Business & Investing
Sponsored by

Economic Value of a College Degree vs. Working in a Trade

5,279 Views | 67 Replies | Last: 2 days ago by ABATTBQ11
YouBet
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:25p, 9/8/26
AG
Workers without a college degree having a better time right now than those that do.

Quote:
For most U.S. workersthose without college degrees, that isit is one of the best job markets in decades.

In fact, the unemployment rate for workers ages 22 to 34 who never graduated from college has rarely been lower in the past two decades, according to a new analysis by labor-market think tank Burning Glass Institute.



Quote:
Now, though, just as job hunters without degrees are having one of their best runs, those with college educations are having one of their worst. And those with advanced degrees or in fields such as science and technology are having an even harder time than usual.

That divergence of fortunes is a departure from what the U.S. economy has seen for years, and much of it boils down to supply and demand: There aren't enough skilled tradespeople to go around, for example, as older generations retire and immigration drops.


Reply Quote
4
I bleed maroon
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to YouBet • 3:34p, 9/8/26
AG
YouBet said:
Workers without a college degree having a better time right now than those that do.

Quote:
For most U.S. workersthose without college degrees, that isit is one of the best job markets in decades.

In fact, the unemployment rate for workers ages 22 to 34 who never graduated from college has rarely been lower in the past two decades, according to a new analysis by labor-market think tank Burning Glass Institute.



Quote:
Now, though, just as job hunters without degrees are having one of their best runs, those with college educations are having one of their worst. And those with advanced degrees or in fields such as science and technology are having an even harder time than usual.

That divergence of fortunes is a departure from what the U.S. economy has seen for years, and much of it boils down to supply and demand: There aren't enough skilled tradespeople to go around, for example, as older generations retire and immigration drops.



Of course, if there's a significant change event during the 2028 elections, broad amnesty or liberalized immigration policy could turn this on its' head again. The same could go for college graduates and changed HB-1 rules. In any case, highly experienced and proven effective people in all career types should do relatively well, so that's where a young entrant should be focused, regardless of vocation.
Reply Quote
jenn96
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bagger05 • 3:35p, 9/8/26
AG
bagger05 said:
I know this isn't you doing this... but the idea that anyone needs to have some idea of what they want to be when they grow up when they're 13 is heartbreaking to me.

But honestly if she was more of an academic type and wanted to compete for going to an Ivy League school or something... starting to build your case at 13 is maybe even a little late.

I would make sure your daughter understands that you don't have to decide to go to college when you're 18. You can always do it later. Some of the people I know who had the best college experiences (academically and otherwise) started college a little later after working for a few years.

College was pretty hard for me in a lot of ways. Not because I wasn't smart enough, but because I was too immature. A little life experience would've done me a TON of good.

Like I said this is a comment on society, not you or your daughter.

I understand exactly how you meant it, and I agree completely. I also hate that we expect kids to have their careers chosen and degree path mapped out before they start high school. I was definitely one of those kids who should have done something, anything before college; I went crazy partying and was so immature. 30+ years later when I look back I'm still annoyed at the bad choices I made and things I missed out on because I didn't take the privilege of being at A&M seriously. So when she tells me she doesn't want to do it after high school, I'm listening.
Reply Quote
62strat
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to I bleed maroon • 4:05p, 9/8/26
AG
I bleed maroon said:

Quote:
Your post just made it sound like you came upon a new concept, that trades can make as much money as degrees.



I think you were seeing something that wasn't there. Sorry to offend your sensibilities.



Maybe I have a different perspective having a spouse in HS education for 20 years. The discussion of the decline of pushing college was a hot topic when she was in CFISD, which was 15 years ago.

You're posing the question of 'does it makes sense for a person with the intelligence of a non college bound person to attend college when a trade can make $75k+ a year' No, of course it doesn't make sense. Can you find anyone anymore who thinks it does make sense? Maybe your stuck in the 2000s HS counselor will still push that person to go to college, but I believe much of the US figured this out a while back, evidenced by large CTE programs in school districts everywhere now with funding from the Perkins V law, passed by Trump in 2018.

To beat a dead horse, districts around me have been pumping a lot of money into large dedicated, technologically advanced CTE campuses for a while, most coming around in the mid/late teens. The idea that every student must go to college has all but left the educational lexicon in this state, and I'm sure many others.

It's a bit of an outdated discussion at this point.. and that's all I was trying to say.
Reply Quote
I bleed maroon
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to 62strat • 4:18p, 9/8/26
AG
62strat said:
I bleed maroon said:

Quote:
Your post just made it sound like you came upon a new concept, that trades can make as much money as degrees.



I think you were seeing something that wasn't there. Sorry to offend your sensibilities.



Maybe I have a different perspective having a spouse in HS education for 20 years. The discussion of the decline of pushing college was a hot topic when she was in CFISD, which was 15 years ago.

You're posing the question of 'does it makes sense for a person with the intelligence of a non college bound person to attend college when a trade can make $75k+ a year' No, of course it doesn't make sense. Can you find anyone anymore who thinks it does make sense? Maybe your stuck in the 2000s HS counselor will still push that person to go to college, but I believe much of the US figured this out a while back, evidenced by large CTE programs in school districts everywhere now with funding from the Perkins V law, passed by Trump in 2018.

To beat a dead horse, districts around me have been pumping a lot of money into large dedicated, technologically advanced CTE campuses for a while, most coming around in the mid/late teens. The idea that every student must go to college has all but left the educational lexicon in this state, and I'm sure many others.

It's a bit of an outdated discussion at this point.. and that's all I was trying to say.

I didn't realize that all worthy discussion on this point was already done 20 years ago. Sorry to intrude on your day.
Reply Quote
I Am A Critic
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to I bleed maroon • 4:41p, 9/8/26
I bleed maroon said:
62strat said:
I bleed maroon said:

Quote:
Your post just made it sound like you came upon a new concept, that trades can make as much money as degrees.



I think you were seeing something that wasn't there. Sorry to offend your sensibilities.



Maybe I have a different perspective having a spouse in HS education for 20 years. The discussion of the decline of pushing college was a hot topic when she was in CFISD, which was 15 years ago.

You're posing the question of 'does it makes sense for a person with the intelligence of a non college bound person to attend college when a trade can make $75k+ a year' No, of course it doesn't make sense. Can you find anyone anymore who thinks it does make sense? Maybe your stuck in the 2000s HS counselor will still push that person to go to college, but I believe much of the US figured this out a while back, evidenced by large CTE programs in school districts everywhere now with funding from the Perkins V law, passed by Trump in 2018.

To beat a dead horse, districts around me have been pumping a lot of money into large dedicated, technologically advanced CTE campuses for a while, most coming around in the mid/late teens. The idea that every student must go to college has all but left the educational lexicon in this state, and I'm sure many others.

It's a bit of an outdated discussion at this point.. and that's all I was trying to say.

I didn't realize that all worthy discussion on this point was already done 20 years ago. Sorry to intrude on your day.

But his wife is in HS education. We should all kneel before his credibility.
Username checks out.
Reply Quote
5
62strat
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to I bleed maroon • 4:43p, 9/8/26
AG
I bleed maroon said:
62strat said:
I bleed maroon said:

Quote:
Your post just made it sound like you came upon a new concept, that trades can make as much money as degrees.



I think you were seeing something that wasn't there. Sorry to offend your sensibilities.



Maybe I have a different perspective having a spouse in HS education for 20 years. The discussion of the decline of pushing college was a hot topic when she was in CFISD, which was 15 years ago.

You're posing the question of 'does it makes sense for a person with the intelligence of a non college bound person to attend college when a trade can make $75k+ a year' No, of course it doesn't make sense. Can you find anyone anymore who thinks it does make sense? Maybe your stuck in the 2000s HS counselor will still push that person to go to college, but I believe much of the US figured this out a while back, evidenced by large CTE programs in school districts everywhere now with funding from the Perkins V law, passed by Trump in 2018.

To beat a dead horse, districts around me have been pumping a lot of money into large dedicated, technologically advanced CTE campuses for a while, most coming around in the mid/late teens. The idea that every student must go to college has all but left the educational lexicon in this state, and I'm sure many others.

It's a bit of an outdated discussion at this point.. and that's all I was trying to say.

I didn't realize that all worthy discussion on this point was already done 20 years ago. Sorry to intrude on your day.


This discussion merely started 20 years ago.. I'd say most of the worthy discussion began when 4 year enrollment peaked in 2010 and tuition climbed exponentially, and the discussion heavily continued into the mid/late teens as the shift was happening in large numbers. By the time covid came around, I'd say it was about all hashed out and the new normal was established, leaving anymore worth discussion a bit moot.




The discussion is no longer 'should little johnny who didn't do so well in school go to college?'
Instead, it's 'smart johnny did well in school, but he should really only go to college at today's tuition rates if he plans to be an engineer, architect, accountant/finance, doctor, lawyer, etc.



Reply Quote
jenn96
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to 62strat • 4:52p, 9/8/26
AG
Deleted - getting tangential.
Reply Quote
1 edit
62strat
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to I Am A Critic • 5:13p, 9/8/26
AG
I Am A Critic said:
I bleed maroon said:
62strat said:
I bleed maroon said:

Quote:
Your post just made it sound like you came upon a new concept, that trades can make as much money as degrees.



I think you were seeing something that wasn't there. Sorry to offend your sensibilities.



Maybe I have a different perspective having a spouse in HS education for 20 years. The discussion of the decline of pushing college was a hot topic when she was in CFISD, which was 15 years ago.

You're posing the question of 'does it makes sense for a person with the intelligence of a non college bound person to attend college when a trade can make $75k+ a year' No, of course it doesn't make sense. Can you find anyone anymore who thinks it does make sense? Maybe your stuck in the 2000s HS counselor will still push that person to go to college, but I believe much of the US figured this out a while back, evidenced by large CTE programs in school districts everywhere now with funding from the Perkins V law, passed by Trump in 2018.

To beat a dead horse, districts around me have been pumping a lot of money into large dedicated, technologically advanced CTE campuses for a while, most coming around in the mid/late teens. The idea that every student must go to college has all but left the educational lexicon in this state, and I'm sure many others.

It's a bit of an outdated discussion at this point.. and that's all I was trying to say.

I didn't realize that all worthy discussion on this point was already done 20 years ago. Sorry to intrude on your day.

But his wife is in HS education. We should all kneel before his credibility.

a lot more credibility than someone who;
has no kids currently in school
does not work/spouse does not work in education

Someone who is both of those is someone I'd say is likely pretty out of touch with the current state of education, and maybe that's the situation of the person asking the question (in 2026) if it makes financial sense for a person of below average intelligence to go to college. That answer has been indisputably no for probably a decade.

Reply Quote
62strat
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jenn96 • 5:19p, 9/8/26
AG
jenn96 said:
Quote:
The discussion is no longer 'should little johnny who didn't do so well in school go to college?'
Instead, it's 'smart johnny did well in school, but he should really only go to college at today's tuition rates if he plans to be an engineer, architect, accountant/finance, doctor, lawyer, etc.

b.

Edited since you deleted for tangent.

Agreed, getting off topic a bit. Certainly a discussion could be had comparing a trade or skilled worker and their early saving potential to a college degreed professional with debt and the time to get the degree. this is business and investing after all.
Reply Quote
1
4 edits
redsquirrelAG
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:03p, 9/8/26
AG
You can make 100K as a licensed irrigator EASY these days.

No one wants to do hard work.

Of interested PM me.

Travel required.
Reply Quote
2
BiggiesLX
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jenn96 • 8:17p, 9/8/26
I'd say as a parent it's a good thing your kid has an idea of what they want to do even if it doesn't seem ideal to us. Make her go to college and she'll really blow $20k or let her follow her ambitions and see where it goes. One option will certainly gain you much respect.
Reply Quote
amercer
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:59p, 9/9/26
AG
The problem with this discussion is that people want to frame it as some national policy where we get 50 million kids who are drinking their way through college, racking up debt, and getting some useless liberal arts or biz degree, to suddenly bust their assess in trade school or apprenticeships.

But even worse, if we did get 50 million kids to bust thier assess and become plumbers, the wages for plumbers would collapse to less than baristas.

For any individual hard working kid who isn't interested in college, learning an in demand trade is a great option. As a policy for some large percentage of kids? Not a great idea.
Reply Quote
1
I Am A Critic
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to amercer • 3:38p, 9/9/26
amercer said:
The problem with this discussion is that people want to frame it as some national policy where we get 50 million kids who are drinking their way through college, racking up debt, and getting some useless liberal arts or biz degree, to suddenly bust their assess in trade school or apprenticeships.

But even worse, if we did get 50 million kids to bust thier assess and become plumbers, the wages for plumbers would collapse to less than baristas.

For any individual hard working kid who isn't interested in college, learning an in demand trade is a great option. As a policy for some large percentage of kids? Not a great idea.

Markets are generally efficient and supply and demand will eventually meet. Except for most liberal arts majors.
Username checks out.
Reply Quote
2
double aught
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to amercer • 4:01p, 9/9/26
AG
Quote:
But even worse, if we did get 50 million kids to bust thier assess and become plumbers, the wages for plumbers would collapse to less than baristas

Sign me up for this. I got some 50+ year old cast iron that's hanging on by a thread.
Reply Quote
1
DargelSkout
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:32a, 9/10/26
AG
My son graduates from high school next May and has decided to enter the trades. He currently wants to work for my buddy that owns a plumbing company.

I also have friends that would hire him to become an electrician. I've tried to steer him toward this route because I think there are more opportunities and future job options.

He also has the skills and ability to become a welder full time. That was the route he wanted to go about 2 years ago. But he has since changed his mind.
Reply Quote
KatyAggie2000
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:00a, 9/10/26
AG
I work in oil and gas (chemicals) and all of our Operators have a 2-year degree from a P-Tech program. So, it's not zero college but it's a 2-year degree tailored to our industry, processes, equipment, etc. This puts them in the union making over $100K from day one, well above that with overtime. But they are working 12 hour-shift work, many weekends, etc. And not much room for upward mobility unless they are a diamond in the rough.
Reply Quote
Serotonin
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to YouBet • 10:58a, 9/11/26
AG
Quote:
Workers without a college degree having a better time right now than those that do.

I'm not sure that's what it shows...people with a degree are having a better time than those without by a significant margin.

Among ages 25-34 the unemployment rate is 3.4% for people with degree vs 6.2% for those without.

And in that latter group you have a lot of people not even looking for jobs so they wouldn't even count in these stats.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/HSGS2534
https://alfred.stlouisfed.org/series?seid=CGRA2534

The WSJ graph is confusing but the point is that unemployment for college grads is high relative to their historical experience. Not that they are worse off than people without college degrees.
Reply Quote
1
3 edits
gigemhilo
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to EFR • 7:04a, 9/13/26
AG
EFR said:

I think there is good money in the trades, with three caveats. First is that to make good money it is literally back breaking long hours hard work. Second is that many people vastly overestimate what those guys are making. And third is that people always say "you pull wire for a few years then start your own business and ten years later you are on easy street". The reality is that most tradesmen never own their own business, many that do own are not getting rich, and many that try fail.

Most, but it is certainly possible. I have several construction clients that are killing it. They are plumbers, A/C guys, electricians, etc. Yes, they are the success stories.. but they all make enough for me to question why I am a CPA. In the same time that I got my degree, they learned their trade and put themselves in a position to successfully own a business and get to where they are today.

I will say this - the successful ones are the ones that have extreme work ethic and good business sense (or a great office manager lol). A good career path here could also be someone that goes to college and gets an applicable degree (management, accounting, construction science, etc), and then goes and learns the trade for a few years before starting or aquiring a business. But lets be honest - most college graduates aren't willing to put in the effort to learn the trade. They want that cushy high-paying job right out of college. There is also the societal pressure to get a white collar job - especially for college graduates that come from upper middle class or wealthy families. At the end of the day, their parents and grandparents have told them that success is white collar, and those in the trades are on a lower level. It is hard to overcome that mentalilty when thats when what you were raised on.
Reply Quote
6
cena05
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:32a, 9/13/26
AG
Edit- Saw amercer made this point a few posts back.

I haven't read through the whole thread, but wondering if the supply and demand if the trades has been discussed. Mainly the supply, as it is known the trades have been shoved aside for college degrees leading to a low supply of trade workers pushing up their earnings. If more and more young people enter the trade market I would think it would bring their potential earnings down as the supply has risen.
Reply Quote
2
1 edit
JP76
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jh0400 • 1:48a, 9/15/26
I disagree

The hvac people I know do really well In Texas.
$130+ billable hr and paying techs $30-40.
Know a guy who works solo and makes 4-6k a week doing service 5 days a week only 6-7 month out of the year. There is a reason that PE has been buying up hvac, electrical and plumbing companies. 4-6 years to get your masters Yes the attics are brutal but if you play the cards right you can start your own company at age 22-24 and run it 10-15 years and then sell to Grant Cardone and the others and retire.
Reply Quote
2
AgGrad99
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:58a, 9/15/26
AG
I have a good buddy who is a plumber, and he makes a great living. However, when he started his own company, he knew nothing about running a business. Because of that, he wasted a lot more money than college tuition, figuring it out. He's told me multiple times, he wished he had education, before going into the trade, so he could have avoided some of the struggles when he got started on his own. He's apparently had this same conversation, with a lot of other folks in his position.

That said, part of having a degree isn't training you for a particular career. It also opens doors that otherwise would be closed. Whether college education is beneficial or not, doesnt come into play fairly often. There are a lot of jobs someone could do, but a college degree is required. Until this changes in the job marketplace, it provides value to that piece of paper.

I've told my sons...you can be successful with a degree, and without a degree. But without one, there are less options as you progress. I like more options, not less. But if you know what you want to do, and can be successful doing it without school...go for it.
Reply Quote
2
bagger05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AgGrad99 • 12:35p, 9/15/26
AG
AgGrad99 said:
I have a good buddy who is a plumber, and he makes a great living. However, when he started his own company, he knew nothing about running a business. Because of that, he wasted a lot more money than college tuition, figuring it out. He's told me multiple times, he wished he had education, before going into the trade, so he could have avoided some of the struggles when he got started on his own. He's apparently had this same conversation, with a lot of other folks in his position.

For what it's worth I have a couple of college degrees and I've wasted a lot more money than college tuition figuring it out as well.

Not sure that I know any entrepreneurs who haven't gone through the same regardless of how much education they have.

Personally I'd say it's incorrect to call the money your buddy and I have set on fire "wasted." It's just a different type of tuition. Not sure there's any way to avoid it.
Reply Quote
4
1 edit
AgGrad99
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bagger05 • 12:42p, 9/15/26
AG
bagger05 said:
AgGrad99 said:
I have a good buddy who is a plumber, and he makes a great living. However, when he started his own company, he knew nothing about running a business. Because of that, he wasted a lot more money than college tuition, figuring it out. He's told me multiple times, he wished he had education, before going into the trade, so he could have avoided some of the struggles when he got started on his own. He's apparently had this same conversation, with a lot of other folks in his position.

For what it's worth I have a couple of college degrees and I've wasted a lot more money than college tuition figuring it out as well.

Not sure that I know any entrepreneurs who haven't gone through the same regardless of how much education they have.

Personally I'd say it's incorrect to call the money your buddy and I have set on fire "wasted." It's just a different type of tuition. Not sure there's any way to avoid it.

I can relate as well.

But I can honestly say my learning curve was a lot smaller having some knowledge, and being exposed to some resources I needed to rely on...rather than starting from ground zero. He knew how to to solve a plumbing issue, but he'd never heard of a ledger, and didnt know who to call to help. My education didn't completely prepare me to run a business, but it sure helped in many respects.
Reply Quote
bagger05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AgGrad99 • 1:04p, 9/15/26
AG
Agreed. There are certainly ways to minimize some of that pain.
Reply Quote
AGC
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jenn96 • 1:40p, 9/15/26
AG
jenn96 said:
This has been a fascinating thread to read. I'm approaching it from the other direction, with a daughter who doesn't want to go to college. My 13 year old daughter is very smart and clever but has always struggled academically. She hates school and for now, has no interest in college. She wants to get her cosmetology degree in high school, graduate with her license, and start working right away. A lot can change, especially once she gets older and all her friends are talking about where they are going to college and applying, but as of now she has zero interest at all. Financially, I'd much rather see her start working and saving money than blow $20K+ on a Tier 2 or 3 school before dropping out because she hates the school part of college.

A lot will change between 13 and 18 and she very well may go to a university, and we are saving as if she will. But it's been really interesting to read the responses, here and just in general around the topic. The discourse around the trades, not going to college, and the math of education debt vs working immediately are almost all based on young men. And while I hear a lot of white-collar, educated professionals extoll the virtues of the trades I don't see many of their kids skipping college to follow that path, and I do worry about all the intangibles she'll miss out on. Not to mention that working as a cosmetologist, even a very good one, doesn't pay like a high-demand trade does unless you own your own business with all the attendant headaches. On the other side, it's completely AI-proof and extremely portable, and can be done part-time and flexibly.


Unpopular opinion maybe, but as a father of daughters, college isn't a great place to meet a husband at many schools. If your daughter finds value in things other than job/career, like being a mother, it's another good reason to consider alternatives. For example, SFA is something like 60% women. It's a good place to be a man, but I'll be steering mine away from such unbalanced populations and it's hard to see any correction soon at colleges. They prefer women and men are opting out.
Reply Quote
3
Comanche_Ag
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bagger05 • 2:10p, 9/15/26
AG
Quote:
Some of the people I know who had the best college experiences (academically and otherwise) started college a little later after working for a few years.


This concept makes a lot of sense to me, but is rarely, if ever presented as an option to young people. I think even just a couple of years holding a full-time job, of any kind, can help in lots of ways.
Reply Quote
1
woodiewood1
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to I bleed maroon • 7:26p, 9/17/26
I bleed maroon said:
First of all, this is not intended to be political, but we will accept some current trends as a baseline, at least for a few years. This all depends on assumptions, so feel free to state your own, and apologies in advance for my simplistic unresearched "fact"-set.

Given fewer illegals (undocumented, migrants, etc.) filling lower-end jobs, it becomes clear wages will have to increase to (in GW Bush's terms) do the work that Americans just won't do. While this will certainly lead to sustained increases in inflation, it also may provide more of a "living wage" to those left behind in our AI Age who don't have a decently funded investment portfolio. My framework:

If you can earn a minimum of $50-60k+ for being a truck driver, $75k+ being an electrician or plumber, or $100k+ being a nurse, does it really make economic sense for someone of average (or below) intellect (or drive to study/learn as college demands) to spend 4-6 years earning a college degree? I suggest in most cases is doesn't, due to forgoing college debt, getting a head start on saving for a house, and developing expertise much more rapidly (potentially a quicker path to starting your own business, if you're driven that way).

I could see a journeyman electrician saving 20-30% of their income, and being so far ahead financially that it might take 15-20 years for a degreed entry-level accountant to catch up (paying off college debt, working 60+ hour weeks, and other sacrifices in building their career beginning 4-6 years later, even if they do earn $80-100k annually to start).

By that time, the electrician could have started their own business, bought a nice house, taken a lot of vacations with family, and might have no non-mortgage debt. They might be working 8-4 M-F, and just may have a better quality of life.

No real point to this, other than to pose some food for thought. I think the new situation could erase some of the stigma of not having a college degree, and I think that's healthy for our society.

THOUGHTS?

First, persue the education whether be college or a trade school/on-the-job training of the work that you want to do for a life. Don't just follow the money as it doesn't satisfy for a lifetime. There's lots of high wage earners that are miserable in their job and in their retirement.

I have a friend who went to medical school because that is what you do in his family. After finishing and working at a hospital clinic for four or five year he hated it and told me that he was afraid that he was going to go into severe depression or worst.

I gave him my opinion and recommended taking a long vacation by himself on an island in the Caribbean and just hang out and figure out his life. He did. He ended up coming back and opening a auto mechanic shop in Houston and loves it.

Another guy I went to high school who could have got college scholarships, after high school worked in the air conditioning business for a few years and then went out on his own, At one time he had a dozen trucks running all over Western NY. He retired at about 60 and never regretted his decisions he made.

Life is short.



Reply Quote
2 edits
Hoyt Ag
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:44a, 9/18/26
AG
Quote:
There's lots of high wage earners that are miserable in their job and in their retirement.

That is me. I manage a large power plant and am pretty unhappy doing it. Very long hours, lots of calls through the night and weekends. Dealing with Union workers is a delight. My family has told me numerous times I have aged 10 years over the course of the last 5 I have had this role. It is great money but eats at my soul. I am actively looking for something else, but life circumstances prevent me from moving at this time, so my options are limited. I know God has a plan and I just keep my faith and provide for those who depend on me the best I can.
Reply Quote
2
GeorgiAg
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Hoyt Ag • 10:31a, 9/18/26
AG
Hoyt Ag said:
Quote:
There's lots of high wage earners that are miserable in their job and in their retirement.

That is me. I manage a large power plant and am pretty unhappy doing it. Very long hours, lots of calls through the night and weekends. Dealing with Union workers is a delight. My family has told me numerous times I have aged 10 years over the course of the last 5 I have had this role. It is great money but eats at my soul. I am actively looking for something else, but life circumstances prevent me from moving at this time, so my options are limited. I know God has a plan and I just keep my faith and provide for those who depend on me the best I can.

I had a long discussion with my ortho friend (hand surgeon specialist) last night. He wants to get out of medicine in the next couple of years. Long hours, ridiculous paperwork and insurance companies trying to nerf his pay every opportunity they get.

I make a lot of money being a lawyer but have the same complaints about long hours and constant stress. I wake up at 3 am pretty much every night and think about deadlines and all the stuff I have to do. Vacations are fun but come at a price - constant worry about what is going on at the office. My law partner is in his 70s and still works from 6 am to 6/7 pm and frequent weekends. My mentor and other lawyers I've known basically died in their office chairs. Maybe that's just what life is, but it is hard not to get disillusioned about it.
Reply Quote
1 edit
agnerd
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:26a, 9/18/26
AG
Did a similar analysis ages ago of Doctor vs engineer.

Conclusion was that net worth was higher as an engineer up until about age 40, then the doctor blows past the engineer.

I imagine Trade vs Engineer is going to be similar assuming student loans were taken by the engineer. Trade will probably be ahead until about age 40 with the business or engineering grad blowing past after that. History grad may never catch up to the trade.
Reply Quote
62strat
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to GeorgiAg • 12:08p, 9/18/26
AG
GeorgiAg said:
Hoyt Ag said:
Quote:
There's lots of high wage earners that are miserable in their job and in their retirement.

That is me. I manage a large power plant and am pretty unhappy doing it. Very long hours, lots of calls through the night and weekends. Dealing with Union workers is a delight. My family has told me numerous times I have aged 10 years over the course of the last 5 I have had this role. It is great money but eats at my soul. I am actively looking for something else, but life circumstances prevent me from moving at this time, so my options are limited. I know God has a plan and I just keep my faith and provide for those who depend on me the best I can.



I make a lot of money being a lawyer but have the same complaints about long hours and constant stress. I wake up at 3 am pretty much every night and think about deadlines and all the stuff I have to do. Vacations are fun but come at a price - constant worry about what is going on at the office. My law partner is in his 70s and still works from 6 am to 6/7 pm and frequent weekends. My mentor and other lawyers I've known basically died in their office chairs. Maybe that's just what life is, but it is hard not to get disillusioned about it.

Man, honestly that does not sound worth it. That is just no way to live.

I am so thankful and happy I found a career that pays well, but has unbelievable free time and lack of stress.

Our HH income is >$200k; wife does the education bit only working 180 days. I wfh fridays (which is usually golf or tinkering around the house), and M-Th work about 9:15 to 4, often times I leave at 3:30. Never have brought it home with me, never felt upside down after going back into the office after vacation (and rarely get a phone call or email that needs attention while on vacation). I bring my kids to school everyday, and it's never an issue getting one of them to their 5pm practices, etc.

I just can't imagine being in my 40s and grinding 50-60 hours a week and still losing sleep over work, especially with kids. Every year is the last chance they get with you at their age.

Reply Quote
2
ABATTBQ11
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AgGrad99 • 12:44a, 9/19/26
AG
Construction and the trades are easy to get into and easy to get out of. Most guys who are in the trades and then start their own business go under fairly quick because they may be able to sweat pipe or wire a house, but they don't understand cash flow, depreciation, insurance, advertising, etc. Knowing the work is an entirely different animal than knowing the business, and that takes experience or education. Neither are cheap, but at least with education you can learn from other people's mistakes instead of hopefully learning from your own.
Reply Quote
Refresh
Page 2 of 2 ▼
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.