My nephew is a pilot and jet mechanic—no college degree but has a pilot license and all the certifications required to be a jet mechanic. He only flies and maintains private jets for the uber-wealthy. Nets $500k+ per year in his late twenties. Worth noting that he inherited clients from a family member who passed away.

My cousin was working as a wedding videographer and saving up to buy his own equipment and start his own company. He's always been artistic and was very good at his job. He was doing pretty well financially too and working in LA for really, really wealthy brides, where wedding videography was almost a full on movie production. Unfortunately he said he found the bridezillas too stressful and started smoking pot habitually. He lost all motivation and now works at a pot and vape shop.

Anonymous wrote:I work in manufacturing. My entire staff of machinists, assemblers, glass hangers, electricians, etc. They're ages 19-45 and they have families and live in houses. They are amazing with their hands. Some of the work they do is an art! There's a lot of jobs that don't require college educations.

Agree...this is why my own kid suggests every HS should have a robotics program because it brings together programmers, engineers, machinists, carpenters, etc. Some of those kids decide they will become engineers and go to college, while others see a future as a skilled trades person. If you attend competitions you see companies sponsoring events and recruiting some of the HS kids to go directly into jobs.

Some of the best teams are out of MI because they have some of the best machinists and other trades folk who are still in HS (and access to some very leading edge machines) because a well constructed machine can beat the most hi-tech silicon valley entrants.

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.

Child went into navy then a-school to become navy corpsman (“doc”)

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.

Becoming a successful social media person is basically the same as becoming a successful actor or musician...or just earning enough at an artistic profession that is your full-time job. It's like 1% of all creators.

There are some highly successful older creators like Mark Rober who is 40s/50s and a former NASA guy who makes entertaining science/STEM videos, so you don't have to just cater to youth tastes.

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.

Oooh, is he one of MrBeast's entourage?

He sounds like he is doing fine. What are his friends doing for careers? Honestly he will probably match them and their paths - meaning if they also have skilled labor and service type jobs he will probably do the same. If they have college degrees and eventually move out he might be motivated to go back to school.

Depression and anxiety -- you should have led with that Op. Otherwise, you sound like the suddenly-more-frequent education-is-bad type of crazy poster. Your kid's situation is unique. Of course he should craft whatever future works for him.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - DC is 27 and dropped out of college due to depression and anxiety. Doing much better after years of therapy, but is now 27 and currently has no interest in returning to school. Works as a server at a very upscale restaurant, makes decent money and lives with friends and seems happy. I worry about their future, and while I want them to enjoy this chapter, I would like to have ideas if they ever come to me with thoughts for a path forward. Sales would definitely be an option - they and have a very outgoing personality and are organized, also perhaps working in management in the restaurant industry. Not sure what else.

That’s a pretty amazing story OP. Lots of people who drop out due to mental health don’t end up working. Your child sounds like they are a survivor who built a successful life.

I work in manufacturing. My entire staff of machinists, assemblers, glass hangers, electricians, etc. They're ages 19-45 and they have families and live in houses. They are amazing with their hands. Some of the work they do is an art! There's a lot of jobs that don't require college educations.

She's 22, lives in the Bay Area renting an apartment with a roommate, has a car, works two jobs - one in a smoothie cafe, and I forget the other one, and takes one class per semester at most (took this semester off).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - DC is 27 and dropped out of college due to depression and anxiety. Doing much better after years of therapy, but is now 27 and currently has no interest in returning to school. Works as a server at a very upscale restaurant, makes decent money and lives with friends and seems happy. I worry about their future, and while I want them to enjoy this chapter, I would like to have ideas if they ever come to me with thoughts for a path forward. Sales would definitely be an option - they and have a very outgoing personality and are organized, also perhaps working in management in the restaurant industry. Not sure what else.

Horrible hours, stress, and a lot of substance abuse around.

That's true for a lot of career fields including the entertainment industry. It's not necessarily a reason to avoid a field if you're good at it.

I know a landscaper, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, luthiers, general contractors, professional equestrians, and IT specialists who make six figures and didn't attend college.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - DC is 27 and dropped out of college due to depression and anxiety. Doing much better after years of therapy, but is now 27 and currently has no interest in returning to school. Works as a server at a very upscale restaurant, makes decent money and lives with friends and seems happy. I worry about their future, and while I want them to enjoy this chapter, I would like to have ideas if they ever come to me with thoughts for a path forward. Sales would definitely be an option - they and have a very outgoing personality and are organized, also perhaps working in management in the restaurant industry. Not sure what else.

Horrible hours, stress, and a lot of substance abuse around.