How to Make 75 Grand a Year Without a College Degree

Do you believe making 75 grand a year could make you happy?

Well, consider data of earnings and life satisfaction analyzed by Psychologists from Purdue University and the University of Virginia of 1.7 million people in 164 countries, found that the ideal income for individuals is $95,000 a year for life satisfaction and $60,000 to $75,000 a year for emotional well-being. Families with children will need more.

 So you mean t tell me if you make over six-figures you happiest in life won’t increase? Like the songs says more money more problems.

The research found once the earning threshold was reached, further increases in income tended to be associated with reduced life satisfaction and a lower level of well-being. Often by obtaining a higher income it has an impact on your life-work balance. It’s an important question to ask yourself is the trade-off worth it?

Our time is our most valuable resources, we already send a 1/3 of our time each day eating, sleeping, and getting ready for work. If you are spending 10-12 hours in the office each day to chase that large six-figure income when do you have time to enjoy it?

There are many different paths to achieving a 75 grand a year salary. Surprisingly enough many don’t require a college degree. 

75 Ways to Make 75K

I love social media, not for the political banter, but an occasional meme, but most of all the meaningful discussion, and engagement with others.

 In a private Facebook group, there was a lively discussion on how someone could make $75,000 a year without a college degree? 

Here’s the list of real jobs being performed by real people making 75 grand a year.

1. Aerospace Mechanic
2. Agriculture — farming
3. Armed Security
4. Auto Manufacturer
5. Auto Mechanic
6. Auto repair shop owner
7. Border Patrol Agent
8. Business Owner — cleaning, landscaping
9. Car Sales
10. Carpenter
11. Casino Dealer
12. CDL Driver (license needed)
13. Cell Tower Site Development
14. Chef
15. Construction
16. Corrections Officers
17. Cosmetology
18. Court Reporter
19. Crane Operator
20. Custodial
21. Diesel Mechanic
22. Electrician
23. Elevator Mechanic
24. Executive Assistant
25. Facilities Manager
26. Federal Employee — shipyard construction, contractor
27. FedEx Freight Driver
28. Fire Suppression
29. Firefighter
30. Garbage Man
31. Graphic Design
32. Ground Operations for Airline
33. Hairstylist
34. Help Desk
35. Home Daycare (may require license and insurance)
36. Home Inspector
37. HVAC
38. IBEW Worker
39. IS — information security
40. IT — information technology
41. Kitchen Design
42. Land Surveyor
43. Law Enforcement
44. Legal Billing
45. Legal Secretary
46. Life Insurance Agent
47. LPN — Licensed Practical Nurse — technical degree needed
48. Mechanic
49. Military
50. Millwright
51. Mining
52. Mortgage Banker
53. Office Manager
54. Oil and Gas Refinery
55. Painting Contractor
56. Paramedic
57. Pilot — technical training needed
58. Plumbing
59. Postal Service
60. Project manager
61. Railroad
62. Realtor
63. Restaurant Operator, Owner, or Manager
64. Retail Store Manager
65. Sales — insurance, telecom
66. Steamfitter
67. Steel Mill Worker
68. Television Production
69. Union Laborer
70. UPS Driver
71. Warehouse Manager
72. Waste Industry — Wastewater treatment
73. Web Development
74. Welder
75. Wind Turbine Technician

What do you think of the list? Any other jobs you might add?

So of these jobs, I had to look up. For example, I had no idea what a millwright was.  

A millwright is a high-precision craftsman or skilled tradesman who installs, dismantles, maintains, repairs reassembles, and moves machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.

Things to keep in mind, many of these jobs do require some training, technical degree, or license, usually completed at a trade school in 12-18 months. May indicated that their employers often offered the training or were willing to pay for it.

Also, many of these positions don’t start at $75,000. The people working these jobs has to start at the bottom making less but suggested in as little as five years could be making this amount of money.

Real-Life Example

I recently needed to hire a plumber for a few little fixes, and a bathroom faucet replacement. I asked friends and family for some recommendations and called each one for their price and availability. The first company I called quote me a price of $195 to replace the faucet, and a rate of $225 per hour for the other fixes. After making several calls I settled in on a particular company. A small two-man business. They were prompted, courteous, and finished their work in under an hour. Total cost $354.

In speaking with them they had completed a another job before mine and were on their way to another after my work was completed. So I can only guess the total amount of money made on that day, let’s say each of the other jobs brought in $350 as well, that a 1-day total of $1050. If you say 50% is cost and 50% profit that’s $525 a day or $2625 a week or $10,5oo a month or $126,000 a year.

So the point of it all is working a job as a plumber, electrician, mechanic, etc. Can really be a lucrative career.

Many Factors to Consider

There were over 3 million high school graduates in 2020. What will these 3 million young adults do? Go to college, military, enter the workforce?

There no clear right or wrong decision, it’s an individual choice, but its important to consider all options, and look at factors like your goals, where you’d like to live, future job market, cost of living, etc.

If you start on any one of these 75 career paths mentioned above at 18, you could be making more then a friend who goes to college, and graduates four years from now. You’ll avoid student debt, and possible have a great head start.

If you want to serve in the military, there are many opportunities to earn money for higher education, learn a trade, or make a full career in the military.

If college is the path you choose do your best to minimize the cost of your degree, consider community college first. The less you spend to obtain your degree the better your future will be. By all means, do your homework on the return on investment of your degree.

So spend $160K for a private college for a career path that makes $40k a year. You’ll be paying back the debt forever. Research what the job market will look like in four years, what salaries for your career path will look like, and use this to help make the best economical college choice.

If all else fails, you still have 75 career paths that can make you enough money to live a happy life. Good luck, and I’ll leave you with some words from Mike Rowe.

This article was originally published at BrianBrandow.com and republished here with permission.