• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

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

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Do you have a degree* and are you making good** money? (SEE asterisks!!)

  • Yes I have a degree. And I AM making good money.

  • Yes I have a degree. But I am NOT making good money

  • No I don't have a degree. But I AM making good money

  • No I don't have a degree. And I am NOT making good money.

  • I'm currently unemployed but I HAVE a degree.

  • I'm currently unemployed and I do NOT have a degree.

  • I'm currently going to school

  • I decline to answer or just show me the results.

Results are only viewable after voting.
I have a couple degrees and am quitting my job next week, so I guess I'll be making $0.00
 
We should have another poll. Where we compare level of degree(s) vs level of happiness in profession or general.
 
no degree but making decent money at £50k+

My company is paying for me to complete an engineering degree now though.
 
edro said:
Degrees open doors and eliminate possible salary caps.

Degrees DO NOT guarantee anything.
You still need to be a bright, smart, driven person to make decent money with a company.
Click to expand...

That's right -- I think a BS degree is almost essential today. Graduate degrees, IMO, are in a little more of a gray area IMO and it really depends on your circumstances whether or not they're worth it or not.
 
No degree, and make crap money ($55k+) but live in San Diego. Wife in grad school (3 years) so I'll concentrate on school once she's completed her Masters program.
 
IndyColtsFan said:
That's right -- I think a BS degree is almost essential today. Graduate degrees, IMO, are in a little more of a gray area IMO and it really depends on your circumstances whether or not they're worth it or not.
Click to expand...

I'd say an Associate's Degree is bare minimum depending on what it is.

Kids need to realize, however, that simply having a degree doesn't guarantee anything. Got a Bachelor's degree in History? English? Political Science? Awesome, now how do you turn that into a successful career? Oops..... didn't think of that beforehand.

Bottom line, a degree just creates more opportunities -- it's up to the individual to make something of themselves.
 
Locut0s said:
Nice. I've heard similar stories from others in various tech fields. Basically worked their way up jumping from position to position gaining experience along the way but starting from a base of very little to nothing academically. Want to switch places? I'm a bit of a wreck currently. 🙁 Maybe more than a bit.
Click to expand...

I'll share my story since I started without a degree.


1995 I dropped out of high school during my second senior year. yep, 2nd
I then went and worked at multiple BINGO halls selling bingo games on paper and working at video poker parlors

1997 I went to night school and got my diploma, not my GED
1997 My step father showed me how to build computers

2000 I joined Anandtech

Now here is where my big break came in:

2001 Video BINGO was legalized in my state and all the BINGO halls I worked at adopted them
I learned the system in and out
The company who made the Bingo electronics was looking for a local tech to service the units. I got hired because I knew their systems and the industry

2003 They were looking for a QA analyst with industry knowledge, I applied and was hired in a 5 minute interview and moved to Reno

2003 Software Tester
2004 QA Tester and I learned SQL through a SQL in 10 minutes book
2005 Software QA Engineer
2006 Senior QA Engineer (worked in England for a little but I also helped test a ticketing application for concerts, as the BINGO halls in casinos doubled as their concert halls.)

I then wanted to move back home and applied for job supporting ticketing software

Dropped from making $55k to $39k

2006 Support Analyst
2007 Support Specialist
2008 Sr. Support Specialist

2009 a position opened up on my product to be the Product Lead who is the liaison between Support and PD. Plus, you had to know SQL as we wrote our own fixes.
2009 Product Support Lead
2010 Product Support Lead II
2011 Sr. Product Support Lead

Now I do mostly project management and I'm creating my next position based on my current project of data mining of software usage statistics.


The trick to getting through your career, is keeping up momentum. Always have a plan for your next position.

I have applied to other software companies using my resume, with all the above experience and they have never asked for a degree. They always want experience. My resume always gets me a job interview and eventually an offer. But they can't offer anything close to what I make now.

I'm content with finishing my career with my current employer, because I know I can move anytime I'm ready to a different department. I just really like Support and being at the front lines.
 
Depends what your degree is in. I can't help but shake my head at people who go in for a liberal arts degree and are surprised when they can't get a job or make decent money.
 
Gibson486 said:
Dam....you do not have anything lined up? It's pretty bad out there...
Click to expand...

My health and self-esteem is worth more than the 'paycheck' I receive every week. I am actually going to open my own office so nothing is guaranteed except me not returning to this shitty office.
 
I have a B.S. in Math and work as a WebLogic Admin in Austin. My net pay, inc. bonus, is $88,000 at 26. Sorry, in ATOT BS language, I'm 18 making $880,000 with a pair of PhDs.
 
RKS said:
My health and self-esteem is worth more than the 'paycheck' I receive every week. I am actually going to open my own office so nothing is guaranteed except me not returning to this shitty office.
Click to expand...

yeah...I am trying the freelance world. Freelance engineering kind of works...but you kind of also need lots of experience. My first job I am actually doing for free. I gotta have something to put on the resume.
 
child of wonder said:
Kids need to realize, however, that simply having a degree doesn't guarantee anything. Got a Bachelor's degree in History? English? Political Science? Awesome, now how do you turn that into a successful career? Oops..... didn't think of that beforehand.
Click to expand...

There's a lot of truth in that, but in many cases, a degree (even a questionable one like those above) with experience will trump experience alone. It is unfortunate but seems to be true in most companies I've worked at.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top