Successful and Independent without a college degree?

[Anonymous]

Only people I know who did that are in IT and possess lots of certifications, my plumber, and my electrician. Even my home renovator was valedictorian and went to college.

[Anonymous]

Nephew just finished a 5-year journeyman program in HVAC. He worked for an HVAC company the entire time (paid) and attended the Union's training classes 3 nights a week (free, no student loans). He makes $140,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nephew just finished a 5-year journeyman program in HVAC. He worked for an HVAC company the entire time (paid) and attended the Union's training classes 3 nights a week (free, no student loans). He makes $140,000.

This is amazing. Congrats to your nephew.

[Anonymous]

I knew a young man growing up - think he’s about 5 years younger than me, so late 20s now. He never went to college and is an HVAC mechanic: became an apprentice straight out of HS and now works for a local company. He works hard but seems interested in the work and enjoys it. He bought a nice SFH a few years back (in MD, but a bit further out) and prior to getting married rented a room out to a buddy to save more money. He drives a very nice car!

It seems like a simple life but a nice one. He and his wife seem really happy.

[Anonymous]

Let's not underestimate the facts that these are physically demanding jobs and everyone isn't cutout for such work. However, beats mental stress of low pay jobs. I would still recommend getting an associate degree, even if online. That should help with self confidence, dating, parenting, business and socialization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know whether this is fortunate or unfortunate, but my friend's son is raking it in with his YouTube channel. He also does video editing for other YouTubers. I have no idea how long someone can sustain this "career" but if a kid has an entertaining skill such as gaming or building stuff, other people may want to watch it online.

😂 no this is not true

Do you not understand how many utters there are and the metrics for this

I don't quite understand the utters part but the kid is bringing in six figures, which is common for highly successful YouTube channels. (TikTok also pays for views but not nearly as much.) It's enough to live on his own (he's mid-20s and a college dropout). There are TONS of people trying to build a YouTube audience and most of them will fail because they suck at videos. This kid is apparently pretty good, although my Gen-X eyes don't appreciate the content as I am not the intended audience.

And this "career" could (and most likely will) easily disappear overnight at any point.

I think OP is talking about kids who have a real career path that they can continue for decades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any kid in my circle who didn't attend or finish college but my carpenter, electrician and plumber seems to do well enough for themselves. I guess if you don't want to go to college, few years of training for a high demand skill can be an option.

This 100%

If your kid is not interested in college/more classes and likes to work with things, then picking from electrician, HVAC, plumbing, construction is a viable path. They can do extremely well for themselves. Just realize that after 20 years of doing this, you want to be owning your own company and not working physical labor 10 hours a day...your body will not like that.

Same for hairdresser, healthcare techs (only require a 2 year degree for many), pick something you are interested in and pursue it. We need people doing all of those things and the pay is good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a number of family members that didn’t go to college. They all own successful businesses. Two of them went to tech high schools.

They aren’t slackers “that couldn’t get into college.” Instead, they work hard and are businessmen. So when you are looking at successful outcomes without college, you need to factor in work ethic and business smarts.

Yes! If you only want to "clock into work for your 8 hours exactly" and never go above and beyond, you will have a job, but you won't advance. If you are motivated, you can eventually be management/own your own company and make more. Just like any field, those who work hard tend to advance faster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes:

Friend of husbands went to one of those computer training type schools where you get a degree in a year or 2. He's very bright and makes a great living because he is good at what he does. He is divorced with one child and has lived independently since age 18.

The guy who's company remodeled our kitchen lives in a megamansion and goes to Europe often. He did not go to college and he does not come from money. He is married with 4 kids.

Every plumber, electrician and HVAC person we have used in different locations seemed to do quite well without college degree.

Hairdressers can do quite well-mine seem to be managing it all.

I know there are more, I just can't think of them right now. Also, I know people with advanced degrees who don't navigate independent living well.

Most contractors and other trades folks that own small businesses don't make much money. Contractors go bankrupt at an alarming rate because they are so bad at estimating job costs, time to complete, etc.

My HVAC guy runs a "successful" business and he said in his best years, that he himself takes home about $150k, but it's a ton of stress for that.

His own advice for his own kids is to learn a trade and then go work for a large company...welders, electricians, pipe fitters, etc. can make a ton (with OT) working at auto companies or ship builders, etc.

I think the common thread to all of this, is you do need to have a skill.

A contractor living in a mega mansion is likely doing very well and not going to "go bankrupt". Our contractor does extremely well (I should know, he charges a lot). He constantly has work (even during Covid)---I don't have to wait long for a project with him, simply because I have given him a lot of business in the last 4 years, so when something comes up I get worked in quickly. Otherwise he's a 4-5 month wait typically. He drives a fancy Truck as well as a large luxury SUV. He's doing extremely well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes:

Friend of husbands went to one of those computer training type schools where you get a degree in a year or 2. He's very bright and makes a great living because he is good at what he does. He is divorced with one child and has lived independently since age 18.

The guy who's company remodeled our kitchen lives in a megamansion and goes to Europe often. He did not go to college and he does not come from money. He is married with 4 kids.

Every plumber, electrician and HVAC person we have used in different locations seemed to do quite well without college degree.

Hairdressers can do quite well-mine seem to be managing it all.

I know there are more, I just can't think of them right now. Also, I know people with advanced degrees who don't navigate independent living well.

Most contractors and other trades folks that own small businesses don't make much money. Contractors go bankrupt at an alarming rate because they are so bad at estimating job costs, time to complete, etc.

My HVAC guy runs a "successful" business and he said in his best years, that he himself takes home about $150k, but it's a ton of stress for that.

His own advice for his own kids is to learn a trade and then go work for a large company...welders, electricians, pipe fitters, etc. can make a ton (with OT) working at auto companies or ship builders, etc.

I think the common thread to all of this, is you do need to have a skill.

A contractor living in a mega mansion is likely doing very well and not going to "go bankrupt". Our contractor does extremely well (I should know, he charges a lot). He constantly has work (even during Covid)---I don't have to wait long for a project with him, simply because I have given him a lot of business in the last 4 years, so when something comes up I get worked in quickly. Otherwise he's a 4-5 month wait typically. He drives a fancy Truck as well as a large luxury SUV. He's doing extremely well

I understand...but literally 90% of all contractors don't do just OK or don't do well at all...and 1% do extremely well. Certainly the guys that started a design/build like Case have done well, but most independent contracts live hand-to-mouth and wouldn't recommend their own kids follow the path.

But way to miss the forest through the trees because your specific contractor is in the 1%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any kid in my circle who didn't attend or finish college but my carpenter, electrician and plumber seems to do well enough for themselves. I guess if you don't want to go to college, few years of training for a high demand skill can be an option.

This 100%

If your kid is not interested in college/more classes and likes to work with things, then picking from electrician, HVAC, plumbing, construction is a viable path. They can do extremely well for themselves. Just realize that after 20 years of doing this, you want to be owning your own company and not working physical labor 10 hours a day...your body will not like that.

Same for hairdresser, healthcare techs (only require a 2 year degree for many), pick something you are interested in and pursue it. We need people doing all of those things and the pay is good

Everyone...please stop with the misinformation. The vast majority of trades people that decide to "go out on their own", don't do very well. Running a business takes far more skill and attention to detail than just "doing the work".

Quite honestly, residential trades are not a great path to take...most people that take trade jobs within large companies will come out far ahead of the folks that decide to strike out on their own in the residential trades.

Another path not mentioned by anyone is working your way up in a Big Box store. A Walmart store manager can earn $300k+ and a Costco store manager I believe is at like $400k-$500k.

[Anonymous]

I know several people who meet this description. A friend (40 years old) never went to college (ADHD not diagnosed until adulthood made school challenging). He got a blue collar type job assembling satellites in Fairfax county and has worked his way up in that industry. I believe he makes about $80k now. Has always been self sufficient. His wife makes a similar around in a different industry, they have a house and two kids.

I have a cousin who went to the military and then to welding school. He makes good money, wife and a kid. He’s in his early 30s.

I have another cousin who hopped around a bunch in his late teens/early 20s. Was generally self supporting throughout, though spent a few chunks of time living back with his parents. Never made any real money, enough to get by. Lots of false starts, plans that never went anywhere, odd jobs, etc., then about two years ago he and his friends started a luxury rental car business and are doing great! He’s 26 and doing great.

Also I work in political campaigns and I know two people who took a semester off from college to work in the 2008 Obama campaign and never went back to finish their degrees. Experience matters way more than education in campaigns, and their careers are indistinguishable from those of us with degrees.

There’s plenty of paths for those without degrees!

[Anonymous]

My CPA’s husband earns way more than she does. He is a commercial welder.

[Anonymous]

My Maryland contractor also has about a 4 to 5 month backlog of work. He had me drive by his house to look at the siding on his house. I was impressed with his house. He has a nice house in a nice neighborhood with solar panels on the roof.

I talked with him a couple of days ago. He’s looking to downsize to a smaller home due to the increase in Maryland taxes.

He is careful with his money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any kid in my circle who didn't attend or finish college but my carpenter, electrician and plumber seems to do well enough for themselves. I guess if you don't want to go to college, few years of training for a high demand skill can be an option.

This 100%

If your kid is not interested in college/more classes and likes to work with things, then picking from electrician, HVAC, plumbing, construction is a viable path. They can do extremely well for themselves. Just realize that after 20 years of doing this, you want to be owning your own company and not working physical labor 10 hours a day...your body will not like that.

Same for hairdresser, healthcare techs (only require a 2 year degree for many), pick something you are interested in and pursue it. We need people doing all of those things and the pay is good

Everyone...please stop with the misinformation. The vast majority of trades people that decide to "go out on their own", don't do very well. Running a business takes far more skill and attention to detail than just "doing the work".

Quite honestly, residential trades are not a great path to take...most people that take trade jobs within large companies will come out far ahead of the folks that decide to strike out on their own in the residential trades.

Another path not mentioned by anyone is working your way up in a Big Box store. A Walmart store manager can earn $300k+ and a Costco store manager I believe is at like $400k-$500k.

+1

Plus the US is changing and not for the best for jobs.
No company is bringing manufacturing back
No company is going into the coal business.
We have major brain drain now. Jobs are going to be minimal pay at best with zero benefits. Yep Project 2025