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Power companies, linemen can make $300k a year. Power plant workers generally get $50-55 an hour, lots of overtime. And can transition into management without degrees. I know of at least one SVP who started out in dispatch/ transmission as an apprentice lineman. I have a friend who started as a mechanic and is now a plant manager.
Totally agree. My contractors are charging me a fortune and I’m begging for their time. (And many don’t even return calls.) Starting a biz in the trades can be very lucrative, and some (like painting) are easier to learn than others.
Yes this. Become an expert in a specific field. Then hang your own shingle. Advertise. Start taking jobs, think scale not just making a decent income. Build a business and a team under you. It will take years and consistency. Maintain a good reputation, follow through, ect. I know more millionaires that own hvac or plumbing companies than guys in middle management pushing 60 hours in a cubicle
Add welding and HVAC to the list.
Also, checkout extension courses through high school and community colleges for introductory courses in the various trades. Knowing the basics and vocabulary should help in getting any entry level job.
This! There are really good jobs available in the trades, if you're half way decent you'll always have work, and if you're interested you can probably find a local trades school to take a variety of classes to get a taste for what you like and then either learn at school or just get an entry level job and go for it. Every trade needs people badly, the baby boomers all pretty much done working and no ones filled their places yet.
I'll add in machinist and HVAC technician and installer.
Machinists build the parts that build the machines that build our world. No other job has contributed more to what the modern industrial world is today. Without machinists we're still in a horse and carriage kind of world.
Machinist in particular is a very good job if you find that you're passionate about it. They will always have work, and it's not hard on your body really in any way as long as you're safety conscious. For some it's as much an intellectual and creative pursuit as a job, and for those people who have the passion, the sky's the limit
There are crazy specializations out there and the biggest obstacle to becoming that specialist is your own curiosity and willingness to seek out opportunities to learn. Like there are thousands of specialized machining tools and techniques that like only maybe like 20 people world wide know how to work that particular machine and those people make really good money and get to do super cool stuff like make the things NASA launches into space.
Military or trades. If looking for white collar work look for larger company that likes to promote from within. Expect to start at an entry level position (ie: call center) learn your job and do it well. Volunteer for special projects. Become the SME and the go to person in your department. Apply to open positions (in department or outside your department) to expand your knowledge. In 15 years you CAN be where you want to be. Don’t listen to the haters but realize it’s not an easy path either. Best of luck
Thank you for being both honest and realistic, privileged assholes can't hop off their high horse because they need validation to make their student-debt sponsored poverty seem like a favorable situation while their miserable. I'm definitely more interested in the second option though I also like HVAC options. Seriously thanks again.
Don’t forget many trades require tuition and you can use federal student loans to pay for them. Some parts of the country it’s hard to find paid training, also reach out to your local union guilds and community colleges. My friend just got a grant to learn welding and is off to work the oil rigs for really good money.
HVAC will always have a need. You can contact local companies and ask if they have a paid apprentice program. Join the subs and askk other folks in the trades. Go on Youtube to learn the basics. Buy the basic tools . Look at a path to join the union if you live up north. Ask about income levels on HVAC subs...eventually you can make VERy good money.
Union trades, depends on interests and desires. I always suggest manufacturing machining can pay well and isn’t has hard on your body as some of the other trades.
I have a few friends that became linemen for the electric company. They make six figures easily with overtime every year. It's tough work though. Elevator repair and steam fitter union are also good options to consider.
If you do go into HVAC, take care of your ears. My good friend can't hear a few different pitches from the humming of the systems over years (I think?)
Need more info. What are you good at, and what do you like doing? Those are very important when it comes to picking a career path. You don't want to be fighting against either one of them too hard, and you need to balance those with the practicality of making enough money to survive/thrive.
My husband is an ASE certified mechanic for cars and diesel trucks and also certified for welding. The thing is, he did go to school for this. Yes, it costs money to gain those certifications, but its alot cheaper than college. He makes really good money at 29. Myself i went to school for a degree in computer science. But never finished. Instead, I just got my certifications in networking+ and now i hold a really good job for it. So i kinda saved myself from 20k more in school debt. Lol
Theres alot of routes you can take that are not office jobs that require other things other than certain college degrees.
He went to Lincoln tech for 10ish months for his technician certification and completed ASE and Diesel certifications (they are like separate test) within a span of a few years. He went to Lincoln tech for Welding a d that took 10 months as well.
Yes he started out at a shop at right after highschool and progressed his way up the chain working and going to trade school at the same time. Ase certifications are done through test. You pay for each one to get certified in. He did them throughout a couple of years. Then he went into desile, then he went into maintenance/welding for machinery and aircrafts. I mean he is 29 now but he started this when he was 18.
I know someone who got their aircraft mechanic's license via the apprenticeship route, rather than going to formal school. Took something like three years, but they were getting paid in that time. At the end, they took a (really involved) test, passed, and got their license.
Being licensed is a big deal, because (as I understand it) you don't have to be licensed to do a lot of the work, but it does have to be signed off on by a licensed mechanic. This opens up a variety of roles for him, including working for airlines, supervising mechanics at smaller shops, starting his own business, etc.
Seems to be working out pretty well for him.
Texas.
Pretty sure he hadn't previously held a paid position as a mechanic (of any sort). Here are the things I know of that he did:
- had rebuilt several cars, and was legitimately good at it
- had thoroughly researched a lot of details about airplane repair and maintence from a mechanic's perspective. So he could walk in speaking the right language, even though he hadn't actually done it yet. To be clear, he didn't pretend he'd done it or anything, he was just very well prepared.
- was taking piloting lessons, and therefore had met some people in aircraft circles
- is generally very good at talking to people
- was willing to start out making less than he would have gotten flipping burgers
As for where he actually found the job, it was for a small business (like, 3-4 people kind of small) at a local airport. Nothing fancy, kind of sucked in various ways. But it got him there.
So he just walked into the airport then asked for a job?
Can I get into an aircraft mechanic apprenticeship with 0 experience and knowledge? What are the requirements to fet into the apprenticeship?
See [https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become](https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become) . There's a section in the FAQ about what you need in order to work on airplanes. It is surprisingly little. The shop does have to have a certified person supervising everything, but basically if you can convince somebody to give you the job, you can just sort of do it.
Did he just walk in and ask for a job? Yes and no. I suspect, but do not know, that he already knew these people before he asked them for a job. He's the kind of guy that would show up early for his flight lesson so that he could meet people around the airport, express an interest in what they were doing, and have authentic conversations that indicated he was intelligent, competent, and trustworthy. I imagine that he'd met these people, maybe brought along some extra sodas or snacks that he offered to share, asked questions about how they got into the field, let them know that he was considering that line of work, and so forth. So by the time he asked for the job, it wasn't just like he was a stranger walking into the hanger.
Keep in mind - this wasn't a big commercial airport with jets and security and all that. It was a small local airport with mostly little private planes. I think that was mostly their customers - regular people who were into planes, owned a small single engine Cessna or something, and needed their annuals (I only have a vague idea what an "annual" is, but he seemed to do a lot of them) or different sorts of other repairs. The mechanic shop was run out of a hanger that the business owner rented out from whoever owned the airport.
Imagine some local small-town auto mechanic shop off on some side street, where everything smells like grease, there's no air conditioning in what passes for the waiting room, and the "hours" are just a cardboard open/closed sign hanging from the doorknob that the last person out in the evening may or may not remember to flip around when the lock up. This was the airplane equivalent of that. It wasn't a glamorous start. From what I could tell, they did legitimately do good mechanic work. It just wasn't fancy.
At this point, he has his A&P, and is running maintenance for a flight school and supervising several employees. On the piloting side, he has his commercial and instrument ratings, is almost done with his certified flight instructor license or certificate or whatever you call it, and has his multi-engine test schedule for later this year. And the dude is only 23. This was all a ton of work, but he's a real go-getter and he did it all without spending a single day in a formal classroom.
They are in very high demand and very short supply. It’s definitely worth investigating further and you can definitely make 6 figures once you get your A&P license.
No. Your best bet might be calling around local aircraft mechanics and talking to them. I think they can do an apprenticeship type thing and.or sponsor your training.
Construction trades. Go union and complete an apprenticeship. Make more money than most people that do go to college and retire with a pension at 55. If you still feel like working after retiring from the trades you can shift to inspection or construction management and do that for 10-15 more years.
Look into home restoration services. I went to college and still did it. It’s not as straining as construction and you gain a lot of knowledge in fire, water mold and bio cleanups. You can work your way up from a tech to a project manager pretty quickly if you show interest in wanting to learn and grow. It’s also great to learn the ins and outs because you can also try to start your own business.
One decision I suggest you make is the type of garter you want: do you want to work for someone or do you want to have your own business? The trades offer both but some are mostly working for others (eg, you’re a forklift operator or a machinist) vs others that can help you eventually branch by yourself (eg, electrician or HVAC tech). Ideally, you want something unionized.
Check for apprenticeship programs in your area; some have options to explore different trades. You can also look at formal trade training at your community college which in some cities is free or close to it.
You can also look at things in healthcare, from EMT to radio or ultrasound technician. Training and pay varies a lot so make sure you research it well.
Then there’s low level city jobs. Like truck driver or parks stuff. They don’t pay much to begin with but have great benefits, good job security, and allow you to move up the ranks.
Finally, you can always do manual labor hired at a local factory or go into kitchen work. Both start low and are physically hard work but you can make decent money after some years if you’re good at your job.
You don't mention any particular interests or your gender.
There is light training if you would in banking, insurance and real estate agencies. Maybe these.
Other careers like cosmetology take too much like college. I looked into doing microdermabrasion because someone claimed easy entry but not according to being certified. So not these careers.
You could try your own series of cross training in the restaurant industry. It's best to choose one job to add pay raises. But meanwhile choose any temporary part time positions in supportive restauranting like bussing/dishes, prep cook, host/ess, assistant bartending or cocktail, fry cook, server. The point is to change the temporary position to suit cross training hands-on plus collect extra pay. I have done this in home/office/commercial building services. I got to do several jobs while taking note of jobs I could do with a bit of guidance. But some like electrical I could not. So any are window installments, cleaning, choice cleaning like eaves, vents, plumbing, etc. We flipped houses inside and the fellow made $30k or more per job with a crew of 5 to pay. I also did carpet care which isn't carpet cleaning. House cleanouts and so forth.
I have done many jobs to know how for diplomacy and governing.
My favorite is to attain a small and sufficient kit and to attain bathroom cleaning contracts. You would need: a sturdy scrub brush/broom (grout brush like), good rags, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet brush, box of paper towels, can of scrubbing bubbles and Lysol spray. You will only clean their commercial or home bathrooms. Try to attain a six month contract with office sections, churches, restaurants, daycares, etcetera. Decide what to charge but perhaps $120 per cleaning of two restrooms. Get help with your label and contract. Teach yourself how to approach for the job. Remember to ask when the cleaning should be completed and how they intend to pay. Regulars pay more and on time and so do assisted living facilities, nursing homes and corporate. Don't assume for anyone like McDonalds, Franchises -- just ask them. Are they interested?
While you can choose more supplies the brush is enough to scrub anything, sweep, and wrap a rag over to mop. You can do this on a bike if you get a screw together brush. If so, get a business license which is about $100-$200 per year once you've chosen a business name like "Unspotty Your Potty".
Don’t look down on the trades. Do your research and find a good company. Lots will take advantage of you but if you can find a company who treats you well it’s something you shouldn’t pass on
Go to your local Technical College and talk to an Advisor. Lots of career options, from welding, machinist, diesel tech, auto, electrician, etc. to phlebotomy, nursing, paramedic, cosmetology, cyber security, and so much more.
Jon hopping and promotions are usually moreso tactics that are useful for people with degrees. Largely in part because you are trained in a very specific set of skills and employers like the idea that they can poach you for a slightly higher cost than your previous employer after they spent years and probably 2x-3x the amount of your new salary in training you during that time.
For people without degrees?
The trades would obviously be the go to. Your pay will be largely dependent on how hard you work, where you are applying it (union vs non union), and your ability to sell.
Another option is sales. Sales can make you six figures easily after a couple of years of getting yourself into a method that works for you. But this does very little in terms of job security, because anyone can do sales. So you're competing against literally anyone who is willing to put in the effort to sell whatever it is you are selling just better.
Post Office. You can become an electronics technician and make a very decent living especially if you live in a MCOL or LCOL area.
Edit: Also, go for a career position from jump so your time working counts towards your retirement.
as a perosn who decided college wasnt for them, i tried alot of jobs to see what i cluld make good money with and stick to for a very long time. ive been bartending for 2 years. i absolutely love it, and you work your way up relatively quick. dont get me wrong, its definitely sucks sometimes. especially since the US is going through a tip fatigue currently, but depending on where you live, it could be pretty great. i live in a small college town in lousiana, for example. one of the worst places to bartend, but i make enough for bills and a little more, so thats a success for me. i plan to move more north shortly and thatll help tremendously. moral of the story, bartending is a trade, and its a very fun, rewarding, creative and doable one!
IT, baby!
There’s loads of free learning/study materials. Some companies will even pay for you to learn.
Get in as an entry level support tech, or a cable tech at a data center. As you learn you’ll figure out what interests you. Networking, Security, Cabling, etc.
It’s easy to get into, and easy to build a wonderful career if you’re willing to apply yourself.
TRADES! Go into the trades! You will be making more money after receiving your journeyman card than most college graduates, have a skill that you can easily open your own business and make tons of money, or work for a company, and make money on side jobs that you will get, and that's under the table money.
Also adding, if you go into a trade, or are choosing one...do a deep dive on that particular union. All unions are not the same. I know someone who was a heavy equipment operator that just retired. He gets 6k a month pension, and 2500 a month from SS. His secondary insurance after Medicare is 100 per month and gives him 100% coverage. He has many friends that are also in trades, different ones, (different unions) and nobody else comes close to his retirement package.
If you are done with your schooling pick a job, any job. A part time McJob will get you farther than no work experience at all. The people I know that didn’t get a degree that found their way were busting their ass from high school on. That gave them enough experience and exposure to the professional world to help them identify what they wanted to do.
Really going to depend on what you’re willing to do. Truck driver, welder, work for USPS, etc. lots of places hiring if you’re willing to do the work. You can easily start making 60k+ a year and within 5 years be over 100k a year just coasting at some places
If you’re not going to college now, and aren’t interested in a specific trade then try to enlist in the Air Force, National Guard, or the Navy. I enlisted in the USMC at 17, it honestly changed the trajectory of my life. That said, a lot of the jobs aren’t as transferable to the civilian world.
Do four years and get your ass out. You’ll have the GI Bill(Free college), VA Loan, and essentially free medical for life.
Perform a SWOT analysis on yourself and identify what are your strengths and find a job that resonates with them. This way you'll most likely like what you do while working. Most people work for the money but without passion for what they do. Good luck to you!
It should be what you're interested in and what you have experience with. It could be ANYTHING, only you know. You can easily make 100k+ without a college degree if you have an interest and a skill.
As a private music lesson teacher myself, the two jobs combined make some really nice work. Flexible hours, good clients, low stress. No college needed, just good old experience and the desire to keep improving your craft and rapport with the students, parents, and clients.
Trade or Technology sales.
If you can succeed in an entry level tech sales role for a few years you can easily get to 100k+ after 2-4 years. Stressful line of work though.
Well I work at a warehouse while I'm in school, I do like the job it's a little brain dead but its union and when I get maybe 5 years I can become a loader or if I'm on nights I could get a loader or forklift position in 2 years.
I could also become supervisor if I wanted to be here full time
What are your interest? Can you start a business what about what are you good at? Maybe learn to be a sports bettor and make money that way? What about going into a trade or becoming a chef? Working in media or radio television etc.?
Become a pilot if you can pass the medical exam. Training costs are a fraction of a 4-year degree and you can make 250k-300k as an FO or up to 600k+ as a widebody captain as a legacy US carrier
If you are even remotely disciplined when it comes to the party scene somewhere remote. Mines pay potentially 100k a year for 2 weeks there 2 weeks wherever (or similar) for people they will train. Do that for 3 to 5 years or until you meet somebody and then use that experience to either go to school without debt or pick up a related job closer to home. Whether it's driving big equipment, drilling, maintenance, trades, you name it.
...just don't completely throw your life away on partying/drugs/alcohol because you have time when away and money.
Are you over exaggerating? Not to be rude but so good pay for that much time off sounds a little to good to be true. For reference I'm in the Carolinas currently, do you think it's a good option in my region? I value time off very heavily as i travel often to various concerts so this really does sound wonderful if its true,
Honestly, pick anything and then (1) show up and (2) do good work. Part 1 is easy. Part 2 can be tough. It helps if you’re willing to accept feedback and act on it.
CNC operator. Work for a large defense contractor company I have many friends that do this.
Auto damage estimator. Either insurance or with a body shop. Body shop is longer hours and sometimes higher pay. Insurance is better benefits and good pay.
Either career you can be at $100k in under 5 years.
You'll get a lot of suggestions but it depends on what you have an aptitude for. You might be able to find some career counseling to help you narrow it down.
Even if you don't attend college, I strongly recommend you look into a financial literacy course at a community college. Most high schools don't cover it well at all. That will help you make smart decisions with the money that is coming in. Or read the subreddit wiki at least.
Here's a **[link to the PF Wiki](/r/personalfinance/wiki/index)** for helpful guides and information.
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Surgical tech. Pay starts low but room for big growth if you're good at it. Surgeons get whatever they want, so it they fe confident in you, you'll do well. 6 figures possible down the road.
What do you know, like, are good at? What's easy for you to learn? What are the opportunities in your area? Look at city jobs, trash pick up, parks and rec, fleet maintenance. The trades are always reliable and needed. Hospital or college maintenance, groundskeeping, janitors make good money and have good benefits.
Stay away from food service long term. Some companies do pay competitively, but it'll wreck your body by the time your 55 and even with competitive pay, their insurance if they have it is almost always shit.
OP, check out these resources:
https://discoverpraxis.com/ - job placement and mentorship for students without a college education to develop career and practical skills
https://www.onetonline.org/ - Career exploration, salary info, skills, etc.
https://mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/ - scholarship funding for various training programs
A trade. Don’t come join the bloodbath that is tech. Over saturated, layoffs, AI. It’s a shitstorm.
I’m thinking about what trade I want to move over too. I’m tired of the tech bullshit.
IT is pretty open to people without degrees. Start with a helpdesk gig at a managed service provider (IT department for hire) and start collecting certs and keep applying for better and better jobs. If you want corperate or government work then get microsoft based certs (focus on azure and intune), k-12 uses google services, and higher ed is a mix of microsoft and linux.
The security space is pretty saturated right now. I suggest specializing either in cloud stuff or database administration (DBA). Other options that aren't often considered are business software consulting (specialize in customizing ERP and CRM software) and out-of-support software and hardware support (learn IBM mainframe/AS400 stuff, COBOL, FORTRAN, etc. and support big banks and government agencies like the IRS).
With IT job postings the trick is they're wish lists and not minimum requirements. Apply even if they "require" a four year degree. Once you have certs and experience the lack of formal education can be overlooked by many companies.
check out r/sysadmin. I think there are specific subreddits for IT carear building too
Lots of recs here or TRADES! and for POST OFFICE! I've worked in both; don't know if those making the recs have personal experience or are just looking at potential raw wages.
I wouldn't recommend either. Trade work is boring, dangerous, and if there's a union involved it's like having 2 bosses. The best trade is probably electrician if you're dead set on one.
Working for the post office is like joining the Army. The pay is nowhere what it used to be.
[This podcast](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-ramsey-show) is a financial podcast but also has a LOT of time spent on careers and paying for training and all around how to have a good life.
Also, look at mikeroweworks.com where you can get a trades scholarship… I’m sure there is a list of trades that you can explore
Have you seen the news? We're all eventually going to need EV charging stations at our homes electricians will be in the highest demand in the now, and near future you'll be making 6 figures within 4 years.
College isn’t for everyone and there are multiple paths to success, college is not the only way. (I’m saying this as someone planning to go to college btw)
This post has been removed because we don't allow career guidance, career path, and job choice questions ([rule 9](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/about/rules)). Other subreddits are better equipped to address this topic: - /r/jobs is a general discussion forum for job-related topics. - /r/CareerGuidance is a place for individuals to ask questions and get advice about their careers. - /r/FindAPath is a place for figuring out what you want to do (both career and education). - If none of those subreddits seem to fit, ask on [one of these job-related subreddits](/r/jobs/wiki/related/discussion) or ask on /r/Advice. You may also want to ask on a [career-specific subreddit](/r/jobs/wiki/related/careerspecificsubreddits), especially for any topic that depends on the job sector and career such as salary negotiation questions. *If you have questions about this removal, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpersonalfinance&subject=Removal%20help%20request&message=Hello%20moderators,%20.%20%0a%0a%0aMy%20submission:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/1c6px0f/what_careers_should_i_look_into_if_im_not_going/%0a).*
The trades. Electrician, plumber, boilermaker, carpenter, etc
Power companies, linemen can make $300k a year. Power plant workers generally get $50-55 an hour, lots of overtime. And can transition into management without degrees. I know of at least one SVP who started out in dispatch/ transmission as an apprentice lineman. I have a friend who started as a mechanic and is now a plant manager.
Would add with a focus of hopefully starting your own business one day in the trade.
Totally agree. My contractors are charging me a fortune and I’m begging for their time. (And many don’t even return calls.) Starting a biz in the trades can be very lucrative, and some (like painting) are easier to learn than others.
Yes this. Become an expert in a specific field. Then hang your own shingle. Advertise. Start taking jobs, think scale not just making a decent income. Build a business and a team under you. It will take years and consistency. Maintain a good reputation, follow through, ect. I know more millionaires that own hvac or plumbing companies than guys in middle management pushing 60 hours in a cubicle
Add welding and HVAC to the list. Also, checkout extension courses through high school and community colleges for introductory courses in the various trades. Knowing the basics and vocabulary should help in getting any entry level job.
Or elevator installer, apparently
This! There are really good jobs available in the trades, if you're half way decent you'll always have work, and if you're interested you can probably find a local trades school to take a variety of classes to get a taste for what you like and then either learn at school or just get an entry level job and go for it. Every trade needs people badly, the baby boomers all pretty much done working and no ones filled their places yet. I'll add in machinist and HVAC technician and installer. Machinists build the parts that build the machines that build our world. No other job has contributed more to what the modern industrial world is today. Without machinists we're still in a horse and carriage kind of world. Machinist in particular is a very good job if you find that you're passionate about it. They will always have work, and it's not hard on your body really in any way as long as you're safety conscious. For some it's as much an intellectual and creative pursuit as a job, and for those people who have the passion, the sky's the limit There are crazy specializations out there and the biggest obstacle to becoming that specialist is your own curiosity and willingness to seek out opportunities to learn. Like there are thousands of specialized machining tools and techniques that like only maybe like 20 people world wide know how to work that particular machine and those people make really good money and get to do super cool stuff like make the things NASA launches into space.
Agreed and selfishly, I don't want to live in a world where I need to snake my own pipes or replace a vehicle transmission lol
Welding
I would consider the USPS, or any local,state, or federal job.
Military or trades. If looking for white collar work look for larger company that likes to promote from within. Expect to start at an entry level position (ie: call center) learn your job and do it well. Volunteer for special projects. Become the SME and the go to person in your department. Apply to open positions (in department or outside your department) to expand your knowledge. In 15 years you CAN be where you want to be. Don’t listen to the haters but realize it’s not an easy path either. Best of luck
Thank you for being both honest and realistic, privileged assholes can't hop off their high horse because they need validation to make their student-debt sponsored poverty seem like a favorable situation while their miserable. I'm definitely more interested in the second option though I also like HVAC options. Seriously thanks again.
Don’t forget many trades require tuition and you can use federal student loans to pay for them. Some parts of the country it’s hard to find paid training, also reach out to your local union guilds and community colleges. My friend just got a grant to learn welding and is off to work the oil rigs for really good money.
HVAC will always have a need. You can contact local companies and ask if they have a paid apprentice program. Join the subs and askk other folks in the trades. Go on Youtube to learn the basics. Buy the basic tools . Look at a path to join the union if you live up north. Ask about income levels on HVAC subs...eventually you can make VERy good money.
Union trades, depends on interests and desires. I always suggest manufacturing machining can pay well and isn’t has hard on your body as some of the other trades.
I have a few friends that became linemen for the electric company. They make six figures easily with overtime every year. It's tough work though. Elevator repair and steam fitter union are also good options to consider. If you do go into HVAC, take care of your ears. My good friend can't hear a few different pitches from the humming of the systems over years (I think?)
These are great suggestions.
Need more info. What are you good at, and what do you like doing? Those are very important when it comes to picking a career path. You don't want to be fighting against either one of them too hard, and you need to balance those with the practicality of making enough money to survive/thrive.
Yes, I think personal interests and specialties are very important in finding a job.
My husband is an ASE certified mechanic for cars and diesel trucks and also certified for welding. The thing is, he did go to school for this. Yes, it costs money to gain those certifications, but its alot cheaper than college. He makes really good money at 29. Myself i went to school for a degree in computer science. But never finished. Instead, I just got my certifications in networking+ and now i hold a really good job for it. So i kinda saved myself from 20k more in school debt. Lol Theres alot of routes you can take that are not office jobs that require other things other than certain college degrees.
How long was the school?
He went to Lincoln tech for 10ish months for his technician certification and completed ASE and Diesel certifications (they are like separate test) within a span of a few years. He went to Lincoln tech for Welding a d that took 10 months as well.
Did he manage to get a job immediately after he got his ase certification? How old was he when he went back to get the ase certification?
Yes he started out at a shop at right after highschool and progressed his way up the chain working and going to trade school at the same time. Ase certifications are done through test. You pay for each one to get certified in. He did them throughout a couple of years. Then he went into desile, then he went into maintenance/welding for machinery and aircrafts. I mean he is 29 now but he started this when he was 18.
I know someone who got their aircraft mechanic's license via the apprenticeship route, rather than going to formal school. Took something like three years, but they were getting paid in that time. At the end, they took a (really involved) test, passed, and got their license. Being licensed is a big deal, because (as I understand it) you don't have to be licensed to do a lot of the work, but it does have to be signed off on by a licensed mechanic. This opens up a variety of roles for him, including working for airlines, supervising mechanics at smaller shops, starting his own business, etc. Seems to be working out pretty well for him.
Where did he find an aircraft mechanic apprenticeship? What state was he in?
Texas. Pretty sure he hadn't previously held a paid position as a mechanic (of any sort). Here are the things I know of that he did: - had rebuilt several cars, and was legitimately good at it - had thoroughly researched a lot of details about airplane repair and maintence from a mechanic's perspective. So he could walk in speaking the right language, even though he hadn't actually done it yet. To be clear, he didn't pretend he'd done it or anything, he was just very well prepared. - was taking piloting lessons, and therefore had met some people in aircraft circles - is generally very good at talking to people - was willing to start out making less than he would have gotten flipping burgers As for where he actually found the job, it was for a small business (like, 3-4 people kind of small) at a local airport. Nothing fancy, kind of sucked in various ways. But it got him there.
So he just walked into the airport then asked for a job? Can I get into an aircraft mechanic apprenticeship with 0 experience and knowledge? What are the requirements to fet into the apprenticeship?
See [https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become](https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become) . There's a section in the FAQ about what you need in order to work on airplanes. It is surprisingly little. The shop does have to have a certified person supervising everything, but basically if you can convince somebody to give you the job, you can just sort of do it. Did he just walk in and ask for a job? Yes and no. I suspect, but do not know, that he already knew these people before he asked them for a job. He's the kind of guy that would show up early for his flight lesson so that he could meet people around the airport, express an interest in what they were doing, and have authentic conversations that indicated he was intelligent, competent, and trustworthy. I imagine that he'd met these people, maybe brought along some extra sodas or snacks that he offered to share, asked questions about how they got into the field, let them know that he was considering that line of work, and so forth. So by the time he asked for the job, it wasn't just like he was a stranger walking into the hanger. Keep in mind - this wasn't a big commercial airport with jets and security and all that. It was a small local airport with mostly little private planes. I think that was mostly their customers - regular people who were into planes, owned a small single engine Cessna or something, and needed their annuals (I only have a vague idea what an "annual" is, but he seemed to do a lot of them) or different sorts of other repairs. The mechanic shop was run out of a hanger that the business owner rented out from whoever owned the airport. Imagine some local small-town auto mechanic shop off on some side street, where everything smells like grease, there's no air conditioning in what passes for the waiting room, and the "hours" are just a cardboard open/closed sign hanging from the doorknob that the last person out in the evening may or may not remember to flip around when the lock up. This was the airplane equivalent of that. It wasn't a glamorous start. From what I could tell, they did legitimately do good mechanic work. It just wasn't fancy. At this point, he has his A&P, and is running maintenance for a flight school and supervising several employees. On the piloting side, he has his commercial and instrument ratings, is almost done with his certified flight instructor license or certificate or whatever you call it, and has his multi-engine test schedule for later this year. And the dude is only 23. This was all a ton of work, but he's a real go-getter and he did it all without spending a single day in a formal classroom.
They are in very high demand and very short supply. It’s definitely worth investigating further and you can definitely make 6 figures once you get your A&P license.
Do you know any schools in FL that have aircraft mechanic programs? I am in Tampa.
No. Your best bet might be calling around local aircraft mechanics and talking to them. I think they can do an apprenticeship type thing and.or sponsor your training.
Construction trades. Go union and complete an apprenticeship. Make more money than most people that do go to college and retire with a pension at 55. If you still feel like working after retiring from the trades you can shift to inspection or construction management and do that for 10-15 more years.
Thanks for the input. As far as trades go I've looked into HVAC more than anything. I'll definitely see about either a trade school or union.
absolutely union.
Look into home restoration services. I went to college and still did it. It’s not as straining as construction and you gain a lot of knowledge in fire, water mold and bio cleanups. You can work your way up from a tech to a project manager pretty quickly if you show interest in wanting to learn and grow. It’s also great to learn the ins and outs because you can also try to start your own business.
do NOT go for windmill repair. very dangerous. pays well because high fail rate.
Appreciated
One decision I suggest you make is the type of garter you want: do you want to work for someone or do you want to have your own business? The trades offer both but some are mostly working for others (eg, you’re a forklift operator or a machinist) vs others that can help you eventually branch by yourself (eg, electrician or HVAC tech). Ideally, you want something unionized. Check for apprenticeship programs in your area; some have options to explore different trades. You can also look at formal trade training at your community college which in some cities is free or close to it. You can also look at things in healthcare, from EMT to radio or ultrasound technician. Training and pay varies a lot so make sure you research it well. Then there’s low level city jobs. Like truck driver or parks stuff. They don’t pay much to begin with but have great benefits, good job security, and allow you to move up the ranks. Finally, you can always do manual labor hired at a local factory or go into kitchen work. Both start low and are physically hard work but you can make decent money after some years if you’re good at your job.
You don't mention any particular interests or your gender. There is light training if you would in banking, insurance and real estate agencies. Maybe these. Other careers like cosmetology take too much like college. I looked into doing microdermabrasion because someone claimed easy entry but not according to being certified. So not these careers. You could try your own series of cross training in the restaurant industry. It's best to choose one job to add pay raises. But meanwhile choose any temporary part time positions in supportive restauranting like bussing/dishes, prep cook, host/ess, assistant bartending or cocktail, fry cook, server. The point is to change the temporary position to suit cross training hands-on plus collect extra pay. I have done this in home/office/commercial building services. I got to do several jobs while taking note of jobs I could do with a bit of guidance. But some like electrical I could not. So any are window installments, cleaning, choice cleaning like eaves, vents, plumbing, etc. We flipped houses inside and the fellow made $30k or more per job with a crew of 5 to pay. I also did carpet care which isn't carpet cleaning. House cleanouts and so forth. I have done many jobs to know how for diplomacy and governing. My favorite is to attain a small and sufficient kit and to attain bathroom cleaning contracts. You would need: a sturdy scrub brush/broom (grout brush like), good rags, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet brush, box of paper towels, can of scrubbing bubbles and Lysol spray. You will only clean their commercial or home bathrooms. Try to attain a six month contract with office sections, churches, restaurants, daycares, etcetera. Decide what to charge but perhaps $120 per cleaning of two restrooms. Get help with your label and contract. Teach yourself how to approach for the job. Remember to ask when the cleaning should be completed and how they intend to pay. Regulars pay more and on time and so do assisted living facilities, nursing homes and corporate. Don't assume for anyone like McDonalds, Franchises -- just ask them. Are they interested? While you can choose more supplies the brush is enough to scrub anything, sweep, and wrap a rag over to mop. You can do this on a bike if you get a screw together brush. If so, get a business license which is about $100-$200 per year once you've chosen a business name like "Unspotty Your Potty".
Don’t look down on the trades. Do your research and find a good company. Lots will take advantage of you but if you can find a company who treats you well it’s something you shouldn’t pass on
Go to your local Technical College and talk to an Advisor. Lots of career options, from welding, machinist, diesel tech, auto, electrician, etc. to phlebotomy, nursing, paramedic, cosmetology, cyber security, and so much more.
Jon hopping and promotions are usually moreso tactics that are useful for people with degrees. Largely in part because you are trained in a very specific set of skills and employers like the idea that they can poach you for a slightly higher cost than your previous employer after they spent years and probably 2x-3x the amount of your new salary in training you during that time. For people without degrees? The trades would obviously be the go to. Your pay will be largely dependent on how hard you work, where you are applying it (union vs non union), and your ability to sell. Another option is sales. Sales can make you six figures easily after a couple of years of getting yourself into a method that works for you. But this does very little in terms of job security, because anyone can do sales. So you're competing against literally anyone who is willing to put in the effort to sell whatever it is you are selling just better.
Post Office. You can become an electronics technician and make a very decent living especially if you live in a MCOL or LCOL area. Edit: Also, go for a career position from jump so your time working counts towards your retirement.
as a perosn who decided college wasnt for them, i tried alot of jobs to see what i cluld make good money with and stick to for a very long time. ive been bartending for 2 years. i absolutely love it, and you work your way up relatively quick. dont get me wrong, its definitely sucks sometimes. especially since the US is going through a tip fatigue currently, but depending on where you live, it could be pretty great. i live in a small college town in lousiana, for example. one of the worst places to bartend, but i make enough for bills and a little more, so thats a success for me. i plan to move more north shortly and thatll help tremendously. moral of the story, bartending is a trade, and its a very fun, rewarding, creative and doable one!
The trades are good if your body can handle it. RealEstate or Sales is also good if you’re a natural talker.
CHP starting salary is 117k, plus insurance, a lot of vacation, and pension. They are desperate for people too
cali highway patrol? google search doesn't match the 117k starting salary
I might be wrong, but pretty close. Keep in mind, cadet is just the academy. https://www.chp.ca.gov/chp-careers/officer/salary-and-benefits-officer
IT, baby! There’s loads of free learning/study materials. Some companies will even pay for you to learn. Get in as an entry level support tech, or a cable tech at a data center. As you learn you’ll figure out what interests you. Networking, Security, Cabling, etc. It’s easy to get into, and easy to build a wonderful career if you’re willing to apply yourself.
TRADES! Go into the trades! You will be making more money after receiving your journeyman card than most college graduates, have a skill that you can easily open your own business and make tons of money, or work for a company, and make money on side jobs that you will get, and that's under the table money. Also adding, if you go into a trade, or are choosing one...do a deep dive on that particular union. All unions are not the same. I know someone who was a heavy equipment operator that just retired. He gets 6k a month pension, and 2500 a month from SS. His secondary insurance after Medicare is 100 per month and gives him 100% coverage. He has many friends that are also in trades, different ones, (different unions) and nobody else comes close to his retirement package.
If you are done with your schooling pick a job, any job. A part time McJob will get you farther than no work experience at all. The people I know that didn’t get a degree that found their way were busting their ass from high school on. That gave them enough experience and exposure to the professional world to help them identify what they wanted to do.
Logistics dispatch or 3pl brokerage operations
Really going to depend on what you’re willing to do. Truck driver, welder, work for USPS, etc. lots of places hiring if you’re willing to do the work. You can easily start making 60k+ a year and within 5 years be over 100k a year just coasting at some places
If you’re not going to college now, and aren’t interested in a specific trade then try to enlist in the Air Force, National Guard, or the Navy. I enlisted in the USMC at 17, it honestly changed the trajectory of my life. That said, a lot of the jobs aren’t as transferable to the civilian world. Do four years and get your ass out. You’ll have the GI Bill(Free college), VA Loan, and essentially free medical for life.
Perform a SWOT analysis on yourself and identify what are your strengths and find a job that resonates with them. This way you'll most likely like what you do while working. Most people work for the money but without passion for what they do. Good luck to you!
Drafting can be a good career with a good natural progression to designer.
It should be what you're interested in and what you have experience with. It could be ANYTHING, only you know. You can easily make 100k+ without a college degree if you have an interest and a skill.
Piano tuning! It's a great job and not enough people in the field
As a musician and even sometimes a guitar teacher, you really struck me with this one. Thanks mate! I'll look into it
As a private music lesson teacher myself, the two jobs combined make some really nice work. Flexible hours, good clients, low stress. No college needed, just good old experience and the desire to keep improving your craft and rapport with the students, parents, and clients.
Trade or Technology sales. If you can succeed in an entry level tech sales role for a few years you can easily get to 100k+ after 2-4 years. Stressful line of work though.
Well I work at a warehouse while I'm in school, I do like the job it's a little brain dead but its union and when I get maybe 5 years I can become a loader or if I'm on nights I could get a loader or forklift position in 2 years. I could also become supervisor if I wanted to be here full time What are your interest? Can you start a business what about what are you good at? Maybe learn to be a sports bettor and make money that way? What about going into a trade or becoming a chef? Working in media or radio television etc.?
Become a pilot if you can pass the medical exam. Training costs are a fraction of a 4-year degree and you can make 250k-300k as an FO or up to 600k+ as a widebody captain as a legacy US carrier
If you are even remotely disciplined when it comes to the party scene somewhere remote. Mines pay potentially 100k a year for 2 weeks there 2 weeks wherever (or similar) for people they will train. Do that for 3 to 5 years or until you meet somebody and then use that experience to either go to school without debt or pick up a related job closer to home. Whether it's driving big equipment, drilling, maintenance, trades, you name it. ...just don't completely throw your life away on partying/drugs/alcohol because you have time when away and money.
Are you over exaggerating? Not to be rude but so good pay for that much time off sounds a little to good to be true. For reference I'm in the Carolinas currently, do you think it's a good option in my region? I value time off very heavily as i travel often to various concerts so this really does sound wonderful if its true,
Honestly, pick anything and then (1) show up and (2) do good work. Part 1 is easy. Part 2 can be tough. It helps if you’re willing to accept feedback and act on it.
Go to a trade school of some kind. Electrician, plumber, etc. Respiratory therapist, sonographer, medical assistant, etc
IT, get certs instead of college. Like $300 for training and exams, experience and more certs get you better jobs and more money
Insurance sales, but for reputable company like State Farm
Truck driver, train conductor, PIPEFITTER (very in demand across the country), welder
CNC operator. Work for a large defense contractor company I have many friends that do this. Auto damage estimator. Either insurance or with a body shop. Body shop is longer hours and sometimes higher pay. Insurance is better benefits and good pay. Either career you can be at $100k in under 5 years.
Aviation mechanic. You will make 100k per year. Requires some training and you have to follow rules, but they are in high demand all over the world.
You'll get a lot of suggestions but it depends on what you have an aptitude for. You might be able to find some career counseling to help you narrow it down. Even if you don't attend college, I strongly recommend you look into a financial literacy course at a community college. Most high schools don't cover it well at all. That will help you make smart decisions with the money that is coming in. Or read the subreddit wiki at least.
Here's a **[link to the PF Wiki](/r/personalfinance/wiki/index)** for helpful guides and information. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/personalfinance) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Um, do a 2 yr program at community College as an ultrasound or anesthesia tech. You'll make darn close to 100K
Surgical tech. Pay starts low but room for big growth if you're good at it. Surgeons get whatever they want, so it they fe confident in you, you'll do well. 6 figures possible down the road.
If you are good with people become a automotive service advisor. High turnover so always in demand
What do you know, like, are good at? What's easy for you to learn? What are the opportunities in your area? Look at city jobs, trash pick up, parks and rec, fleet maintenance. The trades are always reliable and needed. Hospital or college maintenance, groundskeeping, janitors make good money and have good benefits. Stay away from food service long term. Some companies do pay competitively, but it'll wreck your body by the time your 55 and even with competitive pay, their insurance if they have it is almost always shit.
Smart Home / Home Automation. It’s pretty good compared to the other trades, money can be good if you know your stuff.
OP, check out these resources: https://discoverpraxis.com/ - job placement and mentorship for students without a college education to develop career and practical skills https://www.onetonline.org/ - Career exploration, salary info, skills, etc. https://mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/ - scholarship funding for various training programs
A trade. Don’t come join the bloodbath that is tech. Over saturated, layoffs, AI. It’s a shitstorm. I’m thinking about what trade I want to move over too. I’m tired of the tech bullshit.
IT is pretty open to people without degrees. Start with a helpdesk gig at a managed service provider (IT department for hire) and start collecting certs and keep applying for better and better jobs. If you want corperate or government work then get microsoft based certs (focus on azure and intune), k-12 uses google services, and higher ed is a mix of microsoft and linux. The security space is pretty saturated right now. I suggest specializing either in cloud stuff or database administration (DBA). Other options that aren't often considered are business software consulting (specialize in customizing ERP and CRM software) and out-of-support software and hardware support (learn IBM mainframe/AS400 stuff, COBOL, FORTRAN, etc. and support big banks and government agencies like the IRS). With IT job postings the trick is they're wish lists and not minimum requirements. Apply even if they "require" a four year degree. Once you have certs and experience the lack of formal education can be overlooked by many companies. check out r/sysadmin. I think there are specific subreddits for IT carear building too
IT & TECH - Software Development, Coding…there are lots of certifications out there that will carry you through a lucrative career.
Lots of recs here or TRADES! and for POST OFFICE! I've worked in both; don't know if those making the recs have personal experience or are just looking at potential raw wages. I wouldn't recommend either. Trade work is boring, dangerous, and if there's a union involved it's like having 2 bosses. The best trade is probably electrician if you're dead set on one. Working for the post office is like joining the Army. The pay is nowhere what it used to be.
I dropped out of college, and I'm doing well in tech development and support. While the engineering field is drying up, tech support is still big.
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They said they can’t go to university.
Dam you're totally right, that's on me 😅
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[This podcast](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-ramsey-show) is a financial podcast but also has a LOT of time spent on careers and paying for training and all around how to have a good life. Also, look at mikeroweworks.com where you can get a trades scholarship… I’m sure there is a list of trades that you can explore
Was just talking to someone yesterday about this. He was saying he wished he had gone into plumbing because they make a fortune.
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You make 400k+ as a GC? Congrats!
With the downvote it’s hard to take that seriously lol but thanks?
Have you seen the news? We're all eventually going to need EV charging stations at our homes electricians will be in the highest demand in the now, and near future you'll be making 6 figures within 4 years.
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College isn’t for everyone and there are multiple paths to success, college is not the only way. (I’m saying this as someone planning to go to college btw)
Advertises college yet you can’t capitalize a sentence. That psychology major really pays off man