PP who mentioned tech work may be on to something, but the field is really becoming much more formalized than it was even a decade ago, and most high-paying tech jobs require a level of specialty that means you either need an advanced degree, project management experience (plus some tech background) or be brilliant to get.

For example, I have been in the tech sector for a long time -- I know a few highly-paid people who only got GEDs, but those guys are usually brilliant people who ditched high school so they could build robots in their garages and go to science competitions. Lots of them went on to get high-paid tech jobs at contractors after working somewhere for a few years as a server admin or something and putting themselves through school (many of the better jobs these days do require a 4-year degree, though by no means all). So they are a triple threat. One guy I know owns a contracting business and makes a ton, but he's just brilliant, brilliant, brilliant all around.

On the other hand, I had a 4-year degree and couldn't get beyond a certain point in tech because I didn't want to switch to a management track and while I consider myself intelligent, I don't think I'm at the level where I can just work magic like some guys. I went back and got a Master's and now make double what I did before, but that's 2-3 more years (depending on if you can go full time or need to do part-time while you're working).

Plus, I think tech might be one of those things you can't decide to do just because there's a possibility of high pay -- you sort of need to have the aptitude for it. If you do, it's a nice lifestyle -- I work from home 100% and, because of my specialized area, I'm recession-proof. But my DH (attorney) thinks my job is boring and/or insane and says he'd hate it (just like I think he job is boring/insane!).

Since DH went through it, I think law school is out because it'd be 7 years until you're done with that...and the legal industry isn't doing well anymore AND it's a very traditional career path and firms want you to be, like, 25 when you graduate and start working for them.

Honestly, if all that mattered was money, I think I'd go into finance. But I'll have to leave it to others to say whether that's possible for you to go into at this stage and what education you'd need.

Anonymous wrote:Can you specify more about what you did/do in that industry - high level management, sales, stocking shelves, etc - that will help identify a general set of skills (not simply the qualities you described in your OP) that could be applicable to other industries with or without having to attend school. Getting jobs these days is very much about how you can show that skills from X experience translate well to Y opportunity.

So agree with this. If you can put the skills you learned in your job of 25 years and apply that to a new career,you will be miles ahead of those you graduate with.

Anonymous wrote:Surveyor
Fighting with your neighbor about where to put the fence in your backyard? Ask a surveyor for help. Surveyors measure and draw what the Earth's surface looks like, determining official land, air and water boundaries. They write descriptions of land for deeds, leases and other legal documents; define airspace for airports; and take measurements of construction and mineral sites.

Education: A bachelor's degree in surveying or a related field; every state requires that surveyors be licensed.

OP here,
I commend anyone who does this for a living. While I love being outdoors, I don't see myself digging through the woods, streams, elements as I get older. I don't mind doing it with the kids, but everyday might not work for me. Not every job is an airport or zoo. A lot of parcels are undeveloped landscape full of hidden gotchas. I'm not skeered, but I'm not looking to feed the animals with myself either.

Can you specify more about what you did/do in that industry - high level management, sales, stocking shelves, etc - that will help identify a general set of skills (not simply the qualities you described in your OP) that could be applicable to other industries with or without having to attend school. Getting jobs these days is very much about how you can show that skills from X experience translate well to Y opportunity.

Anonymous wrote:my friend from high school reinvented himself in his 30s and went to Marymount to get retrained as a nurse. Very in-demand, because sometimes men want to have a male nurse. Also travel nursing is very in demand.

Maybe check out what career opptys are available to nurses or those who complete a nursing program, or talk to some nurses and find out what it in demand or what is involved? Or look at the Marymount program.

I agree that you seem to want a detailed career counseling session from an anonymous forum. Pretty difficult for strangers to do. Don't write off your experience in a "dead-end" industry, figure out what skills you've attained and want to focus on over the past 20 years, and transition them to something else you like. But don't overthink it.

I remember when Marymount was ALL-GIRLS (WOMEN).

I have considered a nursing career, but I don't think that would be the right fit for me.

I haven't totally given up on the industry that I'm in, but when measured as a whole, we seem to be stuck back in the 50's and we're not evolving with the technological world around us! The possibility exists for me to be one of those "consultants" that tries to revolutionize the industry. The corporate greed that runs deep in this industry make Scrooge look like Santa Clause! Most of the companies choose not to reinvest into future technology. It makes sense that Amazon is starting to dig into their bottom line with online sales of the A & B items.

Anonymous wrote:Become a CPA. It isn't outdoors but you can do accounting forever. Not going to be rich but it is stable.

Agree with this. Although I wonder how difficult it is to find a good job these days.

Op,people are trying to give you some decent advice and you are coming off as incredibly rude. Are you like that with everyone? You might want to get that attitude in check. People like you are a dime a dozen these days. Between recent grads,those laid off,and those trying to do better for themselves, bad attitude won't get you very far!!!

Become a CPA. It isn't outdoors but you can do accounting forever. Not going to be rich but it is stable.

Yup! I'm on my phone while watching DS in his jumperoo so not paying full attention to what I'm writing!

Anonymous wrote:Rn pp here. 1047 is correct. Although pp does have a good point about travel nurses. Here is my issue though, you get second guessed a lot in nursing school. Your instructors will try to trick you to make sure you really know the material. In a simulation scenario,they will try to trip you up. When you correct the mistake,they will act like you are wrong so that you have to state why you are right. How you come across on here makes me wonder how well you'd be able that.

You mean correct mistakes like this;
How you come across on here makes me wonder how well you'd be able TO DO that.

Public Health PP here - not trying to speak for the RN PP but having taken Nursing classes in undergrad for a semester, it an extremely challenging curriculum and profession that you really must love. I did not love it and discovered I was more interested in population health and found epidemiology, but Nursing is definitely not worth choosing on a whim, for lack of a better phrase.