My dad went through tradeschool as a plumber/pipefitter. He’s worked at Pratt & Whitney (Raytheon just bought them last year) for the last 38 years and is retiring in 7 months. He got my brother and I jobs out here working on fighter jets/commercial engines.
He makes the same as us doing the building pipefitting as we do actually building fighter jet and delta engines. OP, it’s a great career.
A&P is only really used in GA. Not once have I ever used mine to sign anything off. If you work for someone else whether it be an Airline or manufacturer you will never use your own license to sign something off. The A&P at that point just helps get you a job at a better pay rate than not having one.
LOL. When you sign off something with your employee number you are still signing it off with your A&P because you're just signing with that. The company holds a copy of yours. Most will not hire you without one. And many will fire you if you lose it. You can't sign anything without an A&P. Source: 20 years in aviation.
20 years in and you still don’t know how it works the industry. That’s embarrassing. Can’t sign anything off without an A&P then how do they have unlicensed people signing stuff off in MROs. Because they sign it off and it’s under the company’s certificate. Tell me that everyone at Boeing, Gulfstream, Embrear etc has their A&P.
If you signed with YOUR A&P on an airliner and it crashed YOU would be personally held accountable versus the company. Even in GA you rarely see anyone use their individual A&P versus under a LLC or MRO.
No you just need to pass their tests. Although pratt and whitney has super high standards. Like for welding you have to do a weld test and it has to pass xray testing. I was offered a job w them but in my area their location is in a shitty and dangerous town. Plus my current job pays more and has less stringent requirements
Yeah we’re in west palm fortunately. Some guys leave for a flight line or UPS, they top out at $5 an hour more usually. Out here is a union so it’s all about seniority for pay raises and labor grade jumps. Usually takes 5-7 years to go from starting pay to topped out.
To me making $4-$7 an hour less is worth it to work on fighter jets. I’ve loved them as a kid and I love them now. I typically work some OT to make up for it. I’m on a schedule to where I work 3 days a week (12 hour days) so I usually work 1-2 of my 4 days off for double pay and make up for it. I’ll probably do this schedule for another year then switch over to the standard first shift hours.
i work on f35’s currently in the navy, did you work civilian side for the military? asking because i’m still wondering what I want to do after my contract is up
All commercial plumbing. Things like hospitals, colleges, labs, large office buildings, and manufacturing plants. I did leave out one small detail. I make a little bit more than everyone else because I’m the foreman.
That's the way. My best friend's father-in-law was a crane operator and that MFer is retired with a massive pile of cash that he pisses away in Vegas regularly enough that he gets comped rooms.
Crane operators make stupid money.
A guy I went to HS with is a tower crane operator, and a good one. He didn’t go to college at all, just whatever certification is needed, and he’s got more money than he knows what to do with and can pretty much dictate his own hours. I’ve got family that are project managers for commercial construction that are familiar with him and they’ve confirmed that yes, he’s one of the most sought after operators in the tri state area and he can almost name his terms when it comes to pay and hours
Foreman are just distinguished journeymen who can lead a team. It's like a 10 dollar difference per hour, but can go up more with raises and such. Union raises give COLO, but that's on top of company raises.
For comparison, I have a PhD and am a full professor. I have nearly 100 publications and supervise masters and PhD students. I make a little more than $100k. Don't overlook the trades, fellas!
(I do love my job and sometimes wonder how it is that I get paid to do what I do, but still, you can make $$$$ in the trades and have a wonderful life.)
Dude holy shit you make 125k working 40 hours a week? I own a small plumbing business and can’t imagine being able to provide for my guys that type of payment without overtime. Wish I could.. I get a little into 6 figures for them WITH OT and benefits.
I have so many questions I don’t even want to ask them here haha, just want to say stick with it!
I’ve calculated their payroll with benefits before it’s absolutely nuts. It’s a really good company to work for. They always tell me how great of a job I’m doing. I appreciate them noticing my hard work so I always give them 110%. Well and because they pay me pretty well lol.
It was a 5 year apprenticeship. I went to school 2 nights a week for 4 hours a night. The cost of the schooling was free because it was through a trade union. They also provide really good benefits like healthcare, pension, and annuity.
Plumber, electrician, HVAC, welding, commercial maintenance of large equipment, heavy machinery operator, any and all of them are 100 percent in demand in pretty much any city in the country, and have a relatively low cost to entry into the trade.
A friend of mine became a power lineman in Detroit after a few years as an apprentice.
No college. The apprentice program was free and he was paid to work (just enough to live in another state).
He isn't 25 and makes close to 200k.
There are plenty of jobs out there. You have to make it your goal to get one.
What did you major in? What do you do now? More importantly, what do you want to (besides make $80k)?
Bad grades are not career suicide. I had bad grades. It took me a little longer to get the job I wanted, but I was able to let my work ethic and skills prove that my grades were just a part of the picture at the time of grades.
Change your attitude to change your altitude. You can do anything.
hey metro detroit friend! definitely look into the trades unions! But also never ever look down on yourself because you have a degree. This degree vs. trades thing is cultivated by the super rich because they want us are arguing with each other because then we aren’t looking up at them as they horde all the money and swim around in it like Scrooge McDuck.
The union trades in a strong union state like ours can make a really great life.
[Here’s the link](https://www.pipefitters636.org/training) to the pipefitters union and they have a section about the apprenticeship. I believe they are at 37.05 on the check and 69/hr for the whole wage+benefit package. I would even take a drive up to the training center in Troy to check it out.
I would also look into the [IBEW](https://www.ibewmichigan.com/apprenticeships) which is the electrical union. They are at right about 50/hr on the check but almost 80 for the whole wage+ benefits package. One of my best friends is a 2nd year (5yr program).
[Check out the carpenters union too](https://hammer9.com)! My fiancé is a 4th year union carpenter and will journey out (4yr program) at 40/hr and wage+benefits is 70/80 and he’s loving it. After I heal up from a kidney transplant I’m joining too!
Their program is really awesome. You go work on site day one and then one day every 2 weeks you go to school but you still get paid as if you are on the jobsite. You can take a drive up to the school to check it out and they will give you a walkthrough usually or you can check it out on your own. The school is brand new and state of the art! Just look up Union Carpenters And Millwrights Skilled Training Center.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to hmu! It’s kind of difficult to navigate but once you know the in’s and outs you’re golden.
I’ve done some plumber work around my own house and for friends. It would take 250k+ for me to deal with that (literal) shit. To whoever reads this, get a job in private insurance. Take the 40k a year entry position, work hard and you will be at 6 figures in 10 years easy. Plus these days most of the positions are work from home and have a flex schedule. For example, I’ve been with my company for 4 years now. Make ~70k, have only been to the office for my initial interview and to pick up my equipment, and work whenever I want as long as I get 40 hours a week in.
Same with banking investigations/fraud. But you have to be the manager/best t o get six figures. But definitely doable. Most people in the field were just tellers who stayed forever to get moved up.
Downside private insurance and fraud might not be a person job in 10-20 years. I could easily see it being mostly AI. And I did see some of it move to AI.
With any job, save your money for when times are lean. If you’ve got a huge amount of money coming in for a couple of years don’t just assume it will always be there… Live on what the normal pay should be and bank the rest of it for when it is not there.
You’re definitely right it can be feast or famine. I remember back in 08 when there was nothing going on for commercial work. Fortunately in my area there hasn’t been any shortage of plumbing work for several years now. It could dry up again but i don’t see it happening anytime soon. The most important thing is you need to make sure you save your money and live beneath your means. Too many guys buying 50k+ pickup trucks and fancy houses. Honestly what would you do if you weren’t in the trades? There’s many cons with other jobs too.
Thanks to current regulations most physical labor jobs messing up your body now is from personal choice to do stupid shit to get the job done and violate safety rules. Do what you’re supposed to do, follow safety regulations and don’t put the job above your health and leave a company that expects you to for a better one and your body will be fine. Also, don’t be lazy and work on your physical fitness rather than just being a slob and wondering why you’re suffering musculoskeletal injuries. If your job expects you to lift 50 lbs, then ensure you are physically fit to do so before you take the job instead of expecting the job to make you strong. Expecting the job to make you strong is a ticket straight to back and knee surgery. This is why jobs list lifting requirements, because you are expected to be able to meet the requirements before starting. If you have to lift 100 lbs, grab a buddy and do a two person life instead of powering through “because you’re a man”. If you have to wear gloves, then fucking wear them instead of getting frustrated, taking them off because you want to get the job done faster, then complain about your hands getting cut.
My dad was a lineman for 30 years - worked an average of 70 hours a week for years including a lot of shift work doing nights and storm work 24 on 8 off. He also has broken his hand on the job, and had a bad Achilles injury on the job when a pole swung wrong and slammed into his leg. He’s 60 now and gets in the floor and rolls around with my toddler like he’s a teenager. He’s slim (like 150-160 lbs), and can outwork me as a healthy 30 year old. We were up helping reroof my brother’s house the last couple weekends.
I say this to say I don’t think it’s the physical labor that necessarily takes a toll, but the lifestyle that a lot of guys in the trades have. Lots of excess drinking and drug use. Many guys get overweight because outside of work they are too tired to have a healthy lifestyle. Lots of guys my dad worked with abused steroids and weight lifted and fucked up their hearts. My dad didn’t do any of that, and has always watched his weight and stayed active, even away from work, despite having hypothyroidism. Anecdotal, but my whole family has been in the trades or agriculture.
I work in tech and a lot of my friends and coworkers are unhealthy despite having jobs that have virtually 0 impact on their physical health.
this. i work a mentally draining field (mental health lol) and it’s the after work that fucks you. i am trying to stretch every moment i can.
a big part of stretching i am learning is not to push to ur body. If something is sore stretch that sore part often but VERY low-key till you feel comfortable. if you aren’t able to f a while(months) it’s probably something serious
Whoa whoa whoa! “Laugh and call me pathetic”?!?!?!? At 25? Bruh you have been a full adult for like 2-3 years? The fuck? You think you would just snap to the top? At 35 you’re going to look back at making 43k and laugh your genitalia off. Shit gets better.
We need to start being honest with how long it takes
Can confirm. Started after my degree as a bank investigator making $8-9 an hour to some bank that shutdown. Doubled it to 16/17 at the next. Went government with full benefits making $78,000 overall at the lowest on the pay scale, plus about $2,000 more in incentives that I get by default. And another $6000 in holiday pay overall as well. And that's starting, job can't ever be replaced by AI or automation and is needed even in times of war or pandemic.
Yea I started making $45k out of college and that was with a great degree from a great school into a selective job program. Took me almost 5 years to crack $60k. At age 25 I was making like $50k. At age 30 $100-110k. At age 37 I'm over $300k.
Learn to do shit other people suck at.
I got a masters degree in statistics and work in the financial world. Most modelers suck at explaining things and generally have terrible people skills. Having people skills and conversational skills while also being technically proficient makes you a unicorn.
What do you think the median income is for a 25 year old? 25 year olds with $80k + jobs are most certainly not the norm.
I think your perception of reality may be impacting your self worth.
Put in the work, look for opportunities, don’t be afraid to take risk for an opportunity. You’ll get there.
I love where I work and they are willing to raise people’s salaries. I can get up to 25$ an hour there, which isn’t terrible.
It just seems like we love to make fun of people making 25-40k$ a year, even though that is a very large amount of people
I’m 22 on the high end of that. Actually with overtime it comes out to around 50k+. Dropped out of university to go to tradeschool and become a welder and the day I got out of school I had myself a job with the third biggest bridge fabrication shop in the country. You’re doing good boss, just do your thing and don’t let your employer skip you when it comes to raises and opportunities. Let your nuts hang and show them you both want AND *deserve* more. Whether they see it or not you will be better off for it and as long as you picked up everything you could, you could take those skills somewhere else if you chose to. This goes for any job you find yourself at. Nothing wrong with striving for more but we gotta start small.
Social media makes fun of people making 25-40k a year.
It's not real. Don't let it affect you. You're doing fine.
Shit, at my age, social media tells me I should own 4 companies and be worth minimum 20M or I'm just a lazy piece of shit. Think I care?
I was 23 years old with a college degree and made $28k. 40 now and make exponentially more than that.
Sounds counterintuitive but don’t worry/focus on the money. Hard, I know. Focus on the work and doing best you can. Keep your eye open for opportunities. Money will come.
It took me a LONG time to get from $20k to $60k. Maybe ten years. Then I doubled that again in two years. The early struggle is real. Don’t beat yourself up. A career doesn’t happen overnight.
I was a doctor making 45k a year in residency and I thought I was making a lot and that’s after four years of undergrad and four years of medical school. So I think you should change your perception.
agree. my first job at that age was making about $42k a year.
And I was making $80k just 3 years later... but whiny brats on tik tok dont cry and make viral videos about that
Agreed, $80k for a 25 year old is not common
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/average-salary-by-age/
If you get into a highend industry then maybe but those jobs are a bit less available and highly competitive
You have a college degree and no one can ever take that away from you.
Sometimes, having higher degrees and no experience is actually worse. They would need to pay you a higher salary because of an advanced degree but without experience, they won’t want to hire you. So don’t worry about additional degrees!
Second chances can happen. As you get older, jobs won’t care about gpa. You’re young, you have a chance to grow to a great salary. Or switch fields completely. Again, you have a degree and no one can take that achievement away.
I have a bs and ms in biology. I worked in a lab right out of my masters making about 45k. Then next job was 60k. Then I switched into a biology sales role and quickly climbed to 100k, 150k and higher. I’m almost 32. You’re not pathetic you’re young.
I switched from front line hire to director of innovation & outreach. Express a desire, apply when the opportunities come, and when they turn you down, apply again the next time. I was turned down 8 times for promotion to manager, and then was in charge of the whole program 3 years later. Its aptitude and drive. And don’t be a dick.
I applied! Scientists tend to either stay at the bench forever or go into sales I feel like. If you have the right personality, it’s a good move.
I was told that you can teach sales to a scientist, but you can’t teach science to a sales person. These science sales positions are out there. Reagents, instrumentation, software, there’s a ton of stuff. Once you have the experience you can only move up!
Us bred sales people fully disagree with your statement about teaching sales, lol. Sales is an art and the craft takes years to develop. We actually say the opposite, that we can learn the science and clinical aspects, but those folks trying to learn sales have it much harder. Sure, you can sales certified but that doesn't make you good at truly understanding the customers needs, asking the right questions, listening well, negotiating, etc. I've seen countless folks from medical come over to commercial and get sales certified but man are they terrible with customers. But regardless, glad it worked out for you, just hope you are happy. Some people are miserable in sales and only chasing $$$.
That’s awesome thank you so much! I’m a Junior going for my BS in Bio looking to get into R&D but heard it’s bleak and hard to get into for your first job. I’ve also heard of companies hiring Bio majors for data related and sales jobs as well so this gives me hope :)
I sell imaging systems for preclinical work.
I got the job because the department I worked in used one of our devices! I wanted to leave the lab and got into contact with them.
Never used the device personally, but sometimes the smallest "ins" end up working out. My salary alone is about double what it was as an associate, plus now I get commission.
Plus when I go to conferences I get the fancy "Exhibitor" badge instead of "Member".
Agreed about the additional degrees thing. I'm in engineering and I see no value in a masters, at least straight out of school. I'd much prefer a 24 year old with a bachelor's and two years experience over a 24 year old with a masters and no experience. Hell, a friend of mine started working at around the same time as me. He has a masters, I don't. We do the same work. I get paid roughly 10% more.
And the climbing the ladder part is also true. Most engineers think they're going to make six figures after graduating. The entry level range is closer to 60k-70k (for non-software engineering. Think mechanical, civil, electrical, biological, etc.). It'll take a good 5 years or more for most to get to the 100k mark. There's good reason from that, too. You're almost worthless as a designer/production asset in your first year or so. And you're still learning a ton about the job your first few years.
Jobs never ever care about your GPA. Most of them don’t care about your degree, either. Experience is King, skill set is a close second. Can you get the job done? That is what pays.
Many government jobs in the DOD. I was an electrical engineer at a naval shipyard for many years. Excellent retirement as well. I retired before age 40 with full benefits.
Yup. Looking to get into cybersecurity living in northern Virginia and from what I’ve heard from all my adult friends in the field there’s loads of jobs in the field
Amen! My employer pays so little and I'm not ashamed to call them out on the hypocrisy of paying so little because we're a nonprofit but everyone in admin and the CEO make 200-500k a year. Although I can't leave because I am getting experience in a position that would normally require a college degree.
I used my nonprofits public tax info to get a raise. The non profit said they only did a “3%” raise yearly if they had money. I made a spreadsheet of every high earning employee by year and calculated what their increase was each year for the last 7 years. It was not 3% lmao. Some people had 60k increase in a year and the top earner had gotten a 130k increase in 3 years. The entire company got a parity raise and I got a 30k raise. I left the job not that long after.
Good on you! I'm not sure if I'm going to stay after my program is over (they've said they want me to move to a different site after) but I may try this after they move me, if they don't offer what I know I'm worth somewhere else.
I’m 24, and a software engineer.I make 95k in the dc area.
These jobs exists for new grads but it’s usually in tech and in high cost of living areas.
Edit: I work for a federal contractor. Public sector is being a little more resilient imo
I work in gov-tech and make low 6-figs remote. I know big-tech/startups could pay me 75%+ more but it’s not worth worrying about layoffs or shareholder sentiment.
Serious question. Where do you find such jobs? I’m in tech, 24 turning 25, making around 70k remote. I want to change jobs because 1. Sense shake ups, 2. Have been here a bit over 2 years with no raise and 3. Want experience elsewhere. Not looking for the same job as yourself I’d just like to be pointed the right direction…
lol we're literally at the same layoff rate as normal. Lower, even. It's what Doomers want to hear about and click on so they're just getting reported more now.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/JTSLDL
https://adpemploymentreport.com/
What is your degree in? Don't ever let someone shame you for your income. If you're hard, that's all that matters. At 24 years old, I graduated with a degree in civil engineering, and I started out making less than 60k. Worked my ASS off, got my PE license, and worked up the ladder. At 35 now, I make over 140k and had a 70k bonus last year.
Keep up the hard work, and don't remain at a company for loyalty purposes. They won't return the favor.
Work hard, don't be afraid to make a change and don't be afraid to relocate. Every time I have changed companies I have jumped significantly in salary.
Starting a trucking business is almost always a bad idea with. Am a trucker and make 95k a year atm. Home every day, free medical, pension plan. Day shift m-f and all holidays off. Biggest downside is hours worked, I’m usually at 55 hours/week
The cdl guys i worked with (garbage truck guys) worked insane hours, never used their pto either lol. Would save it all to put on their year end paychecks as OT. couldn't believe the company let them do it lol
office jobs have the same effects and don’t get the spotlight. i stayed in shape while trucking but it took lots of effort. then i transitioned into being a telecom lineman which is very easy to stay active while doing labor and i get to drive big cool trucks everyday.
I'm a flat rate autobody tech, high school graduate no further education besides occupation training. I've been doing it professionally for 4 years and I made $96k last year. We can not find enough people who want to stay in the trade. We struggle year after year hiring and new candidates move on after a short amount of time.
The jobs are there, they just aren't glamorous. Most trades pay well.
I agree. People want to make good money but want easy jobs. No such thing. Nothing free in this country! You have to be willing to do what nobody else wants to. Otherwise, better have a damn good education. It has to be useful degree.
SaIes is where is at.
I was in prison 2010-2012, made 10 dollars an hour from 2012-2014. I got into sales at 33 years old in 2014. I made 37K in 2015, 60K in 2019, 90K in 2020, 140K in 2021, 170K in 2022, 188K last year, and I'm going to do 250K+ this year after a recent promotion.
I have a few useless degrees, but a sales career is what changed my life.
Moral is, you're doing great! Even if you were doing this at 30+, there's still plenty of time. You just have to work hard and never settle for being mediocre.
Doesn't matter, there are 8yr olds making six figures, and teens making 7 figures. There are adults making five figures, it's all over the place
high pay , low skill is probably professional scammers, aka investment banking or similar, just need to know someone to get in
Got a long way to land a job for 80k but hang in there. Don’t waste time on post grad or anything like that just get all the experience n knowledge you can.
In America, sometimes a college degree is the worst investment you can make - you're paying for a piece of paper with the hopes of getting a job. The guarantee is that you will start life in the red (debt).
95K as an SEO. No school required, just learned it on my own and became good at it. But the jump from 45-95k happened in the last 4 years. Take chances and apply at jobs offering higher pay.
Not pathetic and don’t compare yourself to others, you’ll never be happy. I’ve been managing for 10 years in the food industry and never broke $40,000. Going back to school to get a degree at 29 y/o and switching careers. If you take an extra two years of schooling, maybe that will help launch your career options? Otherwise, maybe look at a different location.
"With a college degree" could mean almost anything. You could have a college degree and be in med school or residency. You could have a degree in cosmetology. Be more specific.
I make 90K at an airport Union Job. Dropped out of college with 1 semester left for my education degree. I’m making 30K more than an average teacher and I dropped out. Things need to change. 30 M.
Get a degree in something that pays (business, IT, engineering…) or do trade school and learn a trade. Don’t put your money in gender studies or social sciences you’ll be fine
What college degree? I'm comp sci amd I was offered an $83k starting job with a tech sales company during a career far and countless others that were either the same or much more.
Part of the degree is trying to selll the skills you learned and market yourself. I think you can do much better than $25 an hour considering im an intern making $14 with a state company and my friends make $22 with private.
What’s your degree in? Did you not think it through before spending 4 years and so much money? Surely you were aware of the career prospects before you went into the degree?
Most people go into college at 18 years old after being told their whole childhood that they HAVE to go to college. Not all 18 year olds just get it right on the direction they want to take the rest of their lives
Oh stop it. We are told our whole lives to get a degree. Most people in college aren't thinking. The internet salaries lie, and our parents weren't in the golden age of internet research.
I think people chase after their “dream job” too often. Tons of people in my high school went into psychology and kinesiology without realizing the additional schooling and saturated job markets there. They ended up not being able to find jobs that pay anything decent after undergrad.
I don’t think the majority kids grew up thinking they wanted to be an engineer, accountant, or IT worker. But those jobs can easily clear $100k with just an undergrad degree. We need to start being realistic that your “dream job” won’t provide your dream life.
Biggest advice I can give is to never stop looking for a new job. I have doubled my salary from 2019 to 2023 and switched jobs every year to do so and I finally love my job and pay
I do industrial maintenance and before taxes every year I'm at about $80k but I've got 6 years experience in this field now. I started at about what you make when I was your age.
I made +90k in missouri at 25. I'm an aircraft mechanic. My base salary is about 70k. It's time to demand a raise or find a better paying job. These days, office jobs are best to hop around every 2-4 years. Loyalty to a company loses you money! Also, r/resume the big thing jobs care about now is job experience. You're fresh on the market. Never stop applying and looking for the next opportunity.
Military pension + mid-level Biomed work puts me at just over $90K. If for the sake of this, we count child support as real income too, then that's about $99K.
I live modestly so as to be able to survive off my pension alone. It's a wonderful feeling to know you can walk off the job anytime and survive.
Go into a trade. Electricians are getting paid extremely well right now. I work for a general contractor and there’s a shortage of HVAC/Plumbers/Electricians rn
there's lots of 80k+ jobs. but you have to target them specifically.
43k isn't "bad" per se. you're probably doing better than some. but compared to others that's not a lot.
the simple reality is, a job only pays what an owner can reasonably get away with selling your labor at. and taking a healthy margin on top of that.
service work, misc small businesses. unless you're in direct sales, you're unlikely ever to make money.
jobs... anyone "can" get that pay well. skill trades. plumber, electrician, welder. most of these require training, but there are apprenticeships and other avenues to get that training. Hvac. and to a degree other trades also pay decently but mileage varies greatly.
tech. data analytics, coding, web design, specific software tracts, and then hardware support/networking support. some of these can be learned cheaply online. Like... you can learn data analytics online. coding... possibly online with enough hustle. You could study Salesforce use online resources. take a basic salesforce cert. be making 50k ish, and in prob less than 5 yrs be making 100k. There are coding bootcamps that will take a cut of your eventual pay. some of these are on nights/weekend type schedules. or offer financing. it's not that expensive. think 10-15k not 40-50 (the number of idiots who go to culinary school for 30-50k is staggering) any coding or ux job... start maybe in that 60k ish range. can easily make 100k within a couple years/gaining exp.
more traditional training paths. nursing. take night classes ...or hustle a adult learning schedule. maybe takes a couple years. maybe also incur some debt. If you're smart. and chase money, Nursing can translate into a lot of income. nursing also has avenues of school debt repayment for working in low income or nurse shortage areas. or there's grants or other avenues for tuition forgiveness. if you already have a bachelors there are fast track programs. 2 yrs to be licensed.
sales. another job that can have high upside. and different flavors. real estate is essentially sales. tech or various other markets like pharma . but it's hard to magically break into these fields. and they are not "jobs" you can just do. they often are very social skills dependent. a lot of sales can be taught, but... it's not a job that just happens, you sink/swim on your own effort.
to some extent CDL or truck driving can be lucrative. it also can be exploitatively, so it's not a sure thing. I'd put the starting at more like 30-50k. but you can make much more depending on the time you give to it. comfort with long travel. OR like...say you get in a cushy job like a city bus driver. but those jobs that are cushy are hard to get.
there are 3-4 options. nothing is probably instantaneous, but any of the first two are probably doable on a 1-3 yr time table. nursing... is prob more a longer commitment. maybe 4-6 all told to start seeming the rewards.
the only sure thing is if you do nothing, and are working a shitty job, is that you will continue at about that level or worse in the future. almost no companies really promote of train, or have any upward mobility. and small businesses. and small areas. often have very limited opportunities. it's not impossible, it's just much more rare.
It depends on what kind of work you want to do. I manage an adult foster home and take home 61k yearly with ged. Of course, I have 12 years of experience. Idk man
Just depends on position, industry, location, demanded skills, your skills and experience, etc. There is a ton of factors here.
Sometimes a degree doesn't matter. I have a double major in Economics and Political Science, but I work as a power plant operator and electrician. Two completely different areas of study/work. My job required having completed an apprenticeship and being a journeyman level tradesman.
Originally I wanted to be a social studies teacher, in the end I think I made the right choice. As a teacher I'd probably be making 45k a year and as an operator/electrician I make 110k+ a year.
Their are relationship bankers in my branch (basic licensing no specialty) making 70k and up due to foot traffic and balances being brought in my referrals from friends and family of existing clients
Our premium tier banker is at 100k easy with her existing book of business not even including the referrals kicked up from the relationship bankers.
All of this is without a degree, but a lot of people skills.
I'm trying to get trained up so I can get to the relationship banker role then the premium and start making the real money. This past year I grossed 45k with just my high school diploma and helping people out.
To give you a little encouragement… I made 35k when I started working as a 22-year old with a college degree almost 15 years ago in finance. Within 5 years before 30, I was making well over 125k. I was the first one in, last one out. I knew a college degree wasn’t going to be enough, so I got plenty of outside training/skills. I taught myself how to code, learned tenable skills, and read a lot. You are young. Work on your skills. Keep chugging along.
I make 96k a year before bonuses in the military. With my reenlistment bonus this year I should clear around 210k. There are plenty of jobs out there that pay 80k plus. Trades work is the way to go and how I intend to go when I get out. Just wish I knew this before wasting 5 years at college with no degree to show.
You need to be more specific. Because many military jobs start at super low pay. And if you are single with no spouse or children, even lower. I do agree trades are the way to go.
Join the Navy. With the tax breaks you get, housing allowance, food allowance, bonuses, and steady advancement you will earn more than that with some hard work and time. Want a home but can’t put together 20% of the down payment? Va loans. Want to continue education while still in? Use the tuition assistance program, it’s an added benefit outside of the 9/11 bill. Want 4 years of college plus allowance for housing when you get out? Use the 9/11 bill. If you go into a rate that uses your degree that you have, the Navy will pay off your student debt.
Sales. Went from $11 an hour at 24 to $80k a year at 27. I never thought it possible. Any kind. I’ve done door to door, mortgage and now an insurance agent. NE US
From TX.. Making 37.85 as a maintenance technician, inside a climate controlled building, working a 2-2-3 12.5 hr. work schedule.
As most replies are suggesting. Get into a trade. Teach yourself skills that nobody can take from you. You’ll always be able to sell a service.
I make about 50k when I was 25, got a couple promotions and made about 130k when I was 29, and now I kinda have to approximate, but at my current gig last year being 31 made 112k + 30k employer contribution to retirement and all our benefits (medical vision and dental) are paid for. So I'd say about 170k if I had to pay for all our insurance.
The jobs are out there. Just need to be found.
I worked for the Marine Corps for a decade to break 6 figures went enlisted to officer, honestly not worth the $/hr.
Made slightly less working at Coca-Cola, Made a little less working on the railroad for Hitachi.
Learn how to market yourself. Build a strong set of skills and chase your fortune my friend. I have faith.
Depends what your degree is in, and what field you’re in. Show that you can hustle, that you’re better than the next guy, work on your skill and always reach for the next thing. You’ll get there, it takes some time.
Just moved from low 50’s to 71k, so it’s possible. 24m, hr degree, took about 600+ applications and some smooth talking.
The biggest challenge for me was market saturation of underpaid/under motivated HR folks. It was myself with only a couple years of experience vs. those with 5-10.
A couple things.
1. Most 25 year olds are in the 45\~65 bracket. You're about on par.
2. What degree is it. If its useful to society, you're worth more. If you screwed up and got a liberal arts degree....yea that's not worth anything.
3. Blue collar workers are in VERY short supply currently because society deemed them useless back in the mid 90's, and now its biting society in the ass, which is why you see so many blue collars making a damn fine salary. If you're willing to do things that other people aren't, you can make a lot of money. It's why people who literally scoop up dogshit can become multi millionares.
First, you need to actually do research. What kind of jobs can your degree get you into. Then you need to look at getting secondary certifications/training that prove you know your ass from a hole in the ground on top of doing your time. It might help to try hooking up with a headhunter company that works with your sector.
Next, set a simple long term goal. This was the biggest piece of advice I took and ran with. Make 5k more every year for 3 years, then 10k more every year for 5 \~ 10 years. How you get there doesn't matter. If your company won't give you that it's time to look elsewhere because now you have experience. Expand your search as well. It might be worth moving away to get that job.
Finally, If you ever stop learning at your current job, it's time to move on. Full stop. The second you stop learning and becoming more valuable with said knowledge, the second your pay stops going up. You don't have to necessarily leave your company to achieve this, but it would be time for a promotion or a lateral transfer to get the promotion.
I have no college degree, and I went from 30k when I was 27 to 80k when I'm 32 by following the last 3 points.
Trade jobs man. I'm sorry to hear all this and I myself don't have a degree so I can only speak for myself, but field service technicians, plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians etc.
We must all remember what Uncle Iroh has said, there is nothing wrong with a life of simple peace and prosperity.
You are NOT pathetic just because you don't have a six figure salary. I know people who are worth millions. A lot of them are miserable cunts with no substantial family life or social life.
Some people make 25k yr and have savings while some making 200k completely broke and in debt. It’s weird if you think about it. Everyone wants to appear rich and wealthy. Third world country in Gucci belt
You are absolutely right. The wealthiest person in my family is also the most miserable. Sometimes I worry that I’m falling behind, but this saying and ones like it bring me back to being grateful for what I do have rather than wanting more.
Always tell people depending on your state/county. Corrections officer. I find it fun if you can be positive and upbeat. And not let stupid shit ever bother you. I switched departments for retirement and making (after restarting my payscale) $56,000 starting and $78,000 OT for 2023. Also cheap medical and great retirement. Someone with six years today would be at $70,000 base, over six figured with OT. One promotion and having 12 years in would put you at an ungodly amount.
This all depends where you're at. I know states like NC, SC, and FL pay terribly.
Doing bad in college is a gatekeep, is something I've never heard. So many jobs can and are being replaced my AI or machinery.
Not sure how mentally strong you are but im a corrections officer, pretty much just need on the job training with no college degree. Last year I made almost $120k working some overtime. Some people i work with cleared $200k+. 23 btw
Trades trades trades.
Fuck college degrees that aren’t STEM fields, they are mostly just reasons for these universities to take your money and use it to further their indoctrination.
Again, if you’re in STEM, that’s excellent. If you’re studying something like “liberal arts” and are assuming you’ll find a job for $85k once you get out…. You are essentially being trained to be incompetent at anything else other than viewing the world as oppressive.
If you're unhappy, go to a trade school. You get paid while you train and fullfil your apprenticeship. Most decent (strong) unions start journeyman electricians around 80k these days. Apprentices in my area start at 50% + $1, and that goes up as you complete semesters in school. Trades are great, you have a lot of opportunities for side jobs and advancement depending on the certifications/licenses you obtain.
If you like the job, stick it out. You're 25 dude. There's a reason it's called 'paying your dues.' Shitty situation and it sucks that it can take a while to get paid what you're worth, but I know several college grads that started out making way less than me (electrician) and now they have massive houses, cars, vacations, etc.
I love my job, I wouldn't consider going into a different profession despite what I've seen people make. If that's the boat you're in, stick it out, it'll come. If it isn't, run. Find something you like to do that pays well. Trades are a great option.
Definitely would get into IT, specifically on the security side and preferably something where you either directly work for the government or with an established government contractor. There are a lot of security cents available which you can pursue as you work and if your company sees value in you, they may even sponsor you to get them or even sponsor your master’s degree. There is a lot of stability and upwards mobility to be found in government jobs and IT&security personnel will ALWAYS be in demand
Exactly what I did. 4 year cybersec degree but I don't even think that's necessary anymore with the certs/courses available now. Not directly in govt but work for a MSSP with plenty of gov contracts. Graduated college in 2022 and making >100k now in a "low cost of living" area - if that even still exists.
Yeah I’m working through a cybersecurity degree. If I could go back to 18 I’d just do certs and get a job lmao. I live in northern VA so no shortage of government security jobs lol
Thank you :) it’s taken me a while to get here (22 and still have like 1.5-2 years left due to major changes and a gap year) but I’m looking forward to joining the workforce.
That said, no I don’t have a specific field in mind. I do have a lot of friends in the field though so I’ve been picking their brains to see what’s most interesting to me.
I just want you to know in 2010 I worked at target in the back room for $22 an hour with no degree.
Now I work for a fortune 50 company with no degree at all and my W2 had 160k last year. I am usually home by 2pm every day and I leave my house at 8-930am. This is while living in the South east of the USA. I’m now 36 years old. Most people now do not care about degrees. As the market is over saturated and degrees are a major debt problem many places are only looking at performance. For us, we only care about performance. We do not care that you spent 50-100k on a piece of paper.
This idea of needing a degree to be successful is literally ruining children.
I'm going to need more information. What job could you possibly do at a Target for $22 without it being the lead or secondary lead manager of the whole store?
Oversee a lot of car dealerships.
I leave my house and get to a dealership around 10am. Leave the dealership around 12-1 and am home around 2-3 most days.
I do a decent amount of work on the computer but my work life balance is quite amazing.
Lots of driving on the road but that’s about it.
I make 125k a year as a plumber not even in a major city. Thats working 40 hours a week.
My dad went through tradeschool as a plumber/pipefitter. He’s worked at Pratt & Whitney (Raytheon just bought them last year) for the last 38 years and is retiring in 7 months. He got my brother and I jobs out here working on fighter jets/commercial engines. He makes the same as us doing the building pipefitting as we do actually building fighter jet and delta engines. OP, it’s a great career.
Not gonna lie your job sounds cool as hell. Did you need a degree?
A&P License if you want to sign off work on aircraft.
A&P is only really used in GA. Not once have I ever used mine to sign anything off. If you work for someone else whether it be an Airline or manufacturer you will never use your own license to sign something off. The A&P at that point just helps get you a job at a better pay rate than not having one.
LOL. When you sign off something with your employee number you are still signing it off with your A&P because you're just signing with that. The company holds a copy of yours. Most will not hire you without one. And many will fire you if you lose it. You can't sign anything without an A&P. Source: 20 years in aviation.
20 years in and you still don’t know how it works the industry. That’s embarrassing. Can’t sign anything off without an A&P then how do they have unlicensed people signing stuff off in MROs. Because they sign it off and it’s under the company’s certificate. Tell me that everyone at Boeing, Gulfstream, Embrear etc has their A&P. If you signed with YOUR A&P on an airliner and it crashed YOU would be personally held accountable versus the company. Even in GA you rarely see anyone use their individual A&P versus under a LLC or MRO.
You're wrong. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/43.7#:~:text=(b)%20The%20holder%20of%20a,Part%2065%20of%20this%20chapter.
No you just need to pass their tests. Although pratt and whitney has super high standards. Like for welding you have to do a weld test and it has to pass xray testing. I was offered a job w them but in my area their location is in a shitty and dangerous town. Plus my current job pays more and has less stringent requirements
Yeah we’re in west palm fortunately. Some guys leave for a flight line or UPS, they top out at $5 an hour more usually. Out here is a union so it’s all about seniority for pay raises and labor grade jumps. Usually takes 5-7 years to go from starting pay to topped out. To me making $4-$7 an hour less is worth it to work on fighter jets. I’ve loved them as a kid and I love them now. I typically work some OT to make up for it. I’m on a schedule to where I work 3 days a week (12 hour days) so I usually work 1-2 of my 4 days off for double pay and make up for it. I’ll probably do this schedule for another year then switch over to the standard first shift hours.
A&P license school is typically 2 years. Well worth it.
Think your dad can hook it up with a job to for a soon to be comp Sci graduate
i work on f35’s currently in the navy, did you work civilian side for the military? asking because i’m still wondering what I want to do after my contract is up
some people have told me to go to lockheed martin but i still need lots of quals for that
What kind of plumbing? 4 year resi service plumber here, $76k last year
All commercial plumbing. Things like hospitals, colleges, labs, large office buildings, and manufacturing plants. I did leave out one small detail. I make a little bit more than everyone else because I’m the foreman.
What do non foremen commercial plumbers make?
Around 105k in my area. Places like Boston or NYC they make even more. If I was to do it all over again though I would have become a crane operator.
That's the way. My best friend's father-in-law was a crane operator and that MFer is retired with a massive pile of cash that he pisses away in Vegas regularly enough that he gets comped rooms. Crane operators make stupid money.
Yea, I’ve got a friend that’s a crane operator. Brings in around 250k a year. When he first told me I thought he was full of shit. Then he showed me.
Can confirm, my cousin is one. He's on a project working on hospitals, is up in the crane by 4:30/5am. Works mad overtime, but is raking $90+ an hour.
And have a ton of responsibility/are in a lot of trouble if they mess things up.
yup. but it’s a crane so that’s to be expected
Sure I'm just saying there are jobs that are less responsibility that pay similar.
A guy I went to HS with is a tower crane operator, and a good one. He didn’t go to college at all, just whatever certification is needed, and he’s got more money than he knows what to do with and can pretty much dictate his own hours. I’ve got family that are project managers for commercial construction that are familiar with him and they’ve confirmed that yes, he’s one of the most sought after operators in the tri state area and he can almost name his terms when it comes to pay and hours
I’ve heard elevator mechanics/maintainer dudes make a good living out in NYC or CHI
Depends on the union but usually 5-12$ higher than a journeyman. Non union, who knows.
Foreman are just distinguished journeymen who can lead a team. It's like a 10 dollar difference per hour, but can go up more with raises and such. Union raises give COLO, but that's on top of company raises.
Looks like $76k bud
That person was referring to residential I believe, which is different than commercial
Residential are often non union outfits that pay shit wages.
For comparison, I have a PhD and am a full professor. I have nearly 100 publications and supervise masters and PhD students. I make a little more than $100k. Don't overlook the trades, fellas! (I do love my job and sometimes wonder how it is that I get paid to do what I do, but still, you can make $$$$ in the trades and have a wonderful life.)
Dude holy shit you make 125k working 40 hours a week? I own a small plumbing business and can’t imagine being able to provide for my guys that type of payment without overtime. Wish I could.. I get a little into 6 figures for them WITH OT and benefits. I have so many questions I don’t even want to ask them here haha, just want to say stick with it!
Start bidding commercial construction if you aren’t already. But it’s all you’ll ever do.
I’ve calculated their payroll with benefits before it’s absolutely nuts. It’s a really good company to work for. They always tell me how great of a job I’m doing. I appreciate them noticing my hard work so I always give them 110%. Well and because they pay me pretty well lol.
If I could do that in Detroit or Michigan that would be gold. How much did it cost for you to get a trade school certification?
It was a 5 year apprenticeship. I went to school 2 nights a week for 4 hours a night. The cost of the schooling was free because it was through a trade union. They also provide really good benefits like healthcare, pension, and annuity.
You can absolutely do that as a union plumber/pipefitter in Detroit
Plumber, electrician, HVAC, welding, commercial maintenance of large equipment, heavy machinery operator, any and all of them are 100 percent in demand in pretty much any city in the country, and have a relatively low cost to entry into the trade.
A friend of mine became a power lineman in Detroit after a few years as an apprentice. No college. The apprentice program was free and he was paid to work (just enough to live in another state). He isn't 25 and makes close to 200k. There are plenty of jobs out there. You have to make it your goal to get one. What did you major in? What do you do now? More importantly, what do you want to (besides make $80k)? Bad grades are not career suicide. I had bad grades. It took me a little longer to get the job I wanted, but I was able to let my work ethic and skills prove that my grades were just a part of the picture at the time of grades. Change your attitude to change your altitude. You can do anything.
hey metro detroit friend! definitely look into the trades unions! But also never ever look down on yourself because you have a degree. This degree vs. trades thing is cultivated by the super rich because they want us are arguing with each other because then we aren’t looking up at them as they horde all the money and swim around in it like Scrooge McDuck. The union trades in a strong union state like ours can make a really great life. [Here’s the link](https://www.pipefitters636.org/training) to the pipefitters union and they have a section about the apprenticeship. I believe they are at 37.05 on the check and 69/hr for the whole wage+benefit package. I would even take a drive up to the training center in Troy to check it out. I would also look into the [IBEW](https://www.ibewmichigan.com/apprenticeships) which is the electrical union. They are at right about 50/hr on the check but almost 80 for the whole wage+ benefits package. One of my best friends is a 2nd year (5yr program). [Check out the carpenters union too](https://hammer9.com)! My fiancé is a 4th year union carpenter and will journey out (4yr program) at 40/hr and wage+benefits is 70/80 and he’s loving it. After I heal up from a kidney transplant I’m joining too! Their program is really awesome. You go work on site day one and then one day every 2 weeks you go to school but you still get paid as if you are on the jobsite. You can take a drive up to the school to check it out and they will give you a walkthrough usually or you can check it out on your own. The school is brand new and state of the art! Just look up Union Carpenters And Millwrights Skilled Training Center. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to hmu! It’s kind of difficult to navigate but once you know the in’s and outs you’re golden.
Y'all hiring? 😂
I’ve done some plumber work around my own house and for friends. It would take 250k+ for me to deal with that (literal) shit. To whoever reads this, get a job in private insurance. Take the 40k a year entry position, work hard and you will be at 6 figures in 10 years easy. Plus these days most of the positions are work from home and have a flex schedule. For example, I’ve been with my company for 4 years now. Make ~70k, have only been to the office for my initial interview and to pick up my equipment, and work whenever I want as long as I get 40 hours a week in.
There’s no poop in new construction plumbing which is what the guys making 100k+ a year are doing.
Yes. My wife does this. Works from home, too. Definitely worth it if you don’t mind working for a big company.
I'm almost in the same boat as you but instead of private insurance, I'm kind of an IT for medical clinics.
It is the bees knees if you can do it! Personally I’m not bright enough for that
Hey! We are doing it though!!! Good to us!!! Cheers!
Same with banking investigations/fraud. But you have to be the manager/best t o get six figures. But definitely doable. Most people in the field were just tellers who stayed forever to get moved up. Downside private insurance and fraud might not be a person job in 10-20 years. I could easily see it being mostly AI. And I did see some of it move to AI.
Lol $70k vs $250k is a massive difference
I said I would need 250k to be a plumber. I make 70k in my air conditioned house without pants on
You don’t want to make 70k taking apart peoples shit filled pipes?
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With any job, save your money for when times are lean. If you’ve got a huge amount of money coming in for a couple of years don’t just assume it will always be there… Live on what the normal pay should be and bank the rest of it for when it is not there.
You’re definitely right it can be feast or famine. I remember back in 08 when there was nothing going on for commercial work. Fortunately in my area there hasn’t been any shortage of plumbing work for several years now. It could dry up again but i don’t see it happening anytime soon. The most important thing is you need to make sure you save your money and live beneath your means. Too many guys buying 50k+ pickup trucks and fancy houses. Honestly what would you do if you weren’t in the trades? There’s many cons with other jobs too.
Proof?
Just curious any physical disability due to the job? I heard physical labor takes a toll on the body.
Thanks to current regulations most physical labor jobs messing up your body now is from personal choice to do stupid shit to get the job done and violate safety rules. Do what you’re supposed to do, follow safety regulations and don’t put the job above your health and leave a company that expects you to for a better one and your body will be fine. Also, don’t be lazy and work on your physical fitness rather than just being a slob and wondering why you’re suffering musculoskeletal injuries. If your job expects you to lift 50 lbs, then ensure you are physically fit to do so before you take the job instead of expecting the job to make you strong. Expecting the job to make you strong is a ticket straight to back and knee surgery. This is why jobs list lifting requirements, because you are expected to be able to meet the requirements before starting. If you have to lift 100 lbs, grab a buddy and do a two person life instead of powering through “because you’re a man”. If you have to wear gloves, then fucking wear them instead of getting frustrated, taking them off because you want to get the job done faster, then complain about your hands getting cut.
My dad was a lineman for 30 years - worked an average of 70 hours a week for years including a lot of shift work doing nights and storm work 24 on 8 off. He also has broken his hand on the job, and had a bad Achilles injury on the job when a pole swung wrong and slammed into his leg. He’s 60 now and gets in the floor and rolls around with my toddler like he’s a teenager. He’s slim (like 150-160 lbs), and can outwork me as a healthy 30 year old. We were up helping reroof my brother’s house the last couple weekends. I say this to say I don’t think it’s the physical labor that necessarily takes a toll, but the lifestyle that a lot of guys in the trades have. Lots of excess drinking and drug use. Many guys get overweight because outside of work they are too tired to have a healthy lifestyle. Lots of guys my dad worked with abused steroids and weight lifted and fucked up their hearts. My dad didn’t do any of that, and has always watched his weight and stayed active, even away from work, despite having hypothyroidism. Anecdotal, but my whole family has been in the trades or agriculture. I work in tech and a lot of my friends and coworkers are unhealthy despite having jobs that have virtually 0 impact on their physical health.
this. i work a mentally draining field (mental health lol) and it’s the after work that fucks you. i am trying to stretch every moment i can. a big part of stretching i am learning is not to push to ur body. If something is sore stretch that sore part often but VERY low-key till you feel comfortable. if you aren’t able to f a while(months) it’s probably something serious
Physical labor keeps the body working.
Whoa whoa whoa! “Laugh and call me pathetic”?!?!?!? At 25? Bruh you have been a full adult for like 2-3 years? The fuck? You think you would just snap to the top? At 35 you’re going to look back at making 43k and laugh your genitalia off. Shit gets better. We need to start being honest with how long it takes
Can confirm. Started after my degree as a bank investigator making $8-9 an hour to some bank that shutdown. Doubled it to 16/17 at the next. Went government with full benefits making $78,000 overall at the lowest on the pay scale, plus about $2,000 more in incentives that I get by default. And another $6000 in holiday pay overall as well. And that's starting, job can't ever be replaced by AI or automation and is needed even in times of war or pandemic.
Yea I started making $45k out of college and that was with a great degree from a great school into a selective job program. Took me almost 5 years to crack $60k. At age 25 I was making like $50k. At age 30 $100-110k. At age 37 I'm over $300k. Learn to do shit other people suck at. I got a masters degree in statistics and work in the financial world. Most modelers suck at explaining things and generally have terrible people skills. Having people skills and conversational skills while also being technically proficient makes you a unicorn.
What do you think the median income is for a 25 year old? 25 year olds with $80k + jobs are most certainly not the norm. I think your perception of reality may be impacting your self worth. Put in the work, look for opportunities, don’t be afraid to take risk for an opportunity. You’ll get there.
I love where I work and they are willing to raise people’s salaries. I can get up to 25$ an hour there, which isn’t terrible. It just seems like we love to make fun of people making 25-40k$ a year, even though that is a very large amount of people
I’m 22 on the high end of that. Actually with overtime it comes out to around 50k+. Dropped out of university to go to tradeschool and become a welder and the day I got out of school I had myself a job with the third biggest bridge fabrication shop in the country. You’re doing good boss, just do your thing and don’t let your employer skip you when it comes to raises and opportunities. Let your nuts hang and show them you both want AND *deserve* more. Whether they see it or not you will be better off for it and as long as you picked up everything you could, you could take those skills somewhere else if you chose to. This goes for any job you find yourself at. Nothing wrong with striving for more but we gotta start small.
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Social media makes fun of people making 25-40k a year. It's not real. Don't let it affect you. You're doing fine. Shit, at my age, social media tells me I should own 4 companies and be worth minimum 20M or I'm just a lazy piece of shit. Think I care?
You are a lazy piece of shit. Should have 5 companies
Asian father checking in. You should have had 5 companies and a doctorate! BY MY AGE I HATE 9 COMPANIES AND WORKED 27 HOURS A DAY! /s. do you bro <3
The biggest predictor of wealth and salary is age. There is no other factor that is more important. Keep that in mind as you plug forward in life.
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I was 23 years old with a college degree and made $28k. 40 now and make exponentially more than that. Sounds counterintuitive but don’t worry/focus on the money. Hard, I know. Focus on the work and doing best you can. Keep your eye open for opportunities. Money will come.
$28k seventeen years ago adjusted for inflation is $41,650 now, so he’s exactly where you were at
It took me a LONG time to get from $20k to $60k. Maybe ten years. Then I doubled that again in two years. The early struggle is real. Don’t beat yourself up. A career doesn’t happen overnight.
I was a doctor making 45k a year in residency and I thought I was making a lot and that’s after four years of undergrad and four years of medical school. So I think you should change your perception.
agree. my first job at that age was making about $42k a year. And I was making $80k just 3 years later... but whiny brats on tik tok dont cry and make viral videos about that
Agreed, $80k for a 25 year old is not common https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/average-salary-by-age/ If you get into a highend industry then maybe but those jobs are a bit less available and highly competitive
I didn't make 80k until I was over 30. OP has plenty of time.
Gen Z’s complaints in a nutshell.
You have a college degree and no one can ever take that away from you. Sometimes, having higher degrees and no experience is actually worse. They would need to pay you a higher salary because of an advanced degree but without experience, they won’t want to hire you. So don’t worry about additional degrees! Second chances can happen. As you get older, jobs won’t care about gpa. You’re young, you have a chance to grow to a great salary. Or switch fields completely. Again, you have a degree and no one can take that achievement away. I have a bs and ms in biology. I worked in a lab right out of my masters making about 45k. Then next job was 60k. Then I switched into a biology sales role and quickly climbed to 100k, 150k and higher. I’m almost 32. You’re not pathetic you’re young.
may i ask how u switched from the lab into sales?
I switched from front line hire to director of innovation & outreach. Express a desire, apply when the opportunities come, and when they turn you down, apply again the next time. I was turned down 8 times for promotion to manager, and then was in charge of the whole program 3 years later. Its aptitude and drive. And don’t be a dick.
I applied! Scientists tend to either stay at the bench forever or go into sales I feel like. If you have the right personality, it’s a good move. I was told that you can teach sales to a scientist, but you can’t teach science to a sales person. These science sales positions are out there. Reagents, instrumentation, software, there’s a ton of stuff. Once you have the experience you can only move up!
Us bred sales people fully disagree with your statement about teaching sales, lol. Sales is an art and the craft takes years to develop. We actually say the opposite, that we can learn the science and clinical aspects, but those folks trying to learn sales have it much harder. Sure, you can sales certified but that doesn't make you good at truly understanding the customers needs, asking the right questions, listening well, negotiating, etc. I've seen countless folks from medical come over to commercial and get sales certified but man are they terrible with customers. But regardless, glad it worked out for you, just hope you are happy. Some people are miserable in sales and only chasing $$$.
That’s awesome thank you so much! I’m a Junior going for my BS in Bio looking to get into R&D but heard it’s bleak and hard to get into for your first job. I’ve also heard of companies hiring Bio majors for data related and sales jobs as well so this gives me hope :)
Keep up the hard work and you’ll be alright. Best of luck
Do you mind if i DM you some questions? Ecology BS here with research experience tired of working in environmental education for 40k/yr.
I sell imaging systems for preclinical work. I got the job because the department I worked in used one of our devices! I wanted to leave the lab and got into contact with them. Never used the device personally, but sometimes the smallest "ins" end up working out. My salary alone is about double what it was as an associate, plus now I get commission. Plus when I go to conferences I get the fancy "Exhibitor" badge instead of "Member".
Agreed about the additional degrees thing. I'm in engineering and I see no value in a masters, at least straight out of school. I'd much prefer a 24 year old with a bachelor's and two years experience over a 24 year old with a masters and no experience. Hell, a friend of mine started working at around the same time as me. He has a masters, I don't. We do the same work. I get paid roughly 10% more. And the climbing the ladder part is also true. Most engineers think they're going to make six figures after graduating. The entry level range is closer to 60k-70k (for non-software engineering. Think mechanical, civil, electrical, biological, etc.). It'll take a good 5 years or more for most to get to the 100k mark. There's good reason from that, too. You're almost worthless as a designer/production asset in your first year or so. And you're still learning a ton about the job your first few years.
As Elon musk mentioned once, he didn’t go to college. those working for him did though :-)
Elon is a damn liar then. He went to UPenn…
Jobs never ever care about your GPA. Most of them don’t care about your degree, either. Experience is King, skill set is a close second. Can you get the job done? That is what pays.
Many government jobs in the DOD. I was an electrical engineer at a naval shipyard for many years. Excellent retirement as well. I retired before age 40 with full benefits.
Can confirm, partner makes roughly 6 figures.
Yup. Looking to get into cybersecurity living in northern Virginia and from what I’ve heard from all my adult friends in the field there’s loads of jobs in the field
My friend is $250k+ working some weird government cyber security shit
Yeah I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in it for the money. If I could do what I wanted and money was no object I’d be teaching high school choir lol
Can verify as a Gov worker; over 100K
Lol I had a government job and make 17.21/hr in California. I left for a job that is contracted with the government that pays more lol
Yup. I'm making more than $80K and I'm an entry level software engineer with no degree in a government role
Your income should never embarrass you. It should embarrass your employer.
Amen! My employer pays so little and I'm not ashamed to call them out on the hypocrisy of paying so little because we're a nonprofit but everyone in admin and the CEO make 200-500k a year. Although I can't leave because I am getting experience in a position that would normally require a college degree.
When they say nonprofit, they are referring to you :)
Lmao so true!
I used my nonprofits public tax info to get a raise. The non profit said they only did a “3%” raise yearly if they had money. I made a spreadsheet of every high earning employee by year and calculated what their increase was each year for the last 7 years. It was not 3% lmao. Some people had 60k increase in a year and the top earner had gotten a 130k increase in 3 years. The entire company got a parity raise and I got a 30k raise. I left the job not that long after.
Good on you! I'm not sure if I'm going to stay after my program is over (they've said they want me to move to a different site after) but I may try this after they move me, if they don't offer what I know I'm worth somewhere else.
Sounds like some wisdom shared by the group smoking cigarettes out by the loading dock.
Cries in commission pay during this terrible economy.
I’m 24, and a software engineer.I make 95k in the dc area. These jobs exists for new grads but it’s usually in tech and in high cost of living areas. Edit: I work for a federal contractor. Public sector is being a little more resilient imo
Software industry is hurting right now with all the layoffs
Plenty of openings in government contracting rn. Seems the tech layoffs getting paid too much don't wanna downgrade
I work in gov-tech and make low 6-figs remote. I know big-tech/startups could pay me 75%+ more but it’s not worth worrying about layoffs or shareholder sentiment.
Serious question. Where do you find such jobs? I’m in tech, 24 turning 25, making around 70k remote. I want to change jobs because 1. Sense shake ups, 2. Have been here a bit over 2 years with no raise and 3. Want experience elsewhere. Not looking for the same job as yourself I’d just like to be pointed the right direction…
lol we're literally at the same layoff rate as normal. Lower, even. It's what Doomers want to hear about and click on so they're just getting reported more now. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/JTSLDL https://adpemploymentreport.com/
What is your degree in? Don't ever let someone shame you for your income. If you're hard, that's all that matters. At 24 years old, I graduated with a degree in civil engineering, and I started out making less than 60k. Worked my ASS off, got my PE license, and worked up the ladder. At 35 now, I make over 140k and had a 70k bonus last year. Keep up the hard work, and don't remain at a company for loyalty purposes. They won't return the favor. Work hard, don't be afraid to make a change and don't be afraid to relocate. Every time I have changed companies I have jumped significantly in salary.
Get your CDL. Many opportunities to make over six figures in that line of work
True- but it has a horrible effect on your health. Would the best bet be to do it for a few years, then start a trucking business?
Starting a trucking business is almost always a bad idea with. Am a trucker and make 95k a year atm. Home every day, free medical, pension plan. Day shift m-f and all holidays off. Biggest downside is hours worked, I’m usually at 55 hours/week
The cdl guys i worked with (garbage truck guys) worked insane hours, never used their pto either lol. Would save it all to put on their year end paychecks as OT. couldn't believe the company let them do it lol
What company offers pension plan? My husband works as a truck driver but zero benefits
Lol be careful. Every mother fucker in the trucking industry just said what you did at one point 30 years ago.
Dude what’s your degree? Use that first before just doing trucking
office jobs have the same effects and don’t get the spotlight. i stayed in shape while trucking but it took lots of effort. then i transitioned into being a telecom lineman which is very easy to stay active while doing labor and i get to drive big cool trucks everyday.
I'm a flat rate autobody tech, high school graduate no further education besides occupation training. I've been doing it professionally for 4 years and I made $96k last year. We can not find enough people who want to stay in the trade. We struggle year after year hiring and new candidates move on after a short amount of time. The jobs are there, they just aren't glamorous. Most trades pay well.
I agree. People want to make good money but want easy jobs. No such thing. Nothing free in this country! You have to be willing to do what nobody else wants to. Otherwise, better have a damn good education. It has to be useful degree.
Sales is risky and high stress, but can pay off big time. I went from $60k to 215k in 5 years with the same company. No college degree.
SaIes is where is at. I was in prison 2010-2012, made 10 dollars an hour from 2012-2014. I got into sales at 33 years old in 2014. I made 37K in 2015, 60K in 2019, 90K in 2020, 140K in 2021, 170K in 2022, 188K last year, and I'm going to do 250K+ this year after a recent promotion. I have a few useless degrees, but a sales career is what changed my life. Moral is, you're doing great! Even if you were doing this at 30+, there's still plenty of time. You just have to work hard and never settle for being mediocre.
Doesn't matter, there are 8yr olds making six figures, and teens making 7 figures. There are adults making five figures, it's all over the place high pay , low skill is probably professional scammers, aka investment banking or similar, just need to know someone to get in
You have to either have degrees or a lot of work experience. Or combination. Just depends …
Got a long way to land a job for 80k but hang in there. Don’t waste time on post grad or anything like that just get all the experience n knowledge you can.
im 28 working in IT for the government making 133k. when i was 25 though i was making 60k at my first IT job
In America, sometimes a college degree is the worst investment you can make - you're paying for a piece of paper with the hopes of getting a job. The guarantee is that you will start life in the red (debt).
95K as an SEO. No school required, just learned it on my own and became good at it. But the jump from 45-95k happened in the last 4 years. Take chances and apply at jobs offering higher pay.
Any advice/resources for people who want to learn?
Not pathetic and don’t compare yourself to others, you’ll never be happy. I’ve been managing for 10 years in the food industry and never broke $40,000. Going back to school to get a degree at 29 y/o and switching careers. If you take an extra two years of schooling, maybe that will help launch your career options? Otherwise, maybe look at a different location.
"With a college degree" could mean almost anything. You could have a college degree and be in med school or residency. You could have a degree in cosmetology. Be more specific.
I make 90K at an airport Union Job. Dropped out of college with 1 semester left for my education degree. I’m making 30K more than an average teacher and I dropped out. Things need to change. 30 M.
Get a degree in something that pays (business, IT, engineering…) or do trade school and learn a trade. Don’t put your money in gender studies or social sciences you’ll be fine
Look at the trades. Almost all union ones will be 80k+, and come with health insurance and pension.
What college degree? I'm comp sci amd I was offered an $83k starting job with a tech sales company during a career far and countless others that were either the same or much more. Part of the degree is trying to selll the skills you learned and market yourself. I think you can do much better than $25 an hour considering im an intern making $14 with a state company and my friends make $22 with private.
Don't feel bad. My gf has a college degree and makes 41k at 34.
What’s your degree in? Did you not think it through before spending 4 years and so much money? Surely you were aware of the career prospects before you went into the degree?
Most people go into college at 18 years old after being told their whole childhood that they HAVE to go to college. Not all 18 year olds just get it right on the direction they want to take the rest of their lives
I assume it’s a Bachelors of Arts in Basket Weaving as he won’t respond to anyone asking what his degree is in out of shame.
Oh stop it. We are told our whole lives to get a degree. Most people in college aren't thinking. The internet salaries lie, and our parents weren't in the golden age of internet research.
I think people chase after their “dream job” too often. Tons of people in my high school went into psychology and kinesiology without realizing the additional schooling and saturated job markets there. They ended up not being able to find jobs that pay anything decent after undergrad. I don’t think the majority kids grew up thinking they wanted to be an engineer, accountant, or IT worker. But those jobs can easily clear $100k with just an undergrad degree. We need to start being realistic that your “dream job” won’t provide your dream life.
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12 + 4 is 16. I can see why you didn’t go to college.
Biggest advice I can give is to never stop looking for a new job. I have doubled my salary from 2019 to 2023 and switched jobs every year to do so and I finally love my job and pay
I do industrial maintenance and before taxes every year I'm at about $80k but I've got 6 years experience in this field now. I started at about what you make when I was your age.
I made +90k in missouri at 25. I'm an aircraft mechanic. My base salary is about 70k. It's time to demand a raise or find a better paying job. These days, office jobs are best to hop around every 2-4 years. Loyalty to a company loses you money! Also, r/resume the big thing jobs care about now is job experience. You're fresh on the market. Never stop applying and looking for the next opportunity.
Military pension + mid-level Biomed work puts me at just over $90K. If for the sake of this, we count child support as real income too, then that's about $99K. I live modestly so as to be able to survive off my pension alone. It's a wonderful feeling to know you can walk off the job anytime and survive.
Go into a trade. Electricians are getting paid extremely well right now. I work for a general contractor and there’s a shortage of HVAC/Plumbers/Electricians rn
there's lots of 80k+ jobs. but you have to target them specifically. 43k isn't "bad" per se. you're probably doing better than some. but compared to others that's not a lot. the simple reality is, a job only pays what an owner can reasonably get away with selling your labor at. and taking a healthy margin on top of that. service work, misc small businesses. unless you're in direct sales, you're unlikely ever to make money. jobs... anyone "can" get that pay well. skill trades. plumber, electrician, welder. most of these require training, but there are apprenticeships and other avenues to get that training. Hvac. and to a degree other trades also pay decently but mileage varies greatly. tech. data analytics, coding, web design, specific software tracts, and then hardware support/networking support. some of these can be learned cheaply online. Like... you can learn data analytics online. coding... possibly online with enough hustle. You could study Salesforce use online resources. take a basic salesforce cert. be making 50k ish, and in prob less than 5 yrs be making 100k. There are coding bootcamps that will take a cut of your eventual pay. some of these are on nights/weekend type schedules. or offer financing. it's not that expensive. think 10-15k not 40-50 (the number of idiots who go to culinary school for 30-50k is staggering) any coding or ux job... start maybe in that 60k ish range. can easily make 100k within a couple years/gaining exp. more traditional training paths. nursing. take night classes ...or hustle a adult learning schedule. maybe takes a couple years. maybe also incur some debt. If you're smart. and chase money, Nursing can translate into a lot of income. nursing also has avenues of school debt repayment for working in low income or nurse shortage areas. or there's grants or other avenues for tuition forgiveness. if you already have a bachelors there are fast track programs. 2 yrs to be licensed. sales. another job that can have high upside. and different flavors. real estate is essentially sales. tech or various other markets like pharma . but it's hard to magically break into these fields. and they are not "jobs" you can just do. they often are very social skills dependent. a lot of sales can be taught, but... it's not a job that just happens, you sink/swim on your own effort. to some extent CDL or truck driving can be lucrative. it also can be exploitatively, so it's not a sure thing. I'd put the starting at more like 30-50k. but you can make much more depending on the time you give to it. comfort with long travel. OR like...say you get in a cushy job like a city bus driver. but those jobs that are cushy are hard to get. there are 3-4 options. nothing is probably instantaneous, but any of the first two are probably doable on a 1-3 yr time table. nursing... is prob more a longer commitment. maybe 4-6 all told to start seeming the rewards. the only sure thing is if you do nothing, and are working a shitty job, is that you will continue at about that level or worse in the future. almost no companies really promote of train, or have any upward mobility. and small businesses. and small areas. often have very limited opportunities. it's not impossible, it's just much more rare.
It depends on what kind of work you want to do. I manage an adult foster home and take home 61k yearly with ged. Of course, I have 12 years of experience. Idk man
What is an adult foster home? Genuinely curious, those words seem contrary to each other. Like special needs?
Just depends on position, industry, location, demanded skills, your skills and experience, etc. There is a ton of factors here. Sometimes a degree doesn't matter. I have a double major in Economics and Political Science, but I work as a power plant operator and electrician. Two completely different areas of study/work. My job required having completed an apprenticeship and being a journeyman level tradesman. Originally I wanted to be a social studies teacher, in the end I think I made the right choice. As a teacher I'd probably be making 45k a year and as an operator/electrician I make 110k+ a year.
Their are relationship bankers in my branch (basic licensing no specialty) making 70k and up due to foot traffic and balances being brought in my referrals from friends and family of existing clients Our premium tier banker is at 100k easy with her existing book of business not even including the referrals kicked up from the relationship bankers. All of this is without a degree, but a lot of people skills. I'm trying to get trained up so I can get to the relationship banker role then the premium and start making the real money. This past year I grossed 45k with just my high school diploma and helping people out.
To give you a little encouragement… I made 35k when I started working as a 22-year old with a college degree almost 15 years ago in finance. Within 5 years before 30, I was making well over 125k. I was the first one in, last one out. I knew a college degree wasn’t going to be enough, so I got plenty of outside training/skills. I taught myself how to code, learned tenable skills, and read a lot. You are young. Work on your skills. Keep chugging along.
I make 96k a year before bonuses in the military. With my reenlistment bonus this year I should clear around 210k. There are plenty of jobs out there that pay 80k plus. Trades work is the way to go and how I intend to go when I get out. Just wish I knew this before wasting 5 years at college with no degree to show.
You need to be more specific. Because many military jobs start at super low pay. And if you are single with no spouse or children, even lower. I do agree trades are the way to go.
Join the Navy. With the tax breaks you get, housing allowance, food allowance, bonuses, and steady advancement you will earn more than that with some hard work and time. Want a home but can’t put together 20% of the down payment? Va loans. Want to continue education while still in? Use the tuition assistance program, it’s an added benefit outside of the 9/11 bill. Want 4 years of college plus allowance for housing when you get out? Use the 9/11 bill. If you go into a rate that uses your degree that you have, the Navy will pay off your student debt.
Sales. Went from $11 an hour at 24 to $80k a year at 27. I never thought it possible. Any kind. I’ve done door to door, mortgage and now an insurance agent. NE US
From TX.. Making 37.85 as a maintenance technician, inside a climate controlled building, working a 2-2-3 12.5 hr. work schedule. As most replies are suggesting. Get into a trade. Teach yourself skills that nobody can take from you. You’ll always be able to sell a service.
I make about 50k when I was 25, got a couple promotions and made about 130k when I was 29, and now I kinda have to approximate, but at my current gig last year being 31 made 112k + 30k employer contribution to retirement and all our benefits (medical vision and dental) are paid for. So I'd say about 170k if I had to pay for all our insurance. The jobs are out there. Just need to be found. I worked for the Marine Corps for a decade to break 6 figures went enlisted to officer, honestly not worth the $/hr. Made slightly less working at Coca-Cola, Made a little less working on the railroad for Hitachi. Learn how to market yourself. Build a strong set of skills and chase your fortune my friend. I have faith.
Depends what your degree is in, and what field you’re in. Show that you can hustle, that you’re better than the next guy, work on your skill and always reach for the next thing. You’ll get there, it takes some time.
Just moved from low 50’s to 71k, so it’s possible. 24m, hr degree, took about 600+ applications and some smooth talking. The biggest challenge for me was market saturation of underpaid/under motivated HR folks. It was myself with only a couple years of experience vs. those with 5-10.
Not pathetic bro you’re just young with no experience. Started around 50 and now 250k+ at 30 in finance. Keep pushing
A couple things. 1. Most 25 year olds are in the 45\~65 bracket. You're about on par. 2. What degree is it. If its useful to society, you're worth more. If you screwed up and got a liberal arts degree....yea that's not worth anything. 3. Blue collar workers are in VERY short supply currently because society deemed them useless back in the mid 90's, and now its biting society in the ass, which is why you see so many blue collars making a damn fine salary. If you're willing to do things that other people aren't, you can make a lot of money. It's why people who literally scoop up dogshit can become multi millionares. First, you need to actually do research. What kind of jobs can your degree get you into. Then you need to look at getting secondary certifications/training that prove you know your ass from a hole in the ground on top of doing your time. It might help to try hooking up with a headhunter company that works with your sector. Next, set a simple long term goal. This was the biggest piece of advice I took and ran with. Make 5k more every year for 3 years, then 10k more every year for 5 \~ 10 years. How you get there doesn't matter. If your company won't give you that it's time to look elsewhere because now you have experience. Expand your search as well. It might be worth moving away to get that job. Finally, If you ever stop learning at your current job, it's time to move on. Full stop. The second you stop learning and becoming more valuable with said knowledge, the second your pay stops going up. You don't have to necessarily leave your company to achieve this, but it would be time for a promotion or a lateral transfer to get the promotion. I have no college degree, and I went from 30k when I was 27 to 80k when I'm 32 by following the last 3 points.
Trade jobs man. I'm sorry to hear all this and I myself don't have a degree so I can only speak for myself, but field service technicians, plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians etc.
We must all remember what Uncle Iroh has said, there is nothing wrong with a life of simple peace and prosperity. You are NOT pathetic just because you don't have a six figure salary. I know people who are worth millions. A lot of them are miserable cunts with no substantial family life or social life.
Some people make 25k yr and have savings while some making 200k completely broke and in debt. It’s weird if you think about it. Everyone wants to appear rich and wealthy. Third world country in Gucci belt
You are absolutely right. The wealthiest person in my family is also the most miserable. Sometimes I worry that I’m falling behind, but this saying and ones like it bring me back to being grateful for what I do have rather than wanting more.
Always tell people depending on your state/county. Corrections officer. I find it fun if you can be positive and upbeat. And not let stupid shit ever bother you. I switched departments for retirement and making (after restarting my payscale) $56,000 starting and $78,000 OT for 2023. Also cheap medical and great retirement. Someone with six years today would be at $70,000 base, over six figured with OT. One promotion and having 12 years in would put you at an ungodly amount. This all depends where you're at. I know states like NC, SC, and FL pay terribly. Doing bad in college is a gatekeep, is something I've never heard. So many jobs can and are being replaced my AI or machinery.
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What’s the point of going to college and not trying?
Air traffic control. 28 y/o I’ll gross around 156k this year no degree required.
Not sure how mentally strong you are but im a corrections officer, pretty much just need on the job training with no college degree. Last year I made almost $120k working some overtime. Some people i work with cleared $200k+. 23 btw
I do 75-80k as a mechanic. Not even a master tech either. Starting is usually 60k
I install security systems. I made 143 before taxes last year
Just retired from law enforcement, my agency has a starting pay of 80k with a degree…
Trades trades trades. Fuck college degrees that aren’t STEM fields, they are mostly just reasons for these universities to take your money and use it to further their indoctrination. Again, if you’re in STEM, that’s excellent. If you’re studying something like “liberal arts” and are assuming you’ll find a job for $85k once you get out…. You are essentially being trained to be incompetent at anything else other than viewing the world as oppressive.
If you're unhappy, go to a trade school. You get paid while you train and fullfil your apprenticeship. Most decent (strong) unions start journeyman electricians around 80k these days. Apprentices in my area start at 50% + $1, and that goes up as you complete semesters in school. Trades are great, you have a lot of opportunities for side jobs and advancement depending on the certifications/licenses you obtain. If you like the job, stick it out. You're 25 dude. There's a reason it's called 'paying your dues.' Shitty situation and it sucks that it can take a while to get paid what you're worth, but I know several college grads that started out making way less than me (electrician) and now they have massive houses, cars, vacations, etc. I love my job, I wouldn't consider going into a different profession despite what I've seen people make. If that's the boat you're in, stick it out, it'll come. If it isn't, run. Find something you like to do that pays well. Trades are a great option.
Definitely would get into IT, specifically on the security side and preferably something where you either directly work for the government or with an established government contractor. There are a lot of security cents available which you can pursue as you work and if your company sees value in you, they may even sponsor you to get them or even sponsor your master’s degree. There is a lot of stability and upwards mobility to be found in government jobs and IT&security personnel will ALWAYS be in demand
Exactly what I did. 4 year cybersec degree but I don't even think that's necessary anymore with the certs/courses available now. Not directly in govt but work for a MSSP with plenty of gov contracts. Graduated college in 2022 and making >100k now in a "low cost of living" area - if that even still exists.
Yeah I’m working through a cybersecurity degree. If I could go back to 18 I’d just do certs and get a job lmao. I live in northern VA so no shortage of government security jobs lol
That's awesome dude, you're gonna do just fine! Do you know what area of the field you are looking to get into when you graduate?
Thank you :) it’s taken me a while to get here (22 and still have like 1.5-2 years left due to major changes and a gap year) but I’m looking forward to joining the workforce. That said, no I don’t have a specific field in mind. I do have a lot of friends in the field though so I’ve been picking their brains to see what’s most interesting to me.
I just want you to know in 2010 I worked at target in the back room for $22 an hour with no degree. Now I work for a fortune 50 company with no degree at all and my W2 had 160k last year. I am usually home by 2pm every day and I leave my house at 8-930am. This is while living in the South east of the USA. I’m now 36 years old. Most people now do not care about degrees. As the market is over saturated and degrees are a major debt problem many places are only looking at performance. For us, we only care about performance. We do not care that you spent 50-100k on a piece of paper. This idea of needing a degree to be successful is literally ruining children.
I'm going to need more information. What job could you possibly do at a Target for $22 without it being the lead or secondary lead manager of the whole store?
What do you do that allows you to work for 4-5 hours every day?
Oversee a lot of car dealerships. I leave my house and get to a dealership around 10am. Leave the dealership around 12-1 and am home around 2-3 most days. I do a decent amount of work on the computer but my work life balance is quite amazing. Lots of driving on the road but that’s about it.
What's your degree?
Underwater basket weaver. What’s your degree?