Education thread. ^_^

[DigitalCancer]

I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

 

[cheapgoose]

I don't know about where you live, but the techs around here make at least 20 - 25/hour, with over time they earn a pretty good pay check. And I do mean earn. long hours, repetitive work. most assembling, soldering...etc.

Of course we're ITAR regulated so you won't find any "cheap" labor here.

 

[Strk]

It kind of depends what kind of experience you have

 

[zylander]

Im in the same boat as you (well, not married), but Im 21 and in college right now and Im looking for a tech job that doesnt require a degree.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: cheapgoose
I don't know about where you live, but the techs around here make at least 20 - 25/hour, with over time they earn a pretty good pay check. And I do mean earn. long hours, repetitive work. most assembling, soldering...etc.

Of course we're ITAR regulated so you won't find any "cheap" labor here.

$20-25? not for tech support which is most likely all he'd get.

expect maybe $20k a year to start at a call center or help desk type place. ****** work for ****** pay,

 

[Atheus]

I advise you both to finish your degrees. You can earn more than twice the numbers quoted... perhaps significantly more than that.

 

[Schnieds]

Originally posted by: Atheus
I advise you both to finish your degrees. You can earn more than twice the numbers quoted... perhaps significantly more than that.

 

[fs5]

one way to get a tech job w/o a degree is to be self taught programmer. put together a portfolio of your work along w/ code samples.

 

[zylander]

Originally posted by: Atheus
I advise you both to finish your degrees. You can earn more than twice the numbers quoted... perhaps significantly more than that.

I have every intention of finishing school, I just need to find a job I can do while Im there.

 

[ISAslot]

Get your degrees. I stopped at an AA after burning out in pre-engineering. But even the AA has opened doors that otherwise would have been closed.

 

[Cooler]

Originally posted by: zylander

Originally posted by: Atheus
I advise you both to finish your degrees. You can earn more than twice the numbers quoted... perhaps significantly more than that.

I have every intention of finishing school, I just need to find a job I can do while Im there.

Most schools need people with IT skills. If you good with networking then you should be able to get job at your college campus.

 

[RossGr]

While I have a BS degree, most of my co workers have 2yr AA. We make $20+ /hr with built in Overtime. The job is about as high tech as it gets, cleanroom wafer fab techs. With the Overtime most cleanroom techs make MORE then the working engineers and our imediate supervisors, who are salaried. You need to get into upper management before you make as much as an experianced tech.

HOWEVER: I you cannot pass a course in Algebra you are of little use in any techincal job. Complete your education or learn to say "Want fries with that?"

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: RossGr
While I have a BS degree, most of my co workers have 2yr AA. We make $20+ /hr with built in Overtime. The job is about as high tech as it gets, cleanroom wafer fab techs. With the Overtime most cleanroom techs make MORE then the working engineers and our imediate supervisors, who are salaried. You need to get into upper management before you make as much as an experianced tech.

HOWEVER: I you cannot pass a course in Algebra you are of little use in any techincal job. Complete your education or learn to say "Want fries with that?"

wtf are you talking about?

 

[JRock]

Started Helpdesk at 21, Promoted to Junior Systems Administrator at 22, Promoted to Systems/Storage/Network Administrator at 23, Got degree at 23 and now working on Certs at 24. It's all about what you know. These days they are looking for a degree OR equivalent experience.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: RossGr
While I have a BS degree, most of my co workers have 2yr AA. We make $20+ /hr with built in Overtime. The job is about as high tech as it gets, cleanroom wafer fab techs. With the Overtime most cleanroom techs make MORE then the working engineers and our imediate supervisors, who are salaried. You need to get into upper management before you make as much as an experianced tech.

HOWEVER: I you cannot pass a course in Algebra you are of little use in any techincal job. Complete your education or learn to say "Want fries with that?"

wtf are you talking about?

In a real tech job (no helpdesk/support) you'll probably be using Math.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: JRock
Started Helpdesk at 21, Promoted to Junior Systems Administrator at 22, Promoted to Systems/Storage/Network Administrator at 23, Got degree at 23 and now working on Certs at 24. It's all about what you know. These days they are looking for a degree OR equivalent experience.

That sounds like me. I will have my degree very soon.

 

[JRock]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: JRock
Started Helpdesk at 21, Promoted to Junior Systems Administrator at 22, Promoted to Systems/Storage/Network Administrator at 23, Got degree at 23 and now working on Certs at 24. It's all about what you know. These days they are looking for a degree OR equivalent experience.

That sounds like me. I will have my degree very soon.

Congrats! :thumbsup:

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: RossGr
While I have a BS degree, most of my co workers have 2yr AA. We make $20+ /hr with built in Overtime. The job is about as high tech as it gets, cleanroom wafer fab techs. With the Overtime most cleanroom techs make MORE then the working engineers and our imediate supervisors, who are salaried. You need to get into upper management before you make as much as an experianced tech.

HOWEVER: I you cannot pass a course in Algebra you are of little use in any techincal job. Complete your education or learn to say "Want fries with that?"

wtf are you talking about?

In a real tech job (no helpdesk/support) you'll probably be using Math.

I guess we need to define what "tech field" is, because he most likely wouldn't be getting a job like you are referring to without a degree.

I don't have a degree, I just have the MCSA cert. After HS, I went to a tech school for their PC specialist program (pc hardware troubleshooting, windows usage, html, windows nt networking(which ended up not happening)). I got a job at a phone support center. starting salary then was a little over $19k/year. I was there4 years, got to 3rd tier support (4th tier was highest you could go and unless someone who had one of those positions quit or died, you couldn't get it), and ended with a little over $28k

2 years into that job I got the MCSA cert. Spent another 2 years there then got this ****** job and started at $30K. 2 years later and I make $33k. I'm not sure i'm even going to get a raise this year because the company isn't doing so well. almost all of the manufacturing staff are laid off because we have too much product in stock and its not selling.

don't expect much without a degree.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

With no experience, you're looking at phone support - 40K maybe

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

With no experience, you're looking at phone support - 40K maybe

phone support for $40k? where?

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

With no experience, you're looking at phone support - 40K maybe

phone support for $40k? where?

Any half-decent city.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

Getting a tech job without a degree should be against the law...
Everybody else has suffered through 4 year comp sci degrees... you should have to also..

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

With no experience, you're looking at phone support - 40K maybe

phone support for $40k? where?

Any half-decent city.

apparently PA doesn't have any half-decent cities

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: zylander

Originally posted by: Atheus
I advise you both to finish your degrees. You can earn more than twice the numbers quoted... perhaps significantly more than that.

I have every intention of finishing school, I just need to find a job I can do while Im there.

Most Tech internships pay $10-$12 per hour...
Otherwise...

Burger King?
Pizza Place?
Office Janitor?
Walmart Cashier?
UPS / Post Office Truck Loader?

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
I am in college right now, but its almost getting to me, as i'm married and i'm just trying to get back into the swing of school life. Doing horrible in Algebra though! So its really kinda getting to me. -=/

I was thinking of giving up on college but i do want to do something in the future and not just be a loser to my kids. I know a few of my friends have 'kinda' tech jobs but only make about $28k/yr.

Just wondering how many of you around here have no college degree but work in the tech field. Also say whether or not you have any certifications (i hear they're not a big deal though)

With no experience, you're looking at phone support - 40K maybe

phone support for $40k? where?

Any half-decent city.

apparently PA doesn't have any half-decent cities

PA civil service information technology technician (PC tech w/ 2yr degree) currently starts at $34,875...
PA civil service information technology generalist (PC/Network Tech with 4yr degree) currently starts at $39,824

the only problem is...95% of these jobs are in harrisburg only...
http://www.scsc.state.pa.us/scsc/cwp/view.asp?a=391&q=127123&scscNav_GID=1096
and you have to take a test to get on the hiring lists... (and not all the hiring lists allow new applicants year round, some only accept applicants during specific months)