Education thread. ^_^

DigitalCancer

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2004
3,726
0
76
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

Diamond Member
May 13, 2002
3,877
0
0
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.
 

zylander

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2002
2,501
0
76
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

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
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

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
7,313
2
0
I advise you both to finish your degrees. You can earn more than twice the numbers quoted... perhaps significantly more than that.
 

Schnieds

Senior member
Jul 18, 2002
518
0
0
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

Lifer
Jun 10, 2000
11,774
1
0
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

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2002
2,501
0
76
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

Platinum Member
Jan 22, 2001
2,888
107
106
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

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2005
3,835
0
0
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

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2000
3,383
1
0
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

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
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?"

:confused: wtf are you talking about?
 

JRock

Platinum Member
Apr 19, 2001
2,742
0
0
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

Lifer
Feb 3, 2004
22,114
1
0
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?"

:confused: wtf are you talking about?

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

HannibalX

Diamond Member
May 12, 2000
9,359
2
0
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

Platinum Member
Apr 19, 2001
2,742
0
0
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

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
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?"

:confused: 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

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
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

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
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

Lifer
Feb 3, 2004
22,114
1
0
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

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
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

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
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

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
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

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
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)