NON SPORTS - 12 jobs that don't require a 4-year degree that pay $80k
MCMLVTopps
Posts: 4,943 ✭✭✭✭✭
For those of you who are, or may have a son or daughter seeking employment with a bright future, this may be for you. Clark Howard is a local Atlanta radio/tv personality who provides a plethora of consumer advice. He is highly regarded and respected for his in-depth knowledge and sharing of consumer issues.
Of the 12 jobs listed, Air Traffic Control is on the list. Having been an ATC for 7 years, I can personally vouch for this job as being one of the most challenging, yet fulfilling jobs one could have. It is often regarded as unending moments of boredom, penetrated by brief moments of sheer terror. That is kinda extreme, but there are quiet times and suddenly it becomes very busy. I would strongly encourage anyone interested to seek more info on this and other job opportunities presented here. As for ATC, where else could you find a job that pays extremely well, after 15 years you get 6 weeks of paid vacation, 10 paid Holidays, paid sick leave, overtime, night differential and Sunday pay. It isn't for everyone, but it might be for you or yours. If you have a small airport nearby that has a control tower, perhaps a call might get you some time with either the Facility Chief, or Supervisor that could give guidance about how to pursue this opportunity. Opportunity knocks!!
Comments
I'd rather be a live tackling dummy. I'm certain the pay is better, and there should be top notch medical coverage.
.
That is one tough job to do, that's why I respect guys like you Al!
And that means what? You wouldn't want to be an ATC, or don't think you could cut it?
Not sure if it's on that list but an electric lineman makes well north of that 80K. In the summer storm season here in Florida 200K is an average figure with the OT figured in. No 4-year degree required. Pole climbing class first then if you make it through that you bid into a lineman apprenticeship job which averages about 2 years depending on the student's ambition.
LOL, I'm semi-retired and old. Not looking for a career. The stress would wipe me out.
.
My brother was a lineman in New Hampshire. He was the guy who went out in the middle of the night to get the electrons flowing again. Rain, snow, sleet or hail, he was out there. Tough job, good pay, but out in that weather wouldn't work for me.
You can earn over 20k a day and only work a couple days a year if youre insane enough to climb up the towers to change the light at the top
Thankfully my 30 years have been in South Florida, obviously we have the rain/wind events here every summer, but it must be absolutely brutal up north in the winter. I worked years ago with a guy who was a lineman for years in Ontario and some of the conditions he described working in up there made our "bad" conditions here sound like child's play.
With the right companies, long haul truck drivers can earn close to & even exceed $100K/year, but in order to do so, it has to BECOME your life. For someone young and single, great way to begin to build a financial future from scratch, but ya gotta love it. Just like anything, do the research first.
I read that the powers that be are working on driverless semi's. Now that would be a sight to see on a major highway.
With the new push for Air Traffic Controllers, if you know someone who is in their early-mid 20s, and perhaps not sure of their current job situation, I would HIGHLY recommend they consider looking into the ATC field. It isn't easy, and it requires the ability to get along with others in a sometimes very stressful situation. The rewards are very generous, and once becoming a journeyman level controller.
Gleim and Kirschner offer well written aviation materials to review to see if this is a career to pursue.
The "bible" ATC uses at all facilities is known as the FAA JO 7110.65 handbook. Contained are the exact phraseologies used by all Controllers. It is available online and may well be worth the cost to uncover the "mysteries" of ATC. You must retire before the age of 56, and cannot be hired after their 31st birthday.
Job security and excellent benefits in a challenging, but very personally rewarding career.
I would think you would have to have a high IQ to handle a job like that. You never know when a high pressure situation would come upon you as a lot of people are in your hands. How many years did you work as an ATC if I might ask?
No, I don't think a high IQ is required to be an ATC. I worked with some people that I often wondered how they passed the exams and got certified as a Journeyman, they did some sketchy stuff! IMO, the requirements of the job, were attention to detail, the ability to get along with others, knowledge of the system, and a key ingredient would be the ability to make rapid decisions and always have situational awareness. There were curve balls, but you just learn how to hit them.
I was an ATC for 7 years. I took the ATC exam in Atlanta, and got a 98. The 98 include a 5-point preference because of my being a Veteran. 9 months later I got the job offer. You may find it jaw-dropping to know that I was paid a PALTRY $5.06 per hour when first hired in 1974. My initial training assignment was to what is known as a level II facility, at an airport in
Atlanta, busy, but not too busy. Easy traffic once you knew the rules.
My first duty station was at a Navy base in Meridian, MS, where they trained Navy pilots to fly T2 and A4 jets. We worked approach control and looked at radar scopes during our duty day. We coordinated with Navy controllers who worked the tower. We had many, many interesting things happen there, low experienced pilots, coupled with huge egos and a mixture of helicopters made for a sometimes very challenging shift. The only good thing about Meridian is that's where I met my wife.
After about 2 years of the above, it was time for me to go. I bid on a few facilities I thought I'd enjoy and was selected at the Daytona Beach, FL facility, known as a Radar Approach Control Facility. I was overjoyed to get the assignment. I got to work in the Radar room for a while then transition to the tower for a while...best of both worlds. Goodbye Mississippi!! Embry-Riddle flight school was on the airport, they must have had 50 Cessna 172s, and a lot of Mooney aircraft, all with trainee pilots...so much fun. The Cessnas were all painted blue and white, the Mooneys were orange and white. When you have a bunch in the traffic pattern doing touch and go training, you really had to keep your strips sequenced or you'd be screwed. Working the Daytona 500 traffic with the blimp was exciting, but uber busy...all the drivers seemed to want to leave at the same time.
On a very personal note:
The bad part is when the 1981 strike took place. I got caught up in the whirlwind of the union and rah, rah of the moment and went on strike with my fellow controllers. The union promised us the world and delivered nothing. Needless to say, the end result was not pretty. I believed serious improvements had to be made, but it was very dumb to give up my job with nothing on the horizon that could match the challenge of ATC. It was devastating. I walked the pick line for about 10 days and realized we had lost in a big way. I went to the Community College and got an AS in Computer Science, with Honors. I then got hired by General Electric in Daytona Beach, which was a Godsend. I went to night school at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where they gave my 98 hours for my ATC experience against a 129 hour Bachelor of Professional Aeronautics degree. Wow, couldn't pass that up. In about 1.5 years I graduated Magna Cum Laude. Then I applied for their Master's Program. Again, they generously gave me 6 hours against a 30 hour program. I graduated Magna Cum Laude again. I was the last person to cross the stage, it was a great feeling!
I am living proof that you can fall a long, long way and survive. You just have to pick yourself up and move forward. Not too long after getting my Master's, my wife got on with Delta Airlines as a Flight Attendant, and I was able to get back on with the Federal Government...life slowly, but steadily got better and better.
We are now happily retired and pretty much do as we please.
ATC was a very exciting job, that's why I posted above this to encourage those who may know someone just starting out in life to give it a shot. You gotta study like crazy, but the end will be worth it !!!
I knew your story was going to be interesting and am glad I asked you about it. Congratulations on a very successful career with many bumps in the road along the way.
Some bumps were bigger than others, but most people in life endure the same and overcome. Like other working people, I miss some of my coworkers, but there were many I truly detested, those who abused their authority. On my last day at work, I told my manager that I wanted no party, no get together for a drink, no card, nada. I told him I'd scraped the sticker off my car, hand him my badge, shake his hand and thank him for being such a good manager, that is exactly what I did. I got into the elevator, then walked to my car, never looked back, and sang some oldies while listening to the radio on the way home.
For those who might read this, retirement is exhilarating. The freedom is a joy that cannot be described, instantly, all the crap is gone. So, hang in there, and when your time in whatever company you work for has allowed the cell doors to open, and your financial house is in order...leave!!! TRAVEL, TRAVEL