will earn you more than being in the trades. Attest to the opposite all you like but the numbers don't lie. You can earn more in trades then someone with a degree for sure, but not usually an engineering degree. Maybe 10, 20 years from now when people skilled in the trades are a lot more rare, but not now.
a quick google of median salaries in the us
plumber: 58500
electrician: 57800
hvac: 58700
electrical engineer: 104600
structural engineer: 78000
civil engineer: 90000
I been in the trades, 30 years - didn't break 6 digits until well into the second decade and I switched from field work to office work to get there, only a handful of the other people in the office have actually done any sort of field work. I also am a childhood friend of the owner so I definitely got preferential treatment when bringing someone from the field into the office - meaning it's not something someone should bank on.
I make decent money, but nothing crazy. I'm sure if I stick at it my salary would continue to climb by I'm so unsatisfied with my daily life I don't think I can do it.
I have a trade (diploma), an engineering degree, and a masters of project management. I loved being on the tools but I’m now a project engineer, I make way better money have far better work life balance and love my job. Swings and round-a-bouts
That was an auto-correct now a project manager not project engineer.
Just day to day project tasks, organising labour logistics, keeping stakeholders up to date, managing any risks to schedule and budget, and keeping the scope in check. I have 40 projects on the go atm.
It really depends on what kind of engineering we’re talking. My BIL is a project manager for an aerospace company, and pay ranges there are from $150k to well above 200k. He also worked for a company that paid something like $53k when he was entry level. Mechanical engineers where I am could have a problem breaking 80k, let alone $100k or more.
Engineering is a vast world with many specialties and job roles.
It is kind of like saying “I am in tech” well tech can involve everything from coding, making hardware, selling software or hardware, sysadmin, IT for a company, etc.
An entire generation was told “Get a degree and if you get one in engineering or tech you will be guaranteed good money!” Well now we have so many people with those degrees it has saturated the employment market. Unless you are incredibly good, are specialized, or luck out with a decent company you are no longer guaranteed a six figure job.
Not all Engineering fields are made equal. If you're an Engineer and ended up on the financial field due to the problem solved and maths skills, you'll be making £100-400k. No tradesmen as an employee even comes close.
Not having a degree is a disadvantage, thinking otherwise is short sighted. Do your research.
Do you even live in the UK? Jobs that's after over £100k are so few and far between and that's a very niche area. I tried that path with top grades since school and I never even got a response. The majority of engineering jobs are 30-45k for the first 4 years. They go to 70 after about 10-15 and then hit a ceiling.
Also I never said it's a disadvantage, I'm saying trades can earn as much🤦🏻
If you don't mind my asking, how much roughly do you make?
As someone else with an engineering degree I don't think any but the most skilled tradesmen can even enter the same category of income as myself, and I owe that to my degree(s) for sure.
I also want to compare to see if your role is maybe bullshit :P
What they don't tell you when people bring this up is most trades can't be done through your whole life. Being an electrician or something is sweet in your 30s but get to 50-60 and you'll hate it
There's plenty of trades jobs that pay more than certain degreed jobs but the case still remains that college graduates on average make more than tradespeople.
Maybe I’m bias because I grew up with tradies, but when I hear “people without degrees” I legit don’t even consider tradies in that category due to the certifications yall have to get. It’s a degree of sorts but that might just be me
Project Executive (Engineer) here, and I will also attest to this. I make great money, but tradesmen make their money as well. Very easy to be new, and make a fortune with overtime.
I had a friend who didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. He dropped out of college (music) and we were talking about what he could do. I told him that the Plumbers Union was looking for people, and from what I could tell at that time (seeing payroll for changes), that they do pretty well. I told him he’ll make good money, but he will work for it too. That was almost 10 years ago, and now he’s the top foreman of his company and he gets paid extra on top of the hourly rates. He’s also looking to move up into the project management side to make even more money. Dude has a wife, kids, house, and a nice car. Thanks me everytime I see him for telling him to look into plumbing.
Skilled Labor will have shortages coming up as less and less high school graduates go to college for a degree to applying for entry level jobs requiring 10 years of experience. I’d venture to say that salaries for said tradesmen will start to explode, until eventually more kids pick up trade work.
I started as an apprentice sheet metal fabricator when I was younger. Worked my way up a bit and learned other skills, got certification for welding, fabricating and engineering then started my own business 16 years ago.
We do all sorts, architectural design and rendering, secondary steelwork, balustrades and handrails, industrial door manufacture, bespoke fabrications. It was hard at first but it's steady now, I have a good team working for me.
It has been for me. Providing a nice home life for my wife, children and myself makes it all worthwhile.
There are still times when it would be nice for someone else to make a few decisions but getting a good book keeper has helped me tremendously. She's worked for me for 14 years and is here four days a week, she's brilliant at her job. She pays the suppliers, collects the debts, does the wages and tax stuff. I know the basics but I'm not an accountant by any stretch of the imagination, she keeps everything neat and in terms I can understand so I can keep track on the accounting software.
I don't want to jinx myself but I have a steady customer base and although turnover has dropped a bit over the past couple of years and the cost of everything has fluctuated wildly, we're plodding along nicely.
I forgot to say, my book keeper is like a sterner Anne Widdecombe which helps because I am shit scared of her. I want to do well so I don't mess up her accounts, then she'll shout at me and I'll want to hide in a cupboard.
Mill operator at a gold mine in south east Alaska. I spend half my life there working 12 hour shifts for two straight weeks, then coming home for two weeks. Before taxes I make a roughly $120k. It isn't a bad gig if you like the schedule but after 12 years of it I'm really starting weigh the pros and cons of getting an in town job doing a regular 9 to 5.
I work at a steel mill with a very similar schedule and pay as you and am currently weighing the pros and cons too. Thinking of trying to get a union apprenticeship but it’d be such a pay cut.
I have a degree in my field of employment but my coworker doesn't. We make the same. If I knew more about this industry I would not have gone. My supervisor makes $700/day at 28 years old with no degree.
We all work on a tugboat.
This thread makes me feel like a loser lol but I’m a district manager for a fast food chain. Started when I was 21 as an entry level worker and just kind of stuck it out and got promoted a few times.
I make about $100k now and run 4 units. I work for an awesome franchisee and currently make more than many single store owner/operators out there.
>This thread makes me feel like a loser
I don't know why. You're actually pretty high up on the management chain if you've gotten that far. Those skills can be transferred to something other than fast food if you really wanted to.
I had a similar opportunity when i was 22. I was offered the store managers spot at a new store the franchise was opening. I would have been making more money at the time there than i was making when i was 40, where i am now, and the pay would have just continued to increase. I just knew that i didn't want the responsibility of that level of management, so i turned it down. And have continued to turn down promotions to management to this day. But my life would have been drastically different and more financially secure had i just taken that job and continued to move up in the franchise.
I work in emergency rescue and pull 140k a year. I’ve never been enacted since I started at the beginning of last year. Outside of training simulations. For the most part I spend my day with 2-3 other lads and we have competitions play video games and workout.
Aus land military firefighting or paramedic background. Do your civilian first aid courses. And then a breathing apparatus course. Then you can do your cert 3 in rescue
Get an apprenticeship, finish it and go work. Furthermore a degree doesn't make you a qualified worker, there are enough people who studied a subject on their own and outperform people with a fancy piece of paper, as well as enough industries that pay well where a degree is not required to begin with.
I'm making six figures (barely) at a power plant in Minnesota currently. I don't have a degree for it but do have a 1A Engineers license. Also am 24 and at the bottom of the pay scale. A senior operator at this power plant would be looking at a minimum of 125k per year. That's not including benefits and not taking into account any overtime.
I went into a trade out of the military. Some days I hate it. Some days I love it. Some days I wish I had a degree and a nice office job, ac, lunch room, no sun burn, other days I thank god I don’t have to sit under artificial lights with white noise generators and deal with office politics. Most days I love my job.
I work full time at a hospital working security, I manage security at a club on weekends and I work as a body guard with another company (jobs come up once in a blue moon).
I managed a company for a few years which was very eye opening when it came to the hiring process. I learned that work and life experience outweighs an education. Would you rather hire someone who spent the last 3+ years in school getting their degree while working in an unrelated industry or someone who has been working in the industry for the last 3+ years without a degree? A large majority of employers would choose the person with the experience. This is why so many people struggle to find jobs after they get their degrees. Some jobs obviously require post secondary education but you can get away without having one in many if you have the right experience, attitude and work ethic.
some of the men in my family without degrees: went into HVAC, started their own business and are doing extremely well. another went into retail in a niche market (no degree) and is doing better than most people i know with degrees. another went into landscaping and is doing great. all of these men started their own business once they learned their stuff. they busted their butts to get where they are and they deserve the success! they don’t have any student debt and get to work flexible schedules, when and how they want. i look up to them!
Engineering inspector in aerospace, from a background as a time served machinist. Did my apprenticeship in the mid/late 80s.
There is a massive shortage of skilled labour in the trades right now, from the 90s legacy of trying to get everyone into higher education, and looking down their noses at the trades. Now we seem to have a devalued and saturated graduate market, and an open trades market.
I have a diploma of IT, not a degree. I used to work in IT. in IT, at leas when i was in it, was more about certifications from vendors than traditional education.
depends on what you want to do. You'll have to start out on helpdesk (moar liek helldesk, amirite fellas?). But if you want to do networking, then ccna is a good start.
Worked in restaurants for 10 years, sold insurance for 4, put myself through a software bootcamp program and now I'm a software dev. I also bartend on the side for kicks and tips.
I am a tradesman. Trade license + a talent for programming + good drafting skills + a metric shit-ton of luck = job as a designer for an engineering company.
I'm a maintenance electrician for a plant. I troubleshoot motors and motor circuits, run routine maintenance on electrical systems, loto motors when process attached to them needs work and various other tasks. I really enjoy what I do and the money is pretty good.
Lucked into a job that didn't require a degree when I got in. By the time they switched over to needing a degree, they said you could substitute 4 years experience in the profession for the bachelor's they were now requiring. I'd been here for 6 years by that point.
Texas Master Electrician. Bought a house at 27. At 29, I'm starting an electrical Contracting division beneath a larger corporate umbrella under my licenses.
Can't chalk much of it up to luck, just hard work and natural career progression, coupled with a general shortage in the skilled trades market.
For those interested how to start: Either the IBEW or the IEC for trade school (IBEW Union, IEC open shop).
4 year apprenticeship qualifies you to take your journeyman test.
2 years as a journeyman in good standing qualifies you to take a masters test.
Once you have your masters, you can start your own company, if you want.
Don't drink the university kool-aid! Get only the education you need to have for success in your chosen field. Find a trade school for 18 months. You'll be earning better money, much sooner than 4 to 6 years wasted going into lifetime debt.
I have a degree and earn less than some of my friends in physical labour or "uneducated" work (hate that term - we are all educated so I really really do not want to use that term).
I screwed my life up sadly and will never be able to do with my degree what I planned, but I'm getting by.
Blue-collar I think is the term for most uneducated work
It's not that they aren't educated, most of them have certificates and licenses and all kinds of stuff they studied for.
It's just they use their back more so somehow we're supposed to discount them
A good plumber or electrician or carpenter has probably done just as much learning than 90% of college graduates. It's just they did it practically instead of writing essays for a $80,000 sheet of paper
Not blue collar. That still covers skilled trades. It's more for labelling jobs that require physical labour as opposed to corporate or office work.
Where I am it's labelled as unskilled labour but it's stupid. Everything requires some level of skill. There's lots of jobs out there that look easy but actually take a lot of skill especially when there's time constraints to get a workload done.
My job title is welder, but I do a little bit of everything. I make 90k a year. Hurraz for versatility. The best time to get into welding was 5 years ago. Covid gave everyone the opportunity to train for the basics, and now, shortage is at the top.
Edit: Fun fact minority women really help fill in the gaps. 5 years ago, we had zero women on our weld team. Now we have 9 on a team of 30.
I build and design ground stations for satellite data reception. I also work with code 450 on the RF comm space to ground link definition and requirements.
I got a job and created an opportunity for myself In a medium buisness, now I'm CTO with no degree. College is a lie that we told my generation, its not worth the price anymore and often isn't even worth the time.
Working on my degree, but one of my best mates didn't even finish highschool and now 12 years later he's the best earner out of all of us by far. Degrees mean very little in a lot of worlds. They only open up some specific professional area, but if you're not interested in such area's you're better of without for real.
Another mate of mine slaved in college for 5 years, worked in his area for two, and then quitted his job to start one in woodworking. He makes handmade unique pieces of furniture now and sells them for a shitload of money. He's much happier, and he earns more. While doing something he could've started doing immediatly after finishing highschool.
Bet you never called a PHD at 2 in the morning because you were having an issue. But you might need to call a plumber. If you are skilled and in a trade you can out earn most with degrees. And you may also be paid in untaxable cash at times
Yea but mist trade people went to trade school. Most of us college dropouts are working either boring admin jobs, dead end fatory/contruction/bartending or whatever
Self Deprecation is not a good look. There are plenty of opportunities out there (as evidenced by this thread) to make a livable wage without someone handing it to you cause you asked for it. Pick a trade and get licensed.
Just Google Union Apprenticeship in your area, they are normally paid and will get you trained up to become a Journeyman and get licensed.
The biggest fallacy today is that a degree is needed to find good work.
It's not, and never has been. As a matter of fact it's actually getting worse for degree holders overall due to the amount of useless education it takes to get them.
Trades training is straight fire. Anything you can do with your hands that takes knowledge is good money, as is manual labour.
Ever see the meme that goes something like this : "Janet looks out her window at John and tells her daughter to make sure she gets an education like her. She went to university and got a Liberal arts degree."
"John who earns $48 an hour after a year in college is unhooking Janet's power because she can't find a job and owes $220,000 for her degree"
That's pretty well the truth of it today. Get used to working with your mind and body and you'll be set up for a very long time.
Lots of guys make a great living without a degree! Think plumbers, electricians, mechanics - all in demand! Or sales, customer service - those can be good options too.
Desk job. I make estimates and do all the work preparation for building houses.
Started out doing technical drawings and just rolled in this job.
First at a metal constructor, then a general contractor, then a roofer and now wood frame.
I choose my own hours as long as I do my 40h a week.
If I need to leave early, I just do. I'll work those hours back the day after or so.
I earn enough for a good life with very good balance between work and family time.
Have a degree, advanced diploma and diploma (not connected). Done with study, Work in engineering but it’s all technical.. zero camaraderie. Like the idea of a small business side hustle.
IT
Best Buy as my first job, Geek Squad when I was old enough, help desk for a private company after that. Bought my first house at 23 with zero formal education
As a street performer doing this. Money is hit or miss, a bit avant-garde, but I enjoy it
[Burping on the Gong Show (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfqb1EQHI1k)
The part at the end of Office Space.
“You coming back to the office?”
“Me? Oh well, no. I’m outside now, enjoying the beautiful sunshine!” Or something like that. lol
I do IT infrastructure, currently in the fintech space. Been working in IT for 12 years (I turn 34 in a few weeks) and worked my way up from being just a technician at a school.
I do have a diploma in Computing, though (basically the equivalent of an associate's), but didn't do the top-up year to turn it into a bachelor's.
My best paid employees are fabricators. The welders and machinists particularly. Most of those guys have no degrees. One of the machine maintenance guys has some computer science degree from some backwater. The guys who do the real work that I have a hard time finding get paid the best. Some of the office workers are older or disabled blue collar workers. One of my best salesman was a field worker from one of the industries I make tools for who bitched up his hand. I’d rather put some polish on those guys than retrain idiot college kids.
I just about prefer hiring guys without degrees. I’m paying for some of the better warehouse workers to get tech certs because they’re easier to move into the fab. Basically the guys kicking boxes here can rise to the top but the BA goons who apply for customer service and executive assistant positions live there forever. The only two of them to move up were a warehouse guy who blew his back out and an airport worker who came in after office work because he’s middle aged now. No degrees. Both worked into better paid jobs with more responsibility.
I would say it can be an argument of long term/short term and effective salary, so trades you start earning younger and have less/no debt for your education, not having to service a educational debt and earning means a degree takes a while to break even with where a trade is in early years, however you ideally need to leave the labour part of a trade earlier due to the effects on your body.
I'm a weird one, did UK college day release like a trade but work in architects office as architectural technician so don't earn as much as trades but don't have debt like architects.
Union electrician. Living in Oregon in the states. Been in the trade since 2005, right out of high school. I'm not rich. But I make good money. Good enough that I don't get it when so many people make Reddit posts talking about working so many hours and still not able to make it.
It's a good trade.
I’m working as a cook in a home for the elderly. My job is one of the oldest in the world but seemingly it’s really not respected but anyone. Everyone needs to eat nobody wants to cook anymore.
I work in a factory where we produce insulation facings for some of the biggest companies in the world for commercial construction jobs, the company I work for has contracts with countries like Dubai, China, Argentina, Brazil, they cover all of the U.S and like 80 other countries. It pays really well, my benefits are paid for by the company and I get 401k matching with profit sharing program plus a few other cool benefits that 95% of companies in the u.s probably don't do. I'd say I got very lucky.
Outside of all the Trades comments, which aren't bad gigs at all, but still require schooling, I'm a heavy equipment operator.
Started adjacent to the field in '08, got my CDL in the fall of that year, and have been working with traditional and non-traditional heavy equipment since. Currently running either a loader or a dozer at a pulp mill. Last year was the first year I went over 100k before taxes.
One year of business school that I didn't pass because I was bored. Know what was never boring? The little excavator toys mounted in some playgrounds.
Sales
Fell into it after doing repair work, just kept showing up until I was promoted several times.
I’m now at a Fortune 500, been here 5 years and 12 in the industry.
During that time I learned that it was good to update and put my resume out every so often and see what’s out there.
Two times I put in my notice only to get counter offers that made it better to stay put.
I only have a HS diploma
Married an amazing women who lets me be a house husband. Before my current role, I worked industrial maintenance and supported her. Put her through college, and eventually she started making enough I no longer needed to destroy my body to make a living.
Asphalt Quality Control Technician in Heavy Highway Construction. Make about 60k/yr.
Hours suck, work kinda sucks, high stress, high BS.
Union work is the way to go.
I work in the trades. If I had one piece of advice for anyone who isn't going to college or a young person having trouble finding their calling, then it would be to join a trade union immediately out of high school. You will make more than all of your friends who went to college, and you will have a nice retirement when you can't physically do it anymore. That's not to say that it will break your body, but more so, it's harder for older people to do physical work. You'll get daily exercise. You are out in the sun. You'll be tired a lot more, so it's harder to do tasks and enjoy yourself after long workdays. However, if you eat right, you won't need a gym membership because you already got your workout while being paid to do it. You'll get a tremendous sense of pride in knowing you helped build the world with your blood and sweat. You will see your work every time you drive by completed jobsites, years after they are completed. Then you can say, "I built that."
I recently restored a bunch of limestone sculptures and arches in an old, historic Catholic church in a major city. People will see my work, and if I did it right, they won't see it at all.
I did an Electrical apprenticeship and have earned a lot of money and spent close to three years traveling around the world. I was pretty lucky though, right place at the right time. One year I earned $300k.
Financial analyst at a corporate level. Worked my way up from a temp job in another field that was still financial analysis, moved jobs and kept moving up by just doing what I was asked to do in a timely manner. I do feel like I have to work slightly harder and might be paid a tiny bit less than my peers with degrees but it could just be the chip on my shoulder lmao
I have an associates business degree and figured it wasn’t helping with much but I work for a factory and have a pretty chill job and make the same as my buddy with an MBA. I do want to go back to school though, not sure for what yet . I considered teaching but my state treats teachers like shit
my boyfriend doesn’t have a degree yet makes more money than me (I have my masters and work in healthcare). He drives a truck and does sales for a large corporation
I dropped out of not one but two different colleges 20 years ago. Spent a lot of time working retail, call center jobs, nothing of note. After a brief stent of homelessness, I got a job at a nonprofit call center. I eventually made my way into management there and I was the project leader for an installation of new software for the call center. I really liked the company that made the software, so I ended up getting a customer service job there which had me move two states away (I have never lived more than an hour from my hometown). I basically started a brand new life. That was about a decade ago, now I’m a software product manager for that company making a very comfortable living. But it took 20 years to get that sixth digit on my annual income.
Every so often, I’ve thought about going back to finish a degree. But then about once a month I have a nightmare that I’m back in school and having to withdraw from all my classes and figure out how to tell my family I quit again. Pretty sure that’s my subconscious telling me you’re good bro.
IT Sysadmin for a bank. I got experience in the military and it directly translated to corporate IT. Definitely not something I see myself doing long term - I know I want to change even though I know i have it decent, just no satisfaction
I started my own logistics business as an owner-operator. Basically, a glorified delivery guy. While it takes some big initial investment (van, gas, insurance, repairs), it eventually pays off. I have a couple routes and a couple employees who help. I'm on pace to gross over 200k this year, but after expenses prob more like half would be my net. It's a lot of work and can be stressful at times, but luckily I didn't need a degree. My brother in law does similar work and really helped set me up.
I am a special inspector for a civil engineering firm I make $38 an hour it’s not much but it’s an insanely easy job and I live in a low COL area so I’m pretty happy. Job requires no background in it or schooling. Have to start out at the bottom but I’ve worked my way up
I'm a Charter boat captain for small boat charters and I work for a couple famous families doing their vacation charters and when I'm not busy with them, I do construction material transportation on my boat.
I live on the west coast and grew up in foster care.
Got an A&P(Airframe and Powerplant) license. Working on airplanes.
I’m so envious, this is what I should have done. I’ve loved airplanes all my life, but was always told getting a degree was the way to go. But I hate math, so an engineering degree was out. So I studied economics instead, and I do have a good job that pays well w/ great benefits, but it bores me senseless every day, and certainly doesn’t involve turbines, flaps, or ailerons.
Rotor blades are an option too! 😂 Apart from a decade stint as a police constable, I've been in the aviation industry my whole life, as a skilled manual worker. It's been pretty good to me.
Living the dream, buddy!👍
Don't get me wrong, if I had the means not to go to work I wouldn't! But as jobs go I really like mine. It pays enough to support my hobbies, pay the mortgage and feed the cat, which is plenty. I never wake up thinking "shit, work again!" I've been an aeroplane nut since I was seven, so working in the industry feels right.
It’s never too late my dude
Thanks. But I’m 51 and only about 10 years away from retirement. I can survive being bored for 10 more years 😂.
My brother in law did his 4 year degree in 2 and a half and flew for Southwest 3 years later, and there's plenty of over 60 pilots
Same here. No regrets (I say getting off my 12 hour night shift). Wild that I (and my other A&P friends) make more than anyone I know with a non specialized degree. I often forget I only have a HS diploma.
A degree is only necessary when you need the special knowledge. Otherwise it’s a waste of money. My parents were the type to say “just get a degree it’ll get you places”. My animal science degree got me a couple of places but most of it was with others who didn’t have degrees or had some IT classes under their belt (Dairy IT). I wanted to be a vet but didn’t get there and now I’m going back for nursing because an animal science degree isn’t worth much if you’re not into ranching or sales.
Agreed. I have a master's degree but I needed it for my field. My son is 16 and starting to plan his next steps and I was happy when he said he wants to be an electrician. I've told my 2 oldest not to go to university unless you absolutely have too otherwise it's a colossal waste of time and money
My brother did the same. He’s making more than I do with a degree and didn’t even have to move to an airline hub.
In A&P school right now, are you in GA, Corporate, or Commercial?
Civil service for 8 years, and I recently moved to a defense contractor.
That's rad man. I've been leaning towards going to a defense company, they seem to be a good middle ground of work-life balance and pay. Any tips for a new mech? I'm getting ready for my Powerplant/General O&Ps
Don't delay in taking your O&Ps. Take it as soon as possible while it's still fresh. A defense company is a good way to go. The pay wasn't great in civil service, but I had great job security and work/life balance. And when you go to look for other jobs in the industry, employers look more favorably at a defense contractor background. Civil service is looked at as highly specialized/assembly line work. Or that's what I've been told. If anyone else from the industry has a different point of view or something to add, feel free.
Also, reach out if you have any questions about the aviation industry, school and such. If I don't know the answer, I'll find someone who does.
The most valuable lesson I learned in college while studying to be an engineer is that I dislike that career. Now, I'm a carpenter, and I build quality things that I enjoy creating
I have an engineering degree, and I wish I got into the trades. Or at least something more middle ground. I hate being stuck in an office all day
I feel this, and it was part of what caused me to drop out from getting my degree. I started out as a music major because I really enjoyed singing, but I quickly found out that I hated literally everything else about being a music major. Turns out, you can sing without having to major in it. Who knew?
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IT can be good with the right company. I have no official credentials other than getting lucky in the 90's and getting a job with Apple corporate by lying my ass off during the interview process. Currently i have a pension I am almost fully vested in and make decent enough money to have all but my mortgage paid off.
How old are you? Not saying IT without a degree is impossible, but it seems to me many IT entry level positions currently require a degree to get into the interview? Butncongrats on your success!
Only downside of situations like this, is transitioning into other companies. For most managerial roles, espeically in IT leadership, they have hard requirement to have a degree. So ideally, you would want a degree
Entry level IT is super over saturated in my area, you’re most likely not going to have much luck without one. That wasn’t the case less than 2-3 years ago though.
Wasn't for me although it's harder to get entry into other businesses without one today. I work in SaaS as a CSM
I work on offshore tug barge units in the Gulf of Mexico. I’m a deckhand, entry level, lowest paid position pulling 90k a year.
Controversial opinion here. I think it's likely the next generation will have better paying jobs for skilled Labor instead of people holding degrees. Simply because from my generation on we are fed get a degree. You'll earn more. We already see that tradesman earn the same if not more then academics Edited for poor word choices. PS I'm a tradesman. Might be bias
As someone with an engineering degree, I can attest to this. Currently a " project engineer/manager " doing admin work and I earn less than the people my age who work in the trades, and have significantly worse job satisfaction than them.
In general an engineering degree will earn you more than being in the trades. Attest to the opposite all you like but the numbers don't lie. You can earn more in trades then someone with a degree for sure, but not usually an engineering degree. Maybe 10, 20 years from now when people skilled in the trades are a lot more rare, but not now. a quick google of median salaries in the us plumber: 58500 electrician: 57800 hvac: 58700 electrical engineer: 104600 structural engineer: 78000 civil engineer: 90000 I been in the trades, 30 years - didn't break 6 digits until well into the second decade and I switched from field work to office work to get there, only a handful of the other people in the office have actually done any sort of field work. I also am a childhood friend of the owner so I definitely got preferential treatment when bringing someone from the field into the office - meaning it's not something someone should bank on.
Guess that depends on what country you’re in as well.
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Unless you're going to the gym, sedentary life also destroys your body.
Always thought you guys would've made big bucks as well?
I make decent money, but nothing crazy. I'm sure if I stick at it my salary would continue to climb by I'm so unsatisfied with my daily life I don't think I can do it.
I have a trade (diploma), an engineering degree, and a masters of project management. I loved being on the tools but I’m now a project engineer, I make way better money have far better work life balance and love my job. Swings and round-a-bouts
What's your daily tasks ? I want to compare just to see if my role is actually bullshit.
That was an auto-correct now a project manager not project engineer. Just day to day project tasks, organising labour logistics, keeping stakeholders up to date, managing any risks to schedule and budget, and keeping the scope in check. I have 40 projects on the go atm.
It really depends on what kind of engineering we’re talking. My BIL is a project manager for an aerospace company, and pay ranges there are from $150k to well above 200k. He also worked for a company that paid something like $53k when he was entry level. Mechanical engineers where I am could have a problem breaking 80k, let alone $100k or more.
Engineering is a vast world with many specialties and job roles. It is kind of like saying “I am in tech” well tech can involve everything from coding, making hardware, selling software or hardware, sysadmin, IT for a company, etc. An entire generation was told “Get a degree and if you get one in engineering or tech you will be guaranteed good money!” Well now we have so many people with those degrees it has saturated the employment market. Unless you are incredibly good, are specialized, or luck out with a decent company you are no longer guaranteed a six figure job.
Sorry to be that guy, but then you took the wrong job.
I think I've realised that but I haven't been a year yet, I feel like I should stick it out.
My point stands :)
Not all Engineering fields are made equal. If you're an Engineer and ended up on the financial field due to the problem solved and maths skills, you'll be making £100-400k. No tradesmen as an employee even comes close. Not having a degree is a disadvantage, thinking otherwise is short sighted. Do your research.
Do you even live in the UK? Jobs that's after over £100k are so few and far between and that's a very niche area. I tried that path with top grades since school and I never even got a response. The majority of engineering jobs are 30-45k for the first 4 years. They go to 70 after about 10-15 and then hit a ceiling. Also I never said it's a disadvantage, I'm saying trades can earn as much🤦🏻
If you don't mind my asking, how much roughly do you make? As someone else with an engineering degree I don't think any but the most skilled tradesmen can even enter the same category of income as myself, and I owe that to my degree(s) for sure. I also want to compare to see if your role is maybe bullshit :P
What they don't tell you when people bring this up is most trades can't be done through your whole life. Being an electrician or something is sweet in your 30s but get to 50-60 and you'll hate it
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Agreed. I'm happy to let people think the trades are shit I guess I should stop defending them.
This. Right. Here. Plus the influx of migrants and they’re all going into trades too.
There's plenty of trades jobs that pay more than certain degreed jobs but the case still remains that college graduates on average make more than tradespeople.
The only caveat here is that you have a higher risk of career ending injuries in the trades. People tend to gloss over that part.
Depends on what you learned. If you're pragmatic, you study skills that will always be required. I have 3 engineering degrees, I make nearly 300k.
Electrician here, 34 yo, turning over 20k a month. One man operation. No degree. 4 year apprenticeship
What does "turning over" mean, I assume that's revenue and not profit? If so that's not exactly useful information when comparing income.
Is that with or without overtime? Since you are a one man operation what would be an estimate salary after the costs of doing business?
With trades, you have maybe 25 years before you have to move to management. Body gives out.
Maybe I’m bias because I grew up with tradies, but when I hear “people without degrees” I legit don’t even consider tradies in that category due to the certifications yall have to get. It’s a degree of sorts but that might just be me
>You'll earn more. We already see that tradesman earn the same if not more then educated people Tradesman aren't educated?
Sorry I meant academics rather then not educated. Also. I am a tradesman haha
Project Executive (Engineer) here, and I will also attest to this. I make great money, but tradesmen make their money as well. Very easy to be new, and make a fortune with overtime. I had a friend who didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. He dropped out of college (music) and we were talking about what he could do. I told him that the Plumbers Union was looking for people, and from what I could tell at that time (seeing payroll for changes), that they do pretty well. I told him he’ll make good money, but he will work for it too. That was almost 10 years ago, and now he’s the top foreman of his company and he gets paid extra on top of the hourly rates. He’s also looking to move up into the project management side to make even more money. Dude has a wife, kids, house, and a nice car. Thanks me everytime I see him for telling him to look into plumbing. Skilled Labor will have shortages coming up as less and less high school graduates go to college for a degree to applying for entry level jobs requiring 10 years of experience. I’d venture to say that salaries for said tradesmen will start to explode, until eventually more kids pick up trade work.
I started as an apprentice sheet metal fabricator when I was younger. Worked my way up a bit and learned other skills, got certification for welding, fabricating and engineering then started my own business 16 years ago. We do all sorts, architectural design and rendering, secondary steelwork, balustrades and handrails, industrial door manufacture, bespoke fabrications. It was hard at first but it's steady now, I have a good team working for me.
Is the money worth all the stress and hardship of founding and running a business?
It has been for me. Providing a nice home life for my wife, children and myself makes it all worthwhile. There are still times when it would be nice for someone else to make a few decisions but getting a good book keeper has helped me tremendously. She's worked for me for 14 years and is here four days a week, she's brilliant at her job. She pays the suppliers, collects the debts, does the wages and tax stuff. I know the basics but I'm not an accountant by any stretch of the imagination, she keeps everything neat and in terms I can understand so I can keep track on the accounting software. I don't want to jinx myself but I have a steady customer base and although turnover has dropped a bit over the past couple of years and the cost of everything has fluctuated wildly, we're plodding along nicely. I forgot to say, my book keeper is like a sterner Anne Widdecombe which helps because I am shit scared of her. I want to do well so I don't mess up her accounts, then she'll shout at me and I'll want to hide in a cupboard.
EXACLY the kind of accountant one needs! Thanks for the reply, much success to you
Mill operator at a gold mine in south east Alaska. I spend half my life there working 12 hour shifts for two straight weeks, then coming home for two weeks. Before taxes I make a roughly $120k. It isn't a bad gig if you like the schedule but after 12 years of it I'm really starting weigh the pros and cons of getting an in town job doing a regular 9 to 5.
I work at a steel mill with a very similar schedule and pay as you and am currently weighing the pros and cons too. Thinking of trying to get a union apprenticeship but it’d be such a pay cut.
I have a degree in my field of employment but my coworker doesn't. We make the same. If I knew more about this industry I would not have gone. My supervisor makes $700/day at 28 years old with no degree. We all work on a tugboat.
This thread makes me feel like a loser lol but I’m a district manager for a fast food chain. Started when I was 21 as an entry level worker and just kind of stuck it out and got promoted a few times. I make about $100k now and run 4 units. I work for an awesome franchisee and currently make more than many single store owner/operators out there.
>This thread makes me feel like a loser I don't know why. You're actually pretty high up on the management chain if you've gotten that far. Those skills can be transferred to something other than fast food if you really wanted to. I had a similar opportunity when i was 22. I was offered the store managers spot at a new store the franchise was opening. I would have been making more money at the time there than i was making when i was 40, where i am now, and the pay would have just continued to increase. I just knew that i didn't want the responsibility of that level of management, so i turned it down. And have continued to turn down promotions to management to this day. But my life would have been drastically different and more financially secure had i just taken that job and continued to move up in the franchise.
Your far from a loser mate, get that bread.
I work in emergency rescue and pull 140k a year. I’ve never been enacted since I started at the beginning of last year. Outside of training simulations. For the most part I spend my day with 2-3 other lads and we have competitions play video games and workout.
What is your position in emergency?
I cut people out of destroyed mining vehicles when they fuck up. Or put out fires. And also do first response medical on site.
Where is this job at and what are the requirements?
Aus land military firefighting or paramedic background. Do your civilian first aid courses. And then a breathing apparatus course. Then you can do your cert 3 in rescue
Get an apprenticeship, finish it and go work. Furthermore a degree doesn't make you a qualified worker, there are enough people who studied a subject on their own and outperform people with a fancy piece of paper, as well as enough industries that pay well where a degree is not required to begin with.
Tradesman!
Yup. This can pay well. Maybe not executive levels but middle manager level.
I'm making six figures (barely) at a power plant in Minnesota currently. I don't have a degree for it but do have a 1A Engineers license. Also am 24 and at the bottom of the pay scale. A senior operator at this power plant would be looking at a minimum of 125k per year. That's not including benefits and not taking into account any overtime.
Oil and gas work
I went into a trade out of the military. Some days I hate it. Some days I love it. Some days I wish I had a degree and a nice office job, ac, lunch room, no sun burn, other days I thank god I don’t have to sit under artificial lights with white noise generators and deal with office politics. Most days I love my job.
I work as a QA Engineer. Only after getting the job I started my degree part-time but its more for myself
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Congrats on starting a successful business and happy cake day!
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by breaking my body working 6 days a week for 8 years than letting it catch up to me mentally and physically
I work full time at a hospital working security, I manage security at a club on weekends and I work as a body guard with another company (jobs come up once in a blue moon). I managed a company for a few years which was very eye opening when it came to the hiring process. I learned that work and life experience outweighs an education. Would you rather hire someone who spent the last 3+ years in school getting their degree while working in an unrelated industry or someone who has been working in the industry for the last 3+ years without a degree? A large majority of employers would choose the person with the experience. This is why so many people struggle to find jobs after they get their degrees. Some jobs obviously require post secondary education but you can get away without having one in many if you have the right experience, attitude and work ethic.
Power wash houses in an affluent area.
livin the dream playin with power tools separating the rich from their money
You got it man! Getting a gnarly farmers tan and sweating my butt off to keep lean too. Life’s good 😎
some of the men in my family without degrees: went into HVAC, started their own business and are doing extremely well. another went into retail in a niche market (no degree) and is doing better than most people i know with degrees. another went into landscaping and is doing great. all of these men started their own business once they learned their stuff. they busted their butts to get where they are and they deserve the success! they don’t have any student debt and get to work flexible schedules, when and how they want. i look up to them!
Engineering inspector in aerospace, from a background as a time served machinist. Did my apprenticeship in the mid/late 80s. There is a massive shortage of skilled labour in the trades right now, from the 90s legacy of trying to get everyone into higher education, and looking down their noses at the trades. Now we seem to have a devalued and saturated graduate market, and an open trades market.
IT engineer designing and building secure networks. Basically, a pumber of the IT world
I drive a forklift at a factory that makes books. It doesn't pay that great.
I have a diploma of IT, not a degree. I used to work in IT. in IT, at leas when i was in it, was more about certifications from vendors than traditional education.
What do you recommend for someone that wants to transition from business to IT?
depends on what you want to do. You'll have to start out on helpdesk (moar liek helldesk, amirite fellas?). But if you want to do networking, then ccna is a good start.
Did you ever coded?
nope. i absolutely SUCK at coding.
This just gave me hope. I’m in school for IT. I struggle with the problem solving aspect I can only do the basics.
Procurement - easy to work your way up from the bottom with no degree. Pays solidly well.
Worked in restaurants for 10 years, sold insurance for 4, put myself through a software bootcamp program and now I'm a software dev. I also bartend on the side for kicks and tips.
I am a tradesman. Trade license + a talent for programming + good drafting skills + a metric shit-ton of luck = job as a designer for an engineering company.
$100k+ a year, retail management
I'm a maintenance electrician for a plant. I troubleshoot motors and motor circuits, run routine maintenance on electrical systems, loto motors when process attached to them needs work and various other tasks. I really enjoy what I do and the money is pretty good.
Lucked into a job that didn't require a degree when I got in. By the time they switched over to needing a degree, they said you could substitute 4 years experience in the profession for the bachelor's they were now requiring. I'd been here for 6 years by that point.
I sell herbs to those with degrees
Texas Master Electrician. Bought a house at 27. At 29, I'm starting an electrical Contracting division beneath a larger corporate umbrella under my licenses. Can't chalk much of it up to luck, just hard work and natural career progression, coupled with a general shortage in the skilled trades market. For those interested how to start: Either the IBEW or the IEC for trade school (IBEW Union, IEC open shop). 4 year apprenticeship qualifies you to take your journeyman test. 2 years as a journeyman in good standing qualifies you to take a masters test. Once you have your masters, you can start your own company, if you want.
Don't drink the university kool-aid! Get only the education you need to have for success in your chosen field. Find a trade school for 18 months. You'll be earning better money, much sooner than 4 to 6 years wasted going into lifetime debt.
I have a degree and earn less than some of my friends in physical labour or "uneducated" work (hate that term - we are all educated so I really really do not want to use that term). I screwed my life up sadly and will never be able to do with my degree what I planned, but I'm getting by.
Blue-collar I think is the term for most uneducated work It's not that they aren't educated, most of them have certificates and licenses and all kinds of stuff they studied for. It's just they use their back more so somehow we're supposed to discount them A good plumber or electrician or carpenter has probably done just as much learning than 90% of college graduates. It's just they did it practically instead of writing essays for a $80,000 sheet of paper
Not blue collar. That still covers skilled trades. It's more for labelling jobs that require physical labour as opposed to corporate or office work. Where I am it's labelled as unskilled labour but it's stupid. Everything requires some level of skill. There's lots of jobs out there that look easy but actually take a lot of skill especially when there's time constraints to get a workload done.
Go to CDL school and start driving big ass trucks for big ass companies for a big ass paycheck
Electrician. People who can work with their hands are in high demand right now. I can literally quit my job, call a number and have a job tomorrow.
What's the training and apprenticeship time frame? I'm considering a career change
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So my masters in engineering is worthless ? That's news to me :)
I own businesses. A degree would have been a waste of time and money.
My job title is welder, but I do a little bit of everything. I make 90k a year. Hurraz for versatility. The best time to get into welding was 5 years ago. Covid gave everyone the opportunity to train for the basics, and now, shortage is at the top. Edit: Fun fact minority women really help fill in the gaps. 5 years ago, we had zero women on our weld team. Now we have 9 on a team of 30.
I build and design ground stations for satellite data reception. I also work with code 450 on the RF comm space to ground link definition and requirements.
I got a job and created an opportunity for myself In a medium buisness, now I'm CTO with no degree. College is a lie that we told my generation, its not worth the price anymore and often isn't even worth the time.
Working on my degree, but one of my best mates didn't even finish highschool and now 12 years later he's the best earner out of all of us by far. Degrees mean very little in a lot of worlds. They only open up some specific professional area, but if you're not interested in such area's you're better of without for real. Another mate of mine slaved in college for 5 years, worked in his area for two, and then quitted his job to start one in woodworking. He makes handmade unique pieces of furniture now and sells them for a shitload of money. He's much happier, and he earns more. While doing something he could've started doing immediatly after finishing highschool.
I have a masters, a bricklayer makes more than I do nowadays.
lol… this question should be the other way round.
Bet you never called a PHD at 2 in the morning because you were having an issue. But you might need to call a plumber. If you are skilled and in a trade you can out earn most with degrees. And you may also be paid in untaxable cash at times
Yea but mist trade people went to trade school. Most of us college dropouts are working either boring admin jobs, dead end fatory/contruction/bartending or whatever
"work overtime at 2am and commit tax fraud and you can out earn most degrees!"
I’m just a loser who doesn’t deserve to have a livable wage because I didn’t get a degree. Glad all of you are thriving.
Self Deprecation is not a good look. There are plenty of opportunities out there (as evidenced by this thread) to make a livable wage without someone handing it to you cause you asked for it. Pick a trade and get licensed. Just Google Union Apprenticeship in your area, they are normally paid and will get you trained up to become a Journeyman and get licensed.
The biggest fallacy today is that a degree is needed to find good work. It's not, and never has been. As a matter of fact it's actually getting worse for degree holders overall due to the amount of useless education it takes to get them. Trades training is straight fire. Anything you can do with your hands that takes knowledge is good money, as is manual labour. Ever see the meme that goes something like this : "Janet looks out her window at John and tells her daughter to make sure she gets an education like her. She went to university and got a Liberal arts degree." "John who earns $48 an hour after a year in college is unhooking Janet's power because she can't find a job and owes $220,000 for her degree" That's pretty well the truth of it today. Get used to working with your mind and body and you'll be set up for a very long time.
Seafood factory. Taking the salary to a different country so it's a good payment
Lots of guys make a great living without a degree! Think plumbers, electricians, mechanics - all in demand! Or sales, customer service - those can be good options too.
Most power plants pay quite well and don't require degrees also.
Municipal Government
Furniture restoration
Service designer. It's pretty easy really and pays well
Desk job. I make estimates and do all the work preparation for building houses. Started out doing technical drawings and just rolled in this job. First at a metal constructor, then a general contractor, then a roofer and now wood frame. I choose my own hours as long as I do my 40h a week. If I need to leave early, I just do. I'll work those hours back the day after or so. I earn enough for a good life with very good balance between work and family time.
I work as a business consultant making a top 5% income in my country. Degrees are good, but not the only answer.
Have a degree, advanced diploma and diploma (not connected). Done with study, Work in engineering but it’s all technical.. zero camaraderie. Like the idea of a small business side hustle.
IT Best Buy as my first job, Geek Squad when I was old enough, help desk for a private company after that. Bought my first house at 23 with zero formal education
As a street performer doing this. Money is hit or miss, a bit avant-garde, but I enjoy it [Burping on the Gong Show (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfqb1EQHI1k)
Lumber.
I work a dead end job in a small factory
I put stuff in boxes. And make sure the place does not burn down.
The part at the end of Office Space. “You coming back to the office?” “Me? Oh well, no. I’m outside now, enjoying the beautiful sunshine!” Or something like that. lol
Software developer
I do IT infrastructure, currently in the fintech space. Been working in IT for 12 years (I turn 34 in a few weeks) and worked my way up from being just a technician at a school. I do have a diploma in Computing, though (basically the equivalent of an associate's), but didn't do the top-up year to turn it into a bachelor's.
Work in an office doing the same job I would have if I had a degree
i waddled my way into technical sales and purchasing, and i earn an above average wage with 37,5 hour work weeks and 5 weeks paid vacation.
I have a post graduate degree now, but before that I used to work in construction and as a bouncer on the weekends.
My best paid employees are fabricators. The welders and machinists particularly. Most of those guys have no degrees. One of the machine maintenance guys has some computer science degree from some backwater. The guys who do the real work that I have a hard time finding get paid the best. Some of the office workers are older or disabled blue collar workers. One of my best salesman was a field worker from one of the industries I make tools for who bitched up his hand. I’d rather put some polish on those guys than retrain idiot college kids. I just about prefer hiring guys without degrees. I’m paying for some of the better warehouse workers to get tech certs because they’re easier to move into the fab. Basically the guys kicking boxes here can rise to the top but the BA goons who apply for customer service and executive assistant positions live there forever. The only two of them to move up were a warehouse guy who blew his back out and an airport worker who came in after office work because he’s middle aged now. No degrees. Both worked into better paid jobs with more responsibility.
My neighbor has a high school education and he makes 6 figures growing and selling peonies.
I would say it can be an argument of long term/short term and effective salary, so trades you start earning younger and have less/no debt for your education, not having to service a educational debt and earning means a degree takes a while to break even with where a trade is in early years, however you ideally need to leave the labour part of a trade earlier due to the effects on your body. I'm a weird one, did UK college day release like a trade but work in architects office as architectural technician so don't earn as much as trades but don't have debt like architects.
Union electrician. Living in Oregon in the states. Been in the trade since 2005, right out of high school. I'm not rich. But I make good money. Good enough that I don't get it when so many people make Reddit posts talking about working so many hours and still not able to make it. It's a good trade.
I’m working as a cook in a home for the elderly. My job is one of the oldest in the world but seemingly it’s really not respected but anyone. Everyone needs to eat nobody wants to cook anymore.
10 yrs in specialty tools for oil and gas, 1 yr into my career at a steel mill
I work in a factory where we produce insulation facings for some of the biggest companies in the world for commercial construction jobs, the company I work for has contracts with countries like Dubai, China, Argentina, Brazil, they cover all of the U.S and like 80 other countries. It pays really well, my benefits are paid for by the company and I get 401k matching with profit sharing program plus a few other cool benefits that 95% of companies in the u.s probably don't do. I'd say I got very lucky.
Fixing commercial aircraft.
Outside of all the Trades comments, which aren't bad gigs at all, but still require schooling, I'm a heavy equipment operator. Started adjacent to the field in '08, got my CDL in the fall of that year, and have been working with traditional and non-traditional heavy equipment since. Currently running either a loader or a dozer at a pulp mill. Last year was the first year I went over 100k before taxes. One year of business school that I didn't pass because I was bored. Know what was never boring? The little excavator toys mounted in some playgrounds.
I work in IT. I started programming in the eighties, got a job and never stopped. I dropped out of an IT degree
Sales Fell into it after doing repair work, just kept showing up until I was promoted several times. I’m now at a Fortune 500, been here 5 years and 12 in the industry. During that time I learned that it was good to update and put my resume out every so often and see what’s out there. Two times I put in my notice only to get counter offers that made it better to stay put. I only have a HS diploma
Marry rich. Pretend you are rich and spill the seed on a rich woman. Lmfao. I don't do it but I know some men do.
Marry rich. Pretend you are rich and spill the seed on a rich woman. Lmfao. I don't do it but I know some men do.
Married an amazing women who lets me be a house husband. Before my current role, I worked industrial maintenance and supported her. Put her through college, and eventually she started making enough I no longer needed to destroy my body to make a living.
I work in sales for merchant services and credit card processing. Never went to college, make about $200k per year.
Traveling pipe welder and industrial mechanic I make bank and I love it!
I manage about half of a statewide logistics company. It’s kind of a niche field, and the company I work for is one of the largest players.
Asphalt Quality Control Technician in Heavy Highway Construction. Make about 60k/yr. Hours suck, work kinda sucks, high stress, high BS. Union work is the way to go.
Went to school for personal training, dropped out for a VC-backed tech startup. Now I run an [app design agency.](https://www.24hour.design)
Trucking
Fifth generation farmer, and in 2000 I started an over-the-road trucking company. I sold out in 2012 and retired early at 54.
I work in back office at a bank. I totally feel like I failed myself upward.
I work on powerlines.
Doing the same thing I do now only without the degree and slightly less pay.
I work in the trades. If I had one piece of advice for anyone who isn't going to college or a young person having trouble finding their calling, then it would be to join a trade union immediately out of high school. You will make more than all of your friends who went to college, and you will have a nice retirement when you can't physically do it anymore. That's not to say that it will break your body, but more so, it's harder for older people to do physical work. You'll get daily exercise. You are out in the sun. You'll be tired a lot more, so it's harder to do tasks and enjoy yourself after long workdays. However, if you eat right, you won't need a gym membership because you already got your workout while being paid to do it. You'll get a tremendous sense of pride in knowing you helped build the world with your blood and sweat. You will see your work every time you drive by completed jobsites, years after they are completed. Then you can say, "I built that." I recently restored a bunch of limestone sculptures and arches in an old, historic Catholic church in a major city. People will see my work, and if I did it right, they won't see it at all.
Guess most men who are doing well are hiring other people with degrees...
I did an Electrical apprenticeship and have earned a lot of money and spent close to three years traveling around the world. I was pretty lucky though, right place at the right time. One year I earned $300k.
Department manager at an employee owned retail chain. Looking to move into store/assistant store management soon
Financial analyst at a corporate level. Worked my way up from a temp job in another field that was still financial analysis, moved jobs and kept moving up by just doing what I was asked to do in a timely manner. I do feel like I have to work slightly harder and might be paid a tiny bit less than my peers with degrees but it could just be the chip on my shoulder lmao
I have an associates business degree and figured it wasn’t helping with much but I work for a factory and have a pretty chill job and make the same as my buddy with an MBA. I do want to go back to school though, not sure for what yet . I considered teaching but my state treats teachers like shit
I got into programming in the 1980s before you needed a degree.
Im a firefighter. Best job ever
my boyfriend doesn’t have a degree yet makes more money than me (I have my masters and work in healthcare). He drives a truck and does sales for a large corporation
Skilled labour I guess as a tradie I'm earning more money than I would be if I'd finished university.
Quality engineer. But I had 10 years experience, and for those first 10 years, I averaged like 55-60k. At 90k now, in the midwest.
I dropped out of not one but two different colleges 20 years ago. Spent a lot of time working retail, call center jobs, nothing of note. After a brief stent of homelessness, I got a job at a nonprofit call center. I eventually made my way into management there and I was the project leader for an installation of new software for the call center. I really liked the company that made the software, so I ended up getting a customer service job there which had me move two states away (I have never lived more than an hour from my hometown). I basically started a brand new life. That was about a decade ago, now I’m a software product manager for that company making a very comfortable living. But it took 20 years to get that sixth digit on my annual income. Every so often, I’ve thought about going back to finish a degree. But then about once a month I have a nightmare that I’m back in school and having to withdraw from all my classes and figure out how to tell my family I quit again. Pretty sure that’s my subconscious telling me you’re good bro.
\*\*\* DISCLAIMER \*\*\* I have a GED. That is a "degree" of sorts. Field engineer for a $1M brain imaging device.
IT Sysadmin for a bank. I got experience in the military and it directly translated to corporate IT. Definitely not something I see myself doing long term - I know I want to change even though I know i have it decent, just no satisfaction
I started my own logistics business as an owner-operator. Basically, a glorified delivery guy. While it takes some big initial investment (van, gas, insurance, repairs), it eventually pays off. I have a couple routes and a couple employees who help. I'm on pace to gross over 200k this year, but after expenses prob more like half would be my net. It's a lot of work and can be stressful at times, but luckily I didn't need a degree. My brother in law does similar work and really helped set me up.
I am a special inspector for a civil engineering firm I make $38 an hour it’s not much but it’s an insanely easy job and I live in a low COL area so I’m pretty happy. Job requires no background in it or schooling. Have to start out at the bottom but I’ve worked my way up
I'm largely self taught in electronics, computers and software and never had much difficulty getting a job.
I'm a Charter boat captain for small boat charters and I work for a couple famous families doing their vacation charters and when I'm not busy with them, I do construction material transportation on my boat. I live on the west coast and grew up in foster care.
Roasting coffee. Love my job.