Making $80k+ with no degree

[anyasok]

Syne is right to a certain point. I do come from a wealthy family, and that has been where I learned my skills (what I guess school won't provide you), they continually mentor me.

However, the money I'm making is by myself, I hate to get labelled as the guy who inherited everything...blah blah, so I pay for everything myself (except for maybe some meals, mom's cooking is usually the best haha) so car, clothes, downpayments on house..etc.

I'm a Realtor, I work smart to provide services for my clients (which I have to find through networking..etc) and work like a consultant. I like to look at myself more like a consultant rather than an agent that just buys and sells houses. I play stocks (lost money there too) and yea...that's basically it.

I worked at Rogers and Futureshop selling and saved up I guess. The real benefit I have is their mentoring, to help me make good decisions and push me to be better.

If you live with your parents and save up rather than wasting money, I'm pretty sure you could save up enough to start some kind of business or invest, obviously there is an element of risk which you must carefully calculate before committing any money.

And for the young guys, read the financial section of newspapers and on the internet, it's good to be in the know with what's going on in the business world and understand it. Don't let being young get in the way.

What I gather from this post is that you come from a wealthy family and they left you enough capital to ride on to where you are right now. So Syne was right.

[BoogieWilliams]

If you have had parents that have done well for themselves and that have set a strong foundation for you to start off then you shouldn't be counted as a statistics to a person without a high school diploma making lots of money. Yes, you deserve credit for not blowing the money off and being smart about it as there are many kids from wealthy backgrounds who do exactly just that but the point is getting the right start is the hardest. Starting from 0 is a whole different story.

Things have changed no longer can you graduate from a technical college and find a job and work your way up. You first need to get a break when you get hired and then most likely you need to upgrade your credentials later on in order for you to move up the ladder.

[1010101010101]

Yes very true having a foundation is a lot different from starting from 0. And starting from 0 is a lot different from starting in the negatives!. The end of the story though is that either you have money or you dont.

[TTlisa]

Oil & Gas Industry
IT field
Sales

[jmatheson64]

I'm half way to my 10-year reunion.

Most people I graduated high school with 5 years ago are still working for minimum wage at McDicks. Some went West, work hard, and spend money as fast as they make it.

The people who went into the trades usually waited 2 years to get into community college. Some skipped college because they knew someone and are about 3/4 of the way to becoming journeymen. Some finished college and cannot find a job where they can be apprentices vs labourers. Some went back to McDicks.

Some people went to university and quit after a year. Some finished nursing or engineering after 4 years and are starting to buy new houses and cars. Some are pursuing more education. Some are back at McDicks.

My dad quit school in grade 11 and makes 150k as a company rep.

Really, to be under 25 and entering the work force today seems to be tough no matter which route you take and no matter how much initiative and ability you have. With every new job I take (summer student jobs) I am amazed by how people a few decades older than me have run companies and gov't departments without even high school. That being said, I am disturbed and encouraged at the same time at how many inefficiencies and bad practices I see being employed by those soon-to-retire.

[kamilio]

If you want to make that much without a degree, you're mostly looking at some kind of self employment via small business. You can (try to) make as much as you want when you have your own business.

Simply put, when you want to work as an employee, it's up to the employer to hire you and there is a lot of competition there. Of course, there's always unions.

You can get into plumbing/renovations but even with those, you probably maximize your income by running your own business.

If you feel lucky, there's always the stock market. You can make a lot if you are lucky. But you need some money to invest in the first place.

I have a degree and I don't make 80k. It's silly how some people without degrees can make significantly more than me. Some people with degrees can't even get a job.

Get rich off the stock market? Shows how little you know. The guy is better off gambling or buying the lotto.

This isn't 1999 anymore...

[BoogieWilliams]

Really, to be under 25 and entering the work force today seems to be tough no matter which route you take and no matter how much initiative and ability you have. With every new job I take (summer student jobs) I am amazed by how people a few decades older than me have run companies and gov't departments without even high school. That being said, I am disturbed and encouraged at the same time at how many inefficiencies and bad practices I see being employed by those soon-to-retire.

That's always true, but the people who actually did something with their lives and didn't remain passive are in a much better position than someone that did nothing and settled for McDonalds. Nothing turns me more off than people with no sense of direction, care and ambition for their lives.

[SteveDVS]

Telecommunications.

I got a job with one of the major telecommunications companies in Canada. I was on my way to a business degree, decided I wanted to buy a house and start my adult life and took a job as a Service Technician. It takes over 5yrs to reach full wage, but when you do most of the guys in my area make over $80,000/yr. Some over $100,000/yr, all depends on how much overtime you work that year. If you average just over 11hrs OT per week (for a 48.5hr work week total) you will make $100,000. No degree required, training provided by the company. OT is double-time, if you make $100,000 per year the company will kick in a max $4,000 in stocks that year as well (optional). Great benefits, good work-life balance). 3-5 weeks vacation, etc.

I've been with the company just over a year, I've moved up into a much better position than I started and I will make over $50,000 this year with 3 weeks vacation. I still have 9 more raises until I reach full wage, or approx another $10/hr over the next 4 years. I also drive my company vehicle to/from work.

[geenoomee]

I am a structural designer working in AB in O&G. I don't have a degree nor a diploma. Everything I know now I learn on the job. Been in the field for 7 years started at 39 and now at 90. I have to say I am lucky to got my first job but I worked hard and being in O&G helps a lot too.

[masterhapposai]

Degrees don't mean anything. All these people hurt that they can't get a job with a degree probably should take some courses in business. If you took business and still don't get it, you need to probably take College and get a Diploma.

The thing is, you need applied skills, strong social skills to get a job right now.

[Applecart]

Get rich off the stock market? Shows how little you know. The guy is better off gambling or buying the lotto.

This isn't 1999 anymore...

This isn't 1999 anymore, but this is post 2009 for sure!!! I made close to $50,000 with $4,500 that I had saved up from my summer job in the heat of the recession. Ford was the name of the company that made me this money! Using that as seed money I have made so much money trading on stupid people's fear, such as BP oil spill, Toyota sudden acceleration, Apple earning miss. In nearly all cases, I made more than what many people make in one year on a Mc job. My only loss came from betting on the steel industry. Lost $30,000 on Arcelormittal. Hack, but I have just increased my wealth by 30% trading Nokia.

[Ray Oliver]

Many jobs that "require" a degree simple do so to weed out applicants, not because it is crucial for the work being done. This means that if you have the right connections it may be possible to get a job that typically requires an undergraduate degree.

I'm a software developer without a degree and my compensation is well above $80k with RRSP matching, stock awards, bonus, etc.

[TheBigShow]

Degrees don't mean anything. All these people hurt that they can't get a job with a degree probably should take some courses in business. If you took business and still don't get it, you need to probably take College and get a Diploma.

The thing is, you need applied skills, strong social skills to get a job right now.

This is my first ever post, because I felt you truly do not grasp reality. Having a degree opens up a TON of doors. Just by having an undergrad, a person is able to go to graduate school, attain something called a MBA, Law degree and so forth. Doesn't matter if your undegrad was in English Lit, or Commerce.

As a recent BCom. grad..ya I took a few business courses - I know that my degree has opened up many interviews because it demonstrates one thing - the ability to commit and overcome challenges. Recently during an interview, I never once mentioned anything about my degree, however, the VP did mentioned the fact that we had a similar background (BCom) - to me this demonstrated he looked at my technical background prior to stepping into the door as he didn't bring my resume into the meeting room.

A degree means you are qualified to move up once a part of a company. I think real life experience matters. But as an individual who has had the opportunity to work for a sport agent representing over 20 all-star athletes (had a degree), summer work for a Fortune 500 company (all my superiors were well qualified), and recently closed a real estate deal that brought in almost a years salary (due to my neogtiation and technical financial skills). I know I wouldn't have been able to accomplish half of this if not for the sound background of my degree. I needed the time to mature, and what better way to mature than getting a degree?

I've been unemployed for almost 3 full months (besides working a min. wage job), however am very close to closing for my first job out of school. Chances are it'll work out, but if it doesn't, oh well, I still have a degree, which never closes doors only opens them. And what landed me this opportunity was perseverance, strong social skills and a balanced background. I disliked university, the theory and the wasting of money on a piece of paper, but I never regret having my degree. How many of you regret not going to school?

[1010101010101]

This is my first ever post, because I felt you truly do not grasp reality. Having a degree opens up a TON of doors. Just by having an undergrad, a person is able to go to graduate school, attain something called a MBA, Law degree and so forth. Doesn't matter if your undegrad was in English Lit, or Commerce.

As a recent BCom. grad..ya I took a few business courses - I know that my degree has opened up many interviews because it demonstrates one thing - the ability to commit and overcome challenges. Recently during an interview, I never once mentioned anything about my degree, however, the VP did mentioned the fact that we had a similar background (BCom) - to me this demonstrated he looked at my technical background prior to stepping into the door as he didn't bring my resume into the meeting room.

A degree means you are qualified to move up once a part of a company. I think real life experience matters. But as an individual who has had the opportunity to work for a sport agent representing over 20 all-star athletes (had a degree), summer work for a Fortune 500 company (all my superiors were well qualified), and recently closed a real estate deal that brought in almost a years salary (due to my neogtiation and technical financial skills). I know I wouldn't have been able to accomplish half of this if not for the sound background of my degree. I needed the time to mature, and what better way to mature than getting a degree?

I've been unemployed for almost 3 full months (besides working a min. wage job), however am very close to closing for my first job out of school. Chances are it'll work out, but if it doesn't, oh well, I still have a degree, which never closes doors only opens them. And what landed me this opportunity was perseverance, strong social skills and a balanced background. I disliked university, the theory and the wasting of money on a piece of paper, but I never regret having my degree. How many of you regret not going to school?

Many regret not going to school. And some just couldnt afford it. ***** happens.

[scouzer]

Air Traffic Controllers. Salary tops out after 10 years at 90-140k depending on location. No degree.