POLL: Do you have a degree. Are you making "good" money?

[KeithTalent]

And you've got a nice office.

Yes I do and I have my own fridge in here now. :awe:

KT

 

[Locut0s]

i'm making pretty good money.

i was very close to dropping out of school after my freshman year of college. now that i look back, i'm SSSSSOOOOO glad i did not. there really is no way I could have learned how to program and code without doing it. now i am a software developer and make pretty decent money.

i'm only in my 2nd job out of school and stayed at my first one for 5 years. looking back, i would have jumped jobs quicker than 5 years because my pay did not really grow at my first job. i also did not learn any new technology while there.

before i graduated school my goal was to make $100k/yr before i was 30. i turn 30 this year and am not quite there yet. maybe with benefits i am, but not straight up salary. i'm still happy with where I am career wise though and really like my job right now.

Try dropping out, what is it, 6 times?

 

[Imp]

I got a degree, almost got a master's, if you use $45 as "good" then I'm a bit over $45...

 

[PingSpike]

Yes, but I have a degree and 9-10 years of experience in related fields. When I first got out of college the answer was no. Actually, I think it took 5 years before the answer was yes.

 

[Riverhound777]

Have BS in Computer Science but I don't program. I'm a Systems Admin for small company and do IT work on the side. I technically broke 6 figures last year with bonuses, around 75k without.

Edit: And yeah I have a lot of experience, 7 years or so.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I dropped out after 2 years of college.
I'm in my low 30s and earn a decent income finding and fixing bugs in code and scripts.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I have a degree, but not making good money. Mostly because I joined the military instead of seriously look for a job (I'm doing what I got my degree for though (programming)).

 

[sunzt]

FYI, if you are looking into an engineering degree, look for a program that has a 5 yr BS+MS combo... it will be one of the best decisions ever.

 

[nageov3t]

I have a BA in English Lit, but have been working in IT for ~8 years.

I feel like I make pretty decent money now, especially considering I have no debt and my living expenses are pretty low.

 

[Saint Nick]

I have a degree but I am an intern, so my pay isn't great, but it sure as hell ain't minimum wage.

 

[Saint Nick]

FYI, if you are looking into an engineering degree, look for a program that has a 5 yr BS+MS combo... it will be one of the best decisions ever.

My local state school offers this for MIS. I should have done it when I had the chance, what a mistake.

 

[nick1985]

Between my job, my side business, and my great benefits....

Yes.

 

[Soundmanred]

Making money is the least of your problems.

 

[Locut0s]

I have a BA in English Lit, but have been working in IT for ~8 years.

I feel like I make pretty decent money now, especially considering I have no debt and my living expenses are pretty low.

How did you segue into IT with the degree in English. Did you apply for a job and get an interview based simply on the fact you had a degree, ANY degree. Or did you do small computer realted things as a side job and it morphed into an IT career?

 

[Locut0s]

I dropped out after 2 years of college.
I'm in my low 30s and earn a decent income finding and fixing bugs in code and scripts.

How did you get into the job you are in now without the degree. If you had to list the jobs you have had in chronological order what would it look like?

 

[Sluggo]

No degree, but we are comfortable.

Probably considered wealthy by some, middle class by others, but we consider it comfortable.

E: I got to remember to change that avatar. :\

 

[Gibson486]

I have a BSEE. Out of college, I became a consultant in construction. I got laid off and I want to get back into product development and research. Problem? Now you need a masters to get in it. I would go back to school, but I do not want to pay out of pocket.

 

[torpid]

What about going to Uni part-time while you work a full-time job for experience? That way you cover both bases. In the IT field, most places will value experience over degrees but there are many that will not even accept applicants without a degree. For maximum job flexibility you should have both experience and a degree.

I have a degree and make "good" money by your definition.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Come on, seriously? This is ATOT. Who do you expect would actually say they make less than 300k per year?

 

[Svnla]

1. Yes, not one but two (one undergrad and one grad).

2. Yes, not a big baller (multi millionaire) like a lot of ATOTers here but enough to live comfortable, as a matter of fact, I am going to buy a nice house soon (~ 2K sq ft with large back yard and no PMI due to 20% down payment).

 

[Nemesis 1]

Were is the I am retired but have or haven't a degree

 

[corwin]

No degree and making better than 80k a year...but that's after almost 12 years with the same company working my ass off to prove I know what I'm doing...going to start on a degree this fall though since experience is only slightly portable in the work force nowadays, everybody wants to see some shitty piece of paper anymore.

 

[Dulanic]

No degree and making better than 80k a year...but that's after almost 12 years with the same company working my ass off to prove I know what I'm doing...going to start on a degree this fall though since experience is only slightly portable in the work force nowadays, everybody wants to see some shitty piece of paper anymore.

Sucks doesn't it? I am in the same situation and am about to turn 32. No college here and worked my way up to slightly above what the OP mentions but it is becoming more difficult without the paper.

 

[KentState]

I took three years of classes and probably enough for an associates degree, but never went back or filed for the paper work. Anyways, I'm in my early 30s and have been working full time since I was 20. Basically I never had to deal with school loans and had a few years head start on everyone else. I've thought about finishing my degree, but I really don't want to spend any more time at work in a more stressful job.

 

[Rage187]

No degree, great money.