Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

My BIL makes 6 figures as a retail manager with only an associates. He has been with the company since he was 16 (he is 30 now).

Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

I know several people who do not have degrees but who have had great annual salaries, several of them in excess of $200,000 a year. Some of those people worked in established family businesses but not everyone did. However, I have noticed that many of those jobs were in industries that were not stable and some of those people were knocked for a bit of a loop when their entire industries failed. I think that it is difficult for someone who does not have a degree to consistently make high dollars over their lifetime. That's just another take on the issue. On the other hand, several of my college friends did not finish and they found ways to use the education that they started to get in on the ground level in various positions about 20 years ago. Now they have experience that is unmatched and they command high salaries. I do think it is possible but I differentiate between people who have a few good years and people who can consistently earn high incomes. It is more likely that a person with a degree will keep a consistent income. I think that it also depends a lot on what we consider a good salary to be.

Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

It depends what you consider "decent" pay. DH and I both do not have degrees but make well over $100K together. To us, that's decent. To others, not so much. It's all in the eye of the beholder........

Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

my husband makes 6 figuers and has an associates degree! its not all about the degree it depends on what you are trained in.

Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

DH doesn't have any college credits whatsoever, but is self taught in computers. He is now a senior UNIX systems engineer and has been in the 6 figures for 10+ years (minus a short layoff period). On interviews, when he told the interviewers that he was self taught (after he showed his technical knowledge), they agreed that it might be a better way to learn computers.

DH has changed jobs with comparable or better salaries and has had many offers for higher salaries.

it is possible, but DH got into computers in the early 90's when there weren't a lot of people majoring in it in schools. A lot of his coworkers of the same age/position have little college as well.

Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

My DH makes 6 figures with a high school diploma. I have a masters and he makes double what I do.

Re: Do you have a decent paying job without a degree?

I earn much more than most of my friends that have degrees but are not working in the field they studied.
I completed some college, but never earned a degree.
I have a New York State professional license which I had to pass a national board to acquire. I also have to complete a certain number of continuing edcation hours per year to keep my license.

My DH has a high school diploma and earns what I think most people would consider a very high salary on LI with any level of education.

Both of us have been in our chosen career for 20+ years.