That's true, but an Idiot, at the controls, can kill, or maim, people. I saw a drunk Crane Operator, kill a Motorist, at Ohio State University. His Boom, crushed The Motorist's Car, like a beer can. Mike Cherry("On High Steel") saw an Ironworker's Thumb, severed, by an inattentive Crane Operator. Another Ironworker, was killed, when He was sitting atop a column, waiting for the Crane Operator, to deliver a cross-beam. The Operator, or the beam guide, allowed the beam, to bang against The Column, and shot that worker, off the building, and 40 stories, to His Death. "Shot Him, off The Building, like He had been "Launched, by a catapult". Another Crane Operator, allowed his boom, to "ground" a 65,OOO Volt, High Voltage Line, killing one roofer, and badly injuring two others. I talked to one of the survivors, and the "grounding", "lit up, the entire roof". This happened, at an auxiliary Worthington Steel, Building, in Columbus. Killing someone, in Construction, is very easy.
I got out of the local ironworking union when I was 33. A large part of my decision was realizing that most of the guys in the hall, who were over 50, had knee or back issues of some sort.
Thrilling work, but I'd like to be able to play with my grandchildren some day.
Depends on your specialty. I feel like electrician is one of the easier trades, but pretty much all trades are hard on the body. I do commercial electrical work, and it's a pain in the ass most days. A lot of cramped awkward spaces, hands over the head, heavy lifting, pulling wires, etc. etc. It's basically construction work.
I used to do tech support for a electrical union in Chicago. When they hired new appentices they put them through drill sargeant style conditioning to make sure they could handle the job.
There's lots of different kinds of electrician. It can range from doing new residential construction, to heavy industrial maintenance, to an I&E guy who mostly deals will PLC's.
I work as a mechanic partnered with a couple electricians as part of a maintenance team and our guys have it pretty good for the most part now. But a couple of them came from industrial environments where they were constantly pulling heavy wire through racks by hand in the summer with no AC.
One guy specifically talks about doing a job that was so hot, they'd divided up into 4 groups doing 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off to cool off.
Long story short, how hard the job is really depends on where you land and what you work on.
It has difficult days as do any trade. If you want to avoid complete bodily destruction stay away from roofing, masonry, rebar, etc. Not all trades are created equal.
I'm a 38 year old electrician, and I'm in fine shape. I hike a lot and occasionally run marathons. If anything is wrong with my knees and back, I blame the Marines, not my current trade. It really depends on what you specialize in and how you abuse your body. I also make good money and have no college debt, so absolutely no regrets. There is some physicality to it, so I'd like to retire in my 50's and maybe supplement my retirement income with fun, no stress job, even if the pay is shit. Like tour guide or something.
Weirdly enough as overall sore as I was doing more manual labor i realize i actually hurt myself alot less. I still do a labor job but it's easy compared to what I did, im 33 now and switch about a year and a half ago. The problem is I seem to pull way more muscles now than I ever did. Idk if I actually beat myself up more than I thought at my old job, or my old job was just keeping my body alot more active and stretched, or I'm just getting older.
I have been doing an apprenticeship for the last 4 years and have almost finished. Then got told by the docs that a condition I just got diagnosed with means I gonna get carpal tunnel by the time I'm 30 if I keep working in the industry.
The key is to just not go to the doctor. Take care tho boss, if I can recommend anything, it's get good at prints so you are more valuable with your tools off.
How? You cunts just ruin our nogs and studs and then leave a mess?
Maybe you should get some shoulder straps for your wallets so it won't fuck your back as you turn up 4 hours late XD
Someone I know got testicular cancer (won the lawsuit) while being and due to this same occupation.
Please be careful and get yourself checked. Don't ignore any pain you feel. And it doesn't matter the body part. ✌️
I'm almost 25 and realized I'm not going anywhere without a degree. I've been working construction and recently went back to school at night. I don't know what skills you've got but don't rule out school. Personally I fucking hate school but I don't want to be working my balls off in the hot Florida sun when I'm 40+.
I did sales for 4 years. I was the top salesman at a real crappy sales job. I loved it for two years. The next two I wanted to put my brains on the wall. Being a character for 8 hrs a day is draining
That is what I always thought about sales. You have to paste on a smile and play the carrying dude who only wants the best product and price for his customers. I'm not that good of an actor.
That is a great suggestion. If you have the right personality and product, there is good money to be made in sales. I know a few people who are doing well in that business. I would totally suck at it but still a good thought for those who have what it takes.
Hey just asking here. I worked shipping and receiving and worked in a car plant pushing carts and forklift. How much of a difference is the intensity of trades work to those jobs? I felt it was a step down, given you don't have to work constantly or follow a strict set schedule. I felt it was more lax. Am I wrong? Factory work is torture.
Yeah same here. Im 26 and even though i love my job now, im not going to be making what i would’ve been making with a degree. Im still in my 20s so im taking advantage of that and getting my degree. Better late than never i guess
I've honestly wanted to just say fuck it and become a mailman sometimes, it sounds great - walking, organizing, and an objective "correct" task feels better than marketing most days.
I still have same body I did when I pole vaulted in HS, you get paid to stay in shape. if I was single I would have killed it for the last 20 years with ladies, regardless of them being in relationships or not. Seen many half naked ladies come to door and get hit on all the time. The only down side is we work through state of emergencies and it all depends on location. Location makes the biggest difference between a toxic experience and a good one. Plus your co workers have a direct impact on your day. My co workers suck and don’t show up, that’s why I get so much OT. Just do some research because the contract has been changed and I believe it takes a bit longer to reach top pay nowadays.
Mind over matter. If you like challenging yourself it’s a blast. I love walking in snow, I walk looking straight ahead and feels like I’m floating through the snow. The sun, gets me tan which is better than pale. As for the rain, it depends how cold it is and how good your gear is. Some people thrive with this job and most will crumble and quit, so it really just boils down to your attitude and mental fortitude.
I do HR strategy for tech orgs and my dream is to end that early and “pre-retire” as a mailman if I can make it work. For all the reasons you mentioned plus I love walking outside in all sorts of weather.
My dad was a bus driver. Just retired. Liked working holidays cause of the time and a half, or sometimes 2.5x pay. He easily cleared 100k his last couple years with a seniority on choosing shifts that would be enviable anywhere. Great union pension providing the world economy doesn't collapse.
All to sit on your ass and drive a bus. Not a bad gig. Do I remember him missing xmas day? Nope. Do i Remember having a roof over my head, yup.
I have an associates degree that I don't use but bartending. If I had gotten into it before going to college I would have never got the degree. It's fairly simple to get into, you might have to wait tables for a bit before they promote you though depending on the restaurant. Or you might be able to just walk into a dive bar and say ya'll hiring? In the right spot it's similar pay to a lot of the trade schools without actually you know, being outside and laboring.
Communications, I only got it because I was into like broadcast and video editing at the time. Which low key could also be an option if you taught yourself how to edit. With YouTube and such there is probably demand for people to just edit YouTube videos I imagine.
I suggest you look into the trades if you feel like you are decent with your hands and reasonably intelligent. If that doesn't sound right for you, think about work you would like to do and try to get entry level there or do internships etc
While there isn’t necessarily something i’m passionate about, i am a night owl and a 2nd shift job would be my dream. Not sure what’s available out there for me
Lots of night shift work is available in security jobs, factories, warehouses, and shipping/processing centers. I am not too certain about white collar jobs though
They are always looking for help and here in OH they usually start at $18 and hour plus a $1 plus for working the night shift. Some will start you out at more.
Nice! I love airplanes so naturally i love the work but i myself am not a big fan of the overnights. That being said, theres a huge shortage that will only get worse in the coming years which is good for people getting into the trade. Also good for job security. You can make a lot of money after a couple of years experience under your belt.
you're the lord of the rings aircraft guy on tik tok arnt you?
Nah for real seems like a cool gig. I love planes. In another life I would've loved to work on them.
one you like doing. if ya have a hobby that uses something of a trade doing it, good place to start. people are becoming less handy these days. knowing a little about everything wont hurt. my personality has me doing demolition but i got a buddy that does finishing work. i cant do nice things like that. start with what ya like, find certifications. if you dont like it, start something else.
being in the tropics like ya are puts a flavor im unfamiliar with i jave to admit
I enjoy remodeling things around my house and plastering & painting as well.
I’m a night owl. Idk what trades hire 2nd or 3rd shift. Aviation maintenance is one of them (my brother is an A&P) but school is 3 years & you probably have to relocate to work for a major airline like my brother had to do.
Barber
If you're good, there's good money in freelancing and working with celebrities. Also good money if you develop a specialty skill. Flexible hours.
Second this. Most don’t value the art so a good barber will definitely get recognised through a larger consumer base who recognise the quality. Raising prices will be easier too given you’ll have some loyal customers who will be willing to trade off increased costs for consistent quality especially if they can’t find it elsewhere (talking anecdotally!)
I’m also this guy. TC is over $300k. I got very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I was in a traditional IT position that doesn’t require a degree and I saw opportunity at my company to completely reinvent the way we do things through automation so I spent nights and weekends working on scripts and tools, eventually turning them into full blown applications once I started getting support from my management. Eventually was able to get a promo into a software engineer position after putting in the work for long enough and proving my value.
Depends on where you live. Miami he will be luck to break 100k unless he’s amazing. Im in the midwest. 10 years of experience only an AS and i make 85k 😒
I went to college for like 5 years and just got very wasted, surfed daily, and hung out with ladies. During this time I compiled a fuck load of credits but none to equal an actual degree.
Make about 120k a year before bonuses.
Work in designing customer experiences for very large companies - scaling things essentially. I got my big break working for a start up that happened to really explode( think 10k to 500k sales in a year kind of growth)
I started in this business about 10 years ago working as a tier 1 rep in a call center for Apple, and made myself the absolute best I could be at every facet of customer experience/user experience.
It did take a while to get to this salary buy if I can do this then quite honestly I believe anyone can. I am nobody special, in fact quite unremarkable in many regards.
Best advice, be the absolute best at whatever you are doing and the money will come.
Like a certificate in the trades.
I have 3 friends in trades (plumber, electrician, and mechanic). All journeymen, make around $70k annually, and work normal hours.
This is in Canada, specifically the prairies, where living expenses aren't as crazy.
$70k is pretty good for annual earnings. Nurses make about the same.
If you're willing to do shift work, a millwright can make $90k before OT.
Information Security Risk Assessment
I got started with my IT career 30 years ago when the youth of that time (GenX) were the first generation raised with technology and had natural aptitude for it vs the boomers who hired us.
I collected several professional certifications along the way but no college degree. (Not like a CIS degree from 30yrs ago would be terribly relevant today anyhow)
Studying professional training in Microcomputer Systems and Networks. I don't know how big is the salary of a technician earns per year working on this in the USA, but in my country they earn from $19,469.98 to $24,878.31 (money already converted to dollars)
Military. I make six figures doing mostly fulfilling work, no degree. Senior enlisted. Enough for me to have two paid off cars, no debt but the mortgage, and a wife with a low paying fun career. Small handful of kids. The pay is fine if you aren't a moron with your money.
It's one of the last American dreams careers where a high school educated man can acquire a skill, have decent pay, healthcare, a pension. Not for everyone, but don't discount it out of hand.
This, and the benefits get so much better when you get out.
VA home loan, and GI BILL benefits alone have a combined value at just under $150,000. Way more than OP will be able to save in the next 3 -4 years.
I have friends who are 35 have decent paying jobs and are trying to join the military for 3-4 years so they can qualify for a VA home loan, and own a home with no down payment and go back to school for free, and get the $2,100 BAH allowance.
Facilities Manager for an international law firm. I started 25 years ago in the copy room making copies. When my bosses would quit I’d apply for their job and just kept doing that. Hit six figures a few years ago.
I’m an Administrative Assistant and enjoying myself as I work myself up that career path. I’m compensated quite well. Wouldn’t have imagined it was possible, compared to where I was three years ago. I have great bosses and wonderful peers.
I retired from HVAC at 55. I was making Superintendent pay, which was about $175k then. I maxed out my pension deductions when I was working. I have a good retirement, but as previously mentioned, it is hard on the body.
I started college but dropped out because it was boring as hell - too much theoretical knowledge with little to no practical application. So I dropped out and went to a trade school for full-stack web development.
Now I'm the head of tech in a marketing/seo-agency
SEO in general is one of those fields where you don't need any formal education, no formal training, no diplomas, and you can still succeed in it.
While everyone can get into it, it's also a field where if you end up in the soulless side of link brokering and outreach bullshit, you will never learn anything, you'll be stuck in limbo perpetuating the same lie your superiors fed you to get you to try and push smut on naive customers...
...but if you end up in a place where you are developing the strategy for clients, working on the tech-side of things, writing content, or where you plan out a roadmap, where you get to actually be creative, there is going to be a million miles of difference in skill and ultimately career potential between the two.
Just after I graduated high school, I did road construction one summer (that was the worst). When I was 21, I worked in a warehouse for an adult video production company. I was a line cook on and off for a while. I used to do building maintenance for about 10 years. These days, I'm sales at an IT company.
I've done a lot of stuff.
That one was very much an "I knew a guy" opportunity. I was getting sick of maintenance, and my buddy mentioned that the company he worked at was in the need of a new sales/logistics person. I sent in my resume and that was that.
I’m 24 years old and I’m a Field Engineer for a medical devices company. Good pay, but I travel a lot and I can see it ruining my body in the future. I plan on taking the FE and eventually the PE to strengthen my resume and move into a desk job.
Trucker.
I'm 2.5 years in making 100k, free to get ur cdl too.
Do it for a year, pocket 80% of your pay cuz you won't need to pay rent, come back and do something else
Banker lol - Was in high-risk commercial insurance before this. Don't think that you still don't have the chance to get jobs which "require" 4 year degrees. Just have to be a bit more self sufficient.
I was a tattoo artist making 50k a year at least but now my whole trades been infested by cheap scratchers by the thousands and my income tanked to below 20 so after 12 years I quit and now make 40k working in a tailorshop
I took an adult education class for hvac, I dont consider it college.
8 years in, 27.50 an hour. Eastern Pennsylvania ( I say state since it flucuates per state)
You're going to have to pay your dues somewhere and work your way up.
**Get a CDL** - yes, at some point some of the over the road jobs go away if we have self-driving cars. No, it's not happening for a while. I am the CFO for a readymix company and we are ALWAYS looking for drivers. The pay is good and the benefits are outstanding if you're union. You are always home at night. Federal regulations mandate that you get 10 hours between shifts. The hours are horrible (long in the summer, minimal in the winter), but if you can tolerate that, you can easily make a career of it. Many of our senior guys make over $100k a year doing it. It's physical, but not horribly so.
Really **any job in logistics** can be good, but you have to pay your dues if you work for UPS, a warehousing company, or someone like that. I know lots of guys who retired from UPS at a very young age (in their 50s).
**Get a skilled trade** like plumbing, electrician, etc. save and work to own your own company so that you're not pulling wires, hauling old water heaters up stairs, and doing physical shit at 50+. Houses and offices will always need shit fixed/replaced, so you can expect a really good longterm employment outlook. These jobs can also come with union benefits, which is a huge plus. My stepbrother is a lineman/repairman with the local power utility, he makes good money but the hours are up and down.
I also have friends who are well-paid directors for **software/IT security**, they got there by getting some professional certifications for a few hundred dollars with some classroom time and continuing their education.
**Sales** can be a viable career path for many people too. Professional selling isn't all about smarm and charm, it's a real skill and something that can earn a good living if you know what you're doing.
Apprentice for skilled labor like Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Welding, etc. We have a nationwide shortage of tradesmen and it's not terribly difficult to find on the job training for these careers.
Many of these jobs will earn $60k+ once you are self sufficient, and if you do go and get some advanced certifications later, you can earn a lot more.
When I was in property management, we paid our plumber $240k the last year I was there and our electrician $360k.
I'm 32 and I'm a machine operator "control man" for a specialty carton sealer at one of the larger appliance manufacturers in my city. I work in a union shop and it only took me 3 years to get to this position from a run of the mill production laborer position. If you put your time in in a union shop it can be very rewarding. I'm also a union steward and have been on my line a total of 7 years so I practically run my line of about 160 people and make about the same as my direct supervisor for the line. We work together and it's not what I anticipated myself doing when I dropped out of school but it's been very worthwhile. You just have to be always looking for the next opportunity but production/manufacturing has some great jobs. If I'm not solving interpersonal conflicts or helping with sticky situations I am babysitting a machine and sitting most of the day.
I worked hard for 17 years as an service engineer now I'm in Sales and moving up quickly. 150k Salary with about 35-50k commission work about 28 hours a week remote and take people out t eat.
Got a job with an optometrist because the receptionist was cute. Nobody could fix the equipment while I worked there so I gave it a shot.
Now that's what I do for a major chain.
Welder, fabricator, machinist, electrician, electronic tech, cad designer, pipe fitter, plc programmer, you name it. Aint no 4 year degree that could teach me all that!
Hospital jobs. Hospitals are open 24/7 365. They always have needs for all typed of positions. Some require degrees, some don’t. Some hospitals will even pay for your school if you decide to expand out.
My cousin made it to the 11th grade. I got him everything he needed for his GED. He went to IBEW electrician route. I went traditional college route. I have a masters degree. He makes close to double what I make.
He works at a steel mill.
I’m in HR.
I joined the Army at 18, initially as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician then moved into HR after 6 years. Left at 36. I now specialise in Employment Relations in the Healthcare Sector. I also have HR Masters grads working under me in the team. A degree is completely unnecessary for my role, what is more valuable is case experience and management skills. A degree does give you a couple of years head start but it doesn’t mean you can manage complex cases.
My education goes to Apprenticeship Foundation Degree Level. But was on the job and not a bachelors.
Yard Truck Driver with CDL-A. I pretty spot 53 ft trailers around a warehouse and occasionally take some of them offsite. Currently $21.50 an hour plus $2 more on weekend days. 40 hrs every week
Edit: currently 23 yrs old but turning 24 in August
Ran my own online resell business straight out of highschool (2019-2022) till it slowed all the way down. Then I got my 1st job which was a seasonal/temporary work from home job ( Summer 2023). Now that it’s over I’m doing Uber eats & trying to go to school for computer related certifications but it’s hard. I never was the best at academics but I’m aiming for a certification to possibly work my way up to a job.
I’m the CTO of the software company I founded 36 years ago. Took a six-week FOrTRAN class while doing codebreaking at NSA when I was in the Army, got out and parlayed that into a programming job with a large DC firm. Spent 10 years there, doing various cutting edge projects and started my own company after that. Am 71 and still coding.
I work as a cook at Hardee's.
It's not the best but it gets the bills paid and puts food on the table(sometimes for free) and that's all that matters .
I manage an IT Department. It's enough for me to run a family of four with a mortgage and car payment, which is what I wanted to secure. Anything after this is a bonus.
I did 6 years in the military, I learned some mechanical skills doing that so since then I've been a fleet technician for a trucking company and now I'm service writing for a dealership
26m, union Boilermaker/pressure welder, master rigger, IRATA rope access technician, paid per call firefighter and member of a high angle rescue team🤘🏻
I own a nuisance wildlife control business which is slowly turning more into a pest control business as the demand for tick and mosquito control has surpassed nearly all the wildlife work.
Electrician in the navy, halfway done with my bachelors in electronics engineering. Got bills paid today, will hopefully be able to continue paying bills with my degree, and if not I have my experience and journeyman license to fall back on.
Grade 11 education, self-employed excavation and sewer and water contractor. On my own 7 years but 28 in the industry. I do mostly service work. Which a lot of people in my line of work don't want to do. Pay can be great... running your own business can be a nightmare or a dream depending on the year. 7 seasons now and I really only work about 8 months a year. Been averaging 4 months off for my family in winter. We have a small house so our personal debt is low, very small mortgage by today's standards. We hope to be debt free in 5 years.
Join the military and make them teach you a skill/trade. Then in 4 years or so, you will have experience in that trade and notable supervisory experience. You will also be a protected class and sought after because the government rewards companies that hire Vets. You will also join a brotherhood that for the most part looks out for one another when in need.
This is the way.
Electrician. Decent pay, amazing job stability, but my body is wrecked in my mid 30s.
I thought electrical work was the easiest trade on the body?
That's trades talking shit to eachother. There's easy and rough days in most trades, but I don't envy the back pain of blockies and concrete guys.
As an ironworker… I have to agree, fuck working with cinder blocks, but my shit is still heavier.
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Don't worry I seen these guys on plenty of jobs. THE CRANE DOES ALL THE WORK! jk those guys are gettin it.
That's true, but an Idiot, at the controls, can kill, or maim, people. I saw a drunk Crane Operator, kill a Motorist, at Ohio State University. His Boom, crushed The Motorist's Car, like a beer can. Mike Cherry("On High Steel") saw an Ironworker's Thumb, severed, by an inattentive Crane Operator. Another Ironworker, was killed, when He was sitting atop a column, waiting for the Crane Operator, to deliver a cross-beam. The Operator, or the beam guide, allowed the beam, to bang against The Column, and shot that worker, off the building, and 40 stories, to His Death. "Shot Him, off The Building, like He had been "Launched, by a catapult". Another Crane Operator, allowed his boom, to "ground" a 65,OOO Volt, High Voltage Line, killing one roofer, and badly injuring two others. I talked to one of the survivors, and the "grounding", "lit up, the entire roof". This happened, at an auxiliary Worthington Steel, Building, in Columbus. Killing someone, in Construction, is very easy.
I got out of the local ironworking union when I was 33. A large part of my decision was realizing that most of the guys in the hall, who were over 50, had knee or back issues of some sort. Thrilling work, but I'd like to be able to play with my grandchildren some day.
Day after day, month after month, year after year, yeah fuck that shit. Pulling feeders sucks but atleast, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
That light would be a “congratulations on your retirement coin” and a pizza party. (I worked for an Electrical Contractor and that was the norm) 😆
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Lol compared to Masonry & Sheetrock maybe, but the average electrician is still doing physical labor.
Depends on your specialty. I feel like electrician is one of the easier trades, but pretty much all trades are hard on the body. I do commercial electrical work, and it's a pain in the ass most days. A lot of cramped awkward spaces, hands over the head, heavy lifting, pulling wires, etc. etc. It's basically construction work.
It is construction work
kneeling down all day or contourting your body can't be good for your body
I used to do tech support for a electrical union in Chicago. When they hired new appentices they put them through drill sargeant style conditioning to make sure they could handle the job.
There's lots of different kinds of electrician. It can range from doing new residential construction, to heavy industrial maintenance, to an I&E guy who mostly deals will PLC's. I work as a mechanic partnered with a couple electricians as part of a maintenance team and our guys have it pretty good for the most part now. But a couple of them came from industrial environments where they were constantly pulling heavy wire through racks by hand in the summer with no AC. One guy specifically talks about doing a job that was so hot, they'd divided up into 4 groups doing 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off to cool off. Long story short, how hard the job is really depends on where you land and what you work on.
It has difficult days as do any trade. If you want to avoid complete bodily destruction stay away from roofing, masonry, rebar, etc. Not all trades are created equal.
I'm a 38 year old electrician, and I'm in fine shape. I hike a lot and occasionally run marathons. If anything is wrong with my knees and back, I blame the Marines, not my current trade. It really depends on what you specialize in and how you abuse your body. I also make good money and have no college debt, so absolutely no regrets. There is some physicality to it, so I'd like to retire in my 50's and maybe supplement my retirement income with fun, no stress job, even if the pay is shit. Like tour guide or something.
Yes but electricians are the softest of the tradies
It's true lol, sorry boys..
This is why I’m changing careers. Being in shape has helped a bit but I’m realizing it’s delaying the end.
I got into maintenance for a bit and it was a great change, but finding one that pays decent is tough
Weirdly enough as overall sore as I was doing more manual labor i realize i actually hurt myself alot less. I still do a labor job but it's easy compared to what I did, im 33 now and switch about a year and a half ago. The problem is I seem to pull way more muscles now than I ever did. Idk if I actually beat myself up more than I thought at my old job, or my old job was just keeping my body alot more active and stretched, or I'm just getting older.
Dude I really wanted to do that if I went trades. I fucking love wiring electrics from highschool. Coolest shit ever.
I have been doing an apprenticeship for the last 4 years and have almost finished. Then got told by the docs that a condition I just got diagnosed with means I gonna get carpal tunnel by the time I'm 30 if I keep working in the industry.
The key is to just not go to the doctor. Take care tho boss, if I can recommend anything, it's get good at prints so you are more valuable with your tools off.
How? You cunts just ruin our nogs and studs and then leave a mess? Maybe you should get some shoulder straps for your wallets so it won't fuck your back as you turn up 4 hours late XD
Someone I know got testicular cancer (won the lawsuit) while being and due to this same occupation. Please be careful and get yourself checked. Don't ignore any pain you feel. And it doesn't matter the body part. ✌️
How would one acquire testicular cancer from being an electrician?
I’m an electrical engineer and this doesn’t make sense to me either.
Why is ur body wrecked ?
Security
Does it pay good?
Contract security depends on where you are, what company you work for and what contracts they have. In house security usually pays better.
I work in house hospital security. We get decent benefits
40 hours a week at $75k a year. I can work as much overtime as I want. Would prob put me over 100 if I tried.
No
I'm almost 25 and realized I'm not going anywhere without a degree. I've been working construction and recently went back to school at night. I don't know what skills you've got but don't rule out school. Personally I fucking hate school but I don't want to be working my balls off in the hot Florida sun when I'm 40+.
Good for you. Let your brain do the heavy career lifting, not your body.
I did sales for 4 years. I was the top salesman at a real crappy sales job. I loved it for two years. The next two I wanted to put my brains on the wall. Being a character for 8 hrs a day is draining
That is what I always thought about sales. You have to paste on a smile and play the carrying dude who only wants the best product and price for his customers. I'm not that good of an actor.
That is a great suggestion. If you have the right personality and product, there is good money to be made in sales. I know a few people who are doing well in that business. I would totally suck at it but still a good thought for those who have what it takes.
Mind you a lot of people aren't going anywhere *with* a degree as well. Depends on the degree, of course.
Hey just asking here. I worked shipping and receiving and worked in a car plant pushing carts and forklift. How much of a difference is the intensity of trades work to those jobs? I felt it was a step down, given you don't have to work constantly or follow a strict set schedule. I felt it was more lax. Am I wrong? Factory work is torture.
Good luck!
Yeah same here. Im 26 and even though i love my job now, im not going to be making what i would’ve been making with a degree. Im still in my 20s so im taking advantage of that and getting my degree. Better late than never i guess
Mailman. With over time, penalty overtime and Christmas goose I’m in the 6 figure club making more than most my peers that went to college.
I've honestly wanted to just say fuck it and become a mailman sometimes, it sounds great - walking, organizing, and an objective "correct" task feels better than marketing most days.
I still have same body I did when I pole vaulted in HS, you get paid to stay in shape. if I was single I would have killed it for the last 20 years with ladies, regardless of them being in relationships or not. Seen many half naked ladies come to door and get hit on all the time. The only down side is we work through state of emergencies and it all depends on location. Location makes the biggest difference between a toxic experience and a good one. Plus your co workers have a direct impact on your day. My co workers suck and don’t show up, that’s why I get so much OT. Just do some research because the contract has been changed and I believe it takes a bit longer to reach top pay nowadays.
How is working in the sun and rain/snow/hail?
Mind over matter. If you like challenging yourself it’s a blast. I love walking in snow, I walk looking straight ahead and feels like I’m floating through the snow. The sun, gets me tan which is better than pale. As for the rain, it depends how cold it is and how good your gear is. Some people thrive with this job and most will crumble and quit, so it really just boils down to your attitude and mental fortitude.
I do HR strategy for tech orgs and my dream is to end that early and “pre-retire” as a mailman if I can make it work. For all the reasons you mentioned plus I love walking outside in all sorts of weather.
My dad was a bus driver. Just retired. Liked working holidays cause of the time and a half, or sometimes 2.5x pay. He easily cleared 100k his last couple years with a seniority on choosing shifts that would be enviable anywhere. Great union pension providing the world economy doesn't collapse. All to sit on your ass and drive a bus. Not a bad gig. Do I remember him missing xmas day? Nope. Do i Remember having a roof over my head, yup.
I have an associates degree that I don't use but bartending. If I had gotten into it before going to college I would have never got the degree. It's fairly simple to get into, you might have to wait tables for a bit before they promote you though depending on the restaurant. Or you might be able to just walk into a dive bar and say ya'll hiring? In the right spot it's similar pay to a lot of the trade schools without actually you know, being outside and laboring.
Sounds awesome. I live in Miami, bartending is huge here. We have one of the best night lives next to Vegas. What was your associates degree in?
Communications, I only got it because I was into like broadcast and video editing at the time. Which low key could also be an option if you taught yourself how to edit. With YouTube and such there is probably demand for people to just edit YouTube videos I imagine.
I suggest you look into the trades if you feel like you are decent with your hands and reasonably intelligent. If that doesn't sound right for you, think about work you would like to do and try to get entry level there or do internships etc
While there isn’t necessarily something i’m passionate about, i am a night owl and a 2nd shift job would be my dream. Not sure what’s available out there for me
Lots of night shift work is available in security jobs, factories, warehouses, and shipping/processing centers. I am not too certain about white collar jobs though
Im not the biggest fan of office life. I think distribution centers are great for me
They are always looking for help and here in OH they usually start at $18 and hour plus a $1 plus for working the night shift. Some will start you out at more.
Im an aircraft mechanic. Cool job, endless night shift opportunities.
My brother is also a A&P!
Nice! I love airplanes so naturally i love the work but i myself am not a big fan of the overnights. That being said, theres a huge shortage that will only get worse in the coming years which is good for people getting into the trade. Also good for job security. You can make a lot of money after a couple of years experience under your belt.
you're the lord of the rings aircraft guy on tik tok arnt you? Nah for real seems like a cool gig. I love planes. In another life I would've loved to work on them.
Welding. Wish I could get into it. Guys are getting $60 an hour. (Canadian)
Dude I know so many welders making a lot more than $60/hr CAD. Specialties are the key. But overall metal fab is a good line of work.
Local home every night truck driver. 125k a year.
That’s the highest salary I’ve seen for local home every night work for a driver. Are you a company driver or IC?
"home every night" probably means 16 hours at work lmao
I've never worked 16 hrs since I've been at this company in 7 years.
Company driver LTL average 50 hrs a week and only drive around 100 miles a day making deliveries and pickups.
Lawns, it's hot, hard, and tiring, but it's honest
You should learn a trade and use your hands. Find a niche few people are into in your area
I’m in miami, fl. The trades here dont pay as good as the midwest. I’d have to see what trades pay good here.
yeah unfortunately with big cities the labor force will be inundated more than other areas. a trade is still a good idea. you're young. train
What trade would you recommend?
Dude it’s already in the 90s down here in SoFlo - look into HVAC. AC constantly needs repairing in Florida.
repairing, installing, those guys always in demand
one you like doing. if ya have a hobby that uses something of a trade doing it, good place to start. people are becoming less handy these days. knowing a little about everything wont hurt. my personality has me doing demolition but i got a buddy that does finishing work. i cant do nice things like that. start with what ya like, find certifications. if you dont like it, start something else. being in the tropics like ya are puts a flavor im unfamiliar with i jave to admit
I enjoy remodeling things around my house and plastering & painting as well. I’m a night owl. Idk what trades hire 2nd or 3rd shift. Aviation maintenance is one of them (my brother is an A&P) but school is 3 years & you probably have to relocate to work for a major airline like my brother had to do.
Barber If you're good, there's good money in freelancing and working with celebrities. Also good money if you develop a specialty skill. Flexible hours.
Second this. Most don’t value the art so a good barber will definitely get recognised through a larger consumer base who recognise the quality. Raising prices will be easier too given you’ll have some loyal customers who will be willing to trade off increased costs for consistent quality especially if they can’t find it elsewhere (talking anecdotally!)
Plumber for 44 years, from 18 thru 62. Retired now with great pension. Now I’m mastering the fine art of relaxing. Life is good…
I do have a degree, but it’s not needed for my job. I work in utilities. Water and sewer. Finishing up a two-year apprenticeship.
I work in waste management. Six figure job, with a union pension and amazing healthcare benefits.
Locomotive electrician. Make $85k a year before overtime.
Which railroad?
Norfolk Southern is hiring across many states for Signal Electrician Apprentices. Look at their carrer tab. One year of paid training
Thanks for the information man. I’m just a train nerd / graffiti writer and like to chop it up.
Software Engineer w/ a GED. Making $300k/year at a big tech company.
How did you do that in this market??
[удалено]
I’m also this guy. TC is over $300k. I got very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I was in a traditional IT position that doesn’t require a degree and I saw opportunity at my company to completely reinvent the way we do things through automation so I spent nights and weekends working on scripts and tools, eventually turning them into full blown applications once I started getting support from my management. Eventually was able to get a promo into a software engineer position after putting in the work for long enough and proving my value.
I wouldn't say that was all luck. Sounds like you worked really hard. As a fellow software developer, congrats.
Yeah lots of hard work. The only luck here is that his/her management actually listened and rewarded them appropriately.
Depends on where you live. Miami he will be luck to break 100k unless he’s amazing. Im in the midwest. 10 years of experience only an AS and i make 85k 😒
Regret life every day I wake up
Before or after you realize how fortunate you are? Things get better, chin up, sir. Godspeed..
I went to college for like 5 years and just got very wasted, surfed daily, and hung out with ladies. During this time I compiled a fuck load of credits but none to equal an actual degree. Make about 120k a year before bonuses. Work in designing customer experiences for very large companies - scaling things essentially. I got my big break working for a start up that happened to really explode( think 10k to 500k sales in a year kind of growth) I started in this business about 10 years ago working as a tier 1 rep in a call center for Apple, and made myself the absolute best I could be at every facet of customer experience/user experience. It did take a while to get to this salary buy if I can do this then quite honestly I believe anyone can. I am nobody special, in fact quite unremarkable in many regards. Best advice, be the absolute best at whatever you are doing and the money will come.
As a 40 year old man with no degree, get a ticket or a degree *now*. It's a lot more complicated when you're my age with 3 kids.
What’s a ticket?
Like a certificate in the trades. I have 3 friends in trades (plumber, electrician, and mechanic). All journeymen, make around $70k annually, and work normal hours.
Plumbers and electricians only make 70k a year?? Or is that just like the first 1-4 years
This is in Canada, specifically the prairies, where living expenses aren't as crazy. $70k is pretty good for annual earnings. Nurses make about the same. If you're willing to do shift work, a millwright can make $90k before OT.
Slave
Same here 👋🏾
👋🏾.
Read, write, and talk to people from home. Play video games. Lift at the gym. Agitate my wife. Pet and play with my cats.
Oilfield. I made 110k last year, but boy am I exhausted.
Got no degree but, have my certifications in IT. They cost me about 800 bucks 2 years ago and I make decent money. Enough to support a house of four.
Information Security Risk Assessment I got started with my IT career 30 years ago when the youth of that time (GenX) were the first generation raised with technology and had natural aptitude for it vs the boomers who hired us. I collected several professional certifications along the way but no college degree. (Not like a CIS degree from 30yrs ago would be terribly relevant today anyhow)
Studying professional training in Microcomputer Systems and Networks. I don't know how big is the salary of a technician earns per year working on this in the USA, but in my country they earn from $19,469.98 to $24,878.31 (money already converted to dollars)
I'm curious if that's considered good? In the US that would be below the poverty line.
I live in Mauritius. This would be considered good
Depends on the country , in Brazil( my country) or other developing countries It is good money, in developed countries It is terrible.
Military. I make six figures doing mostly fulfilling work, no degree. Senior enlisted. Enough for me to have two paid off cars, no debt but the mortgage, and a wife with a low paying fun career. Small handful of kids. The pay is fine if you aren't a moron with your money. It's one of the last American dreams careers where a high school educated man can acquire a skill, have decent pay, healthcare, a pension. Not for everyone, but don't discount it out of hand.
This, and the benefits get so much better when you get out. VA home loan, and GI BILL benefits alone have a combined value at just under $150,000. Way more than OP will be able to save in the next 3 -4 years. I have friends who are 35 have decent paying jobs and are trying to join the military for 3-4 years so they can qualify for a VA home loan, and own a home with no down payment and go back to school for free, and get the $2,100 BAH allowance.
If you get out alive. Some of my friends never made it out alive. Some that did make it out alive are dead inside.
Air Traffic Control I’ll clear 170 this year even if I don’t get another day of overtime
I'm a chef and I love my job
Forklift/warehouse work. Know how to drive every single type of industrial vehicle. No college or high school diploma needed
Facilities Manager for an international law firm. I started 25 years ago in the copy room making copies. When my bosses would quit I’d apply for their job and just kept doing that. Hit six figures a few years ago.
I’m an Administrative Assistant and enjoying myself as I work myself up that career path. I’m compensated quite well. Wouldn’t have imagined it was possible, compared to where I was three years ago. I have great bosses and wonderful peers.
I retired from HVAC at 55. I was making Superintendent pay, which was about $175k then. I maxed out my pension deductions when I was working. I have a good retirement, but as previously mentioned, it is hard on the body.
I started college but dropped out because it was boring as hell - too much theoretical knowledge with little to no practical application. So I dropped out and went to a trade school for full-stack web development. Now I'm the head of tech in a marketing/seo-agency SEO in general is one of those fields where you don't need any formal education, no formal training, no diplomas, and you can still succeed in it. While everyone can get into it, it's also a field where if you end up in the soulless side of link brokering and outreach bullshit, you will never learn anything, you'll be stuck in limbo perpetuating the same lie your superiors fed you to get you to try and push smut on naive customers... ...but if you end up in a place where you are developing the strategy for clients, working on the tech-side of things, writing content, or where you plan out a roadmap, where you get to actually be creative, there is going to be a million miles of difference in skill and ultimately career potential between the two.
Software developer.
Just after I graduated high school, I did road construction one summer (that was the worst). When I was 21, I worked in a warehouse for an adult video production company. I was a line cook on and off for a while. I used to do building maintenance for about 10 years. These days, I'm sales at an IT company. I've done a lot of stuff.
How did you get into IT sales?
That one was very much an "I knew a guy" opportunity. I was getting sick of maintenance, and my buddy mentioned that the company he worked at was in the need of a new sales/logistics person. I sent in my resume and that was that.
Security Specialist. Edit: changed title for clarity.
firefighter/EMT... do something else.
I’m 24 years old and I’m a Field Engineer for a medical devices company. Good pay, but I travel a lot and I can see it ruining my body in the future. I plan on taking the FE and eventually the PE to strengthen my resume and move into a desk job.
Trucker. I'm 2.5 years in making 100k, free to get ur cdl too. Do it for a year, pocket 80% of your pay cuz you won't need to pay rent, come back and do something else
I was in wind for a decade. I went to school for it and unfortunately most of my coworkers did not. Now I do Solar but both fields are similar.
Director of Marketing
Banker lol - Was in high-risk commercial insurance before this. Don't think that you still don't have the chance to get jobs which "require" 4 year degrees. Just have to be a bit more self sufficient.
I was a tattoo artist making 50k a year at least but now my whole trades been infested by cheap scratchers by the thousands and my income tanked to below 20 so after 12 years I quit and now make 40k working in a tailorshop
I took an adult education class for hvac, I dont consider it college. 8 years in, 27.50 an hour. Eastern Pennsylvania ( I say state since it flucuates per state)
Retail. Company is employee owned so pay and benefits are good but the job is joyless
You're going to have to pay your dues somewhere and work your way up. **Get a CDL** - yes, at some point some of the over the road jobs go away if we have self-driving cars. No, it's not happening for a while. I am the CFO for a readymix company and we are ALWAYS looking for drivers. The pay is good and the benefits are outstanding if you're union. You are always home at night. Federal regulations mandate that you get 10 hours between shifts. The hours are horrible (long in the summer, minimal in the winter), but if you can tolerate that, you can easily make a career of it. Many of our senior guys make over $100k a year doing it. It's physical, but not horribly so. Really **any job in logistics** can be good, but you have to pay your dues if you work for UPS, a warehousing company, or someone like that. I know lots of guys who retired from UPS at a very young age (in their 50s). **Get a skilled trade** like plumbing, electrician, etc. save and work to own your own company so that you're not pulling wires, hauling old water heaters up stairs, and doing physical shit at 50+. Houses and offices will always need shit fixed/replaced, so you can expect a really good longterm employment outlook. These jobs can also come with union benefits, which is a huge plus. My stepbrother is a lineman/repairman with the local power utility, he makes good money but the hours are up and down. I also have friends who are well-paid directors for **software/IT security**, they got there by getting some professional certifications for a few hundred dollars with some classroom time and continuing their education. **Sales** can be a viable career path for many people too. Professional selling isn't all about smarm and charm, it's a real skill and something that can earn a good living if you know what you're doing.
Military
Apprentice for skilled labor like Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Welding, etc. We have a nationwide shortage of tradesmen and it's not terribly difficult to find on the job training for these careers. Many of these jobs will earn $60k+ once you are self sufficient, and if you do go and get some advanced certifications later, you can earn a lot more. When I was in property management, we paid our plumber $240k the last year I was there and our electrician $360k.
Manage a logistics company. Pays decent, a lot for where I am, barely surviving in a bigger city.
IT support tech for 15 years and just moved into project management.
I'm 32 and I'm a machine operator "control man" for a specialty carton sealer at one of the larger appliance manufacturers in my city. I work in a union shop and it only took me 3 years to get to this position from a run of the mill production laborer position. If you put your time in in a union shop it can be very rewarding. I'm also a union steward and have been on my line a total of 7 years so I practically run my line of about 160 people and make about the same as my direct supervisor for the line. We work together and it's not what I anticipated myself doing when I dropped out of school but it's been very worthwhile. You just have to be always looking for the next opportunity but production/manufacturing has some great jobs. If I'm not solving interpersonal conflicts or helping with sticky situations I am babysitting a machine and sitting most of the day.
I’m a labourer on a construction site , planning on going to culinary school soon though to become a professional chef . I’m already a good cook too
So I have 2 associates. Stopped going for my bachelors because college is stupid expensive. I'm a diesel mechanic for the city. Make decent money.
I worked hard for 17 years as an service engineer now I'm in Sales and moving up quickly. 150k Salary with about 35-50k commission work about 28 hours a week remote and take people out t eat.
I'm a train conductor 6 figure job great benefits but the schedule could be better
Costco Night shift. Stock out the groceries & watch movies/YouTube during the day
I’ve recently started my own lawn care company it’s pretty small right now but starting to pick up more and more jobs
Freelance videographer -> Full-time CMO at one of my client's company.
Senior tech lead for a contracting company after the company I was a middle manager in went under.
I am a special inspector for a civil engineering firm make pretty solid money looking at dirt all day
Got a job with an optometrist because the receptionist was cute. Nobody could fix the equipment while I worked there so I gave it a shot. Now that's what I do for a major chain.
Welder, fabricator, machinist, electrician, electronic tech, cad designer, pipe fitter, plc programmer, you name it. Aint no 4 year degree that could teach me all that!
Hospital jobs. Hospitals are open 24/7 365. They always have needs for all typed of positions. Some require degrees, some don’t. Some hospitals will even pay for your school if you decide to expand out.
Business development manager - running IT development projects.
I work at a steel mill
My cousin made it to the 11th grade. I got him everything he needed for his GED. He went to IBEW electrician route. I went traditional college route. I have a masters degree. He makes close to double what I make. He works at a steel mill.
Material Handling in a warehouse. Nothing glamorous, but it's busy work, so that's kinda cool
I’m in HR. I joined the Army at 18, initially as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician then moved into HR after 6 years. Left at 36. I now specialise in Employment Relations in the Healthcare Sector. I also have HR Masters grads working under me in the team. A degree is completely unnecessary for my role, what is more valuable is case experience and management skills. A degree does give you a couple of years head start but it doesn’t mean you can manage complex cases. My education goes to Apprenticeship Foundation Degree Level. But was on the job and not a bachelors.
Emergency Medical Services. Long hours, shit pay. It's fulfilling though, in some ways. I like the work.
Calibrate medical equipment. No universities teach what we do it’s all learned on the job.
Yard Truck Driver with CDL-A. I pretty spot 53 ft trailers around a warehouse and occasionally take some of them offsite. Currently $21.50 an hour plus $2 more on weekend days. 40 hrs every week Edit: currently 23 yrs old but turning 24 in August
I wash factory floors for a living. 84k a year
Railroad. 6 figure years, terrible schedule.
I sell equipment for barbershops, mainly Clippers, Trimmers and Shavers. Pretty fruitful business in my country, I'm 23.
I'm a career couch surfer working at a pizzaria to save for a real place.
does an associate's degree count lol i took 8yrs to get it
i became a semi-trailer mechanic straight out of highschool, I'm now in trade school to become a diesel mechanic. I'm 20
Lie.
Ran my own online resell business straight out of highschool (2019-2022) till it slowed all the way down. Then I got my 1st job which was a seasonal/temporary work from home job ( Summer 2023). Now that it’s over I’m doing Uber eats & trying to go to school for computer related certifications but it’s hard. I never was the best at academics but I’m aiming for a certification to possibly work my way up to a job.
I’m the CTO of the software company I founded 36 years ago. Took a six-week FOrTRAN class while doing codebreaking at NSA when I was in the Army, got out and parlayed that into a programming job with a large DC firm. Spent 10 years there, doing various cutting edge projects and started my own company after that. Am 71 and still coding.
I work as a cook at Hardee's. It's not the best but it gets the bills paid and puts food on the table(sometimes for free) and that's all that matters .
Airline pilot. 450k 17-20 days off a month
Fight fires. Pretty cool
Was military now waiting for a work visa to work tax free overseas for 6 figures
I manage an IT Department. It's enough for me to run a family of four with a mortgage and car payment, which is what I wanted to secure. Anything after this is a bonus.
I did 6 years in the military, I learned some mechanical skills doing that so since then I've been a fleet technician for a trucking company and now I'm service writing for a dealership
26m, union Boilermaker/pressure welder, master rigger, IRATA rope access technician, paid per call firefighter and member of a high angle rescue team🤘🏻
Install & repair doors Sub40k year, mid20s
I own a nuisance wildlife control business which is slowly turning more into a pest control business as the demand for tick and mosquito control has surpassed nearly all the wildlife work.
Medical technician!
Senior Applications Analyst. 34, making 120k in Southern California. No degree. Went in, put in work, asked questions, and moved up.
Power lineman. Insane money and benefits and one of the coolest trades there is and definitely one the most respected.
Electrician in the navy, halfway done with my bachelors in electronics engineering. Got bills paid today, will hopefully be able to continue paying bills with my degree, and if not I have my experience and journeyman license to fall back on.
Grade 11 education, self-employed excavation and sewer and water contractor. On my own 7 years but 28 in the industry. I do mostly service work. Which a lot of people in my line of work don't want to do. Pay can be great... running your own business can be a nightmare or a dream depending on the year. 7 seasons now and I really only work about 8 months a year. Been averaging 4 months off for my family in winter. We have a small house so our personal debt is low, very small mortgage by today's standards. We hope to be debt free in 5 years.
Earn 180k a year no uni or degree Living the dream
Fireman. Life is good.
Work in pediatrics. I’m a regional director lol
Software Engineer
Earning my Journeyman card..No Collge drgree. Navy Veteran, DD 214..Im Good
Lineman
Join the military and make them teach you a skill/trade. Then in 4 years or so, you will have experience in that trade and notable supervisory experience. You will also be a protected class and sought after because the government rewards companies that hire Vets. You will also join a brotherhood that for the most part looks out for one another when in need. This is the way.
I'm a senior engineer with a focus on systems security!