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cjjtulsa

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My ex is an RN. She ran a dialysis clinic in Idaho. $102K last year. I'd say that's pretty good for a 2yr degree. If you have young kids now, male or female, you could do worse than pointing into a career in nursing.
My wife quit teaching to get her BSN (RN), then went on to get her APRN (nurse practitioner), and she makes good money now. Hell of a lot better than when she was teaching Kindergarten before going to nursing school. After seeing the miserable hell of nurse practitioner school, there's no way I could do it. Was never a good student.

I've been in quality control (aviation) for 22 years; I'm about ready for something else.
 

swampratt

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I am a bum compared to you guys.
I fix things that are broken.
I always have and I just live below my means.
Learn to manage money and invest it and learn to fix things yourself.
I spent many days at the public library learning to do things through books.

I am debt free and have rental properties that are all paid for that make me an income.

Another big key is keep your health in order.
If you are in bad health you will not be able to fix busted things and there goes your hard earned money.

I watched my dad and his buddies stay drunk and smoke and get out of shape, cancer and heart issues plagued them.
Some people do all the right things though and still have issues with health.
But no point in trying to make it worse.

Or.
Learn plumbing and open your own company.
That is another huge money maker.
 

16colt

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I work in the oil & gas industry. My boy is a senior in high school and will be headed off to college next year.
As much as I have enjoyed my industry and what I do, I have discouraged my son from getting into it. There is just no love in this county any longer for what we do. Everyone wants/needs the products, but hate the producers and the industry in general. Not to mention this industry is all but gone in Tulsa. That all stated, there are still good jobs to be found in oil & gas. If anyone DOES pursue this industry, be prepared for a bumpy road - when the money’s good, put it in the bank, you never know what tomorrow will bring!
 

Jason Freeland

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My wife quit teaching to get her BSN (RN), then went on to get her APRN (nurse practitioner), and she makes good money now. Hell of a lot better than when she was teaching Kindergarten before going to nursing school. After seeing the miserable hell of nurse practitioner school, there's no way I could do it. Was never a good student.

I've been in quality control (aviation) for 22 years; I'm about ready for something else.
A lot of the nurse practitioner schools (like NNP) are requiring a PHD now instead of a Masters. I never saw the point, going with a NP or PA is supposed to save money compared to an MD. If you make the requirements similar (excluding residency) there is no point, just get an MD/DO. Degree creep is a pet soap box of mine.
 

Cyrus

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41 here. Last 20 or so years in IT, on the programming side. Been consulting last 11 years.

So the biggest issue in this field is the constant change. It can get grinding, but staying current is necessary to maintain options. A lot of learning happens after hours.

Requirements- in the past a degree was required on the programming side. But more recently bootcamps (shorter, cheaper intense courses of study) have become viable and I have see some success stories.

Pay - I have been making 100k plus for the last 8 years. Currently at the high end of tulsa salaries in glassdoor. Very little overtime. Keep in mind that because I am a consultant my pay is above average.


I would not recommend this for everyone. If you want to be outside, or help people, or like an active job then most jobs in the programming field are not for you.

If you like solving abstract problems (think algebra ) and want to work inside, then start exploring and see if you like it.

I wouldn't commit to a degree unless you were sure. A degree opens lots of doors though and makes things easier. Though a degree does not correlate with skill always.
 

dancer4life

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When I was young, my parents divorced and we moved into my grandparents house and lived with them. My granddad owned a plumbing company and my uncles were electricians and contractors by trade. So I grew up being there grunt and helper for a number of years. Learned a lot. When I turned 16 I became a Glazier (Glass Man) in Broken Arrow.

I was making good money for a kid so I started taking dance lessons to learn how to two step. I fell in love with dancing and the dance business so much that I gave up my job and went to work in a local studio. My parents thought I was nuts and my dad wouldn’t even talk to me for sometime. He just thought I was throwing my life away.

I have been in the dance business now for 40 years. It has and still takes us all over the world judging, doing seminars, choreographing, and competing with our students.
My wife and I are 4 time World Champions and have been making 6 figures for at least the last 20 years. Next year we will be celebrating our 30th year in business.
It’s not for everyone but it has been a great life for us and has allowed me do do what I really love to do. Which is shoot, fish and live on the lake.
 

Frederick

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When I was young, my parents divorced and we moved into my grandparents house and lived with them. My granddad owned a plumbing company and my uncles were electricians and contractors by trade. So I grew up being there grunt and helper for a number of years. Learned a lot. When I turned 16 I became a Glazier (Glass Man) in Broken Arrow.

I was making good money for a kid so I started taking dance lessons to learn how to two step. I fell in love with dancing and the dance business so much that I gave up my job and went to work in a local studio. My parents thought I was nuts and my dad wouldn’t even talk to me for sometime. He just thought I was throwing my life away.

I have been in the dance business now for 40 years. It has and still takes us all over the world judging, doing seminars, choreographing, and competing with our students.
My wife and I are 4 time World Champions and have been making 6 figures for at least the last 20 years. Next year we will be celebrating our 30th year in business.
It’s not for everyone but it has been a great life for us and has allowed me do do what I really love to do. Which is shoot, fish and live on the lake.
Lot of really fascinating replies here....but no one should fault you for following your dreams....corny as it sounds you only live once might as well enjoy it....
 

RickN

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My ex is an RN. She ran a dialysis clinic in Idaho. $102K last year. I'd say that's pretty good for a 2yr degree. If you have young kids now, male or female, you could do worse than pointing into a career in nursing.

I spent the first 10 years of my adult working life in the AF. Spent the next 15 in law enforcement. I made really good money (I thought) doing that. Then I owned my own business. It was successful but got to be too consuming and demanding of ALL my time. I sold it. Retired a little early but that didn't sit well with the ex (my then wife) so, on a whim, I got a CDL and went to work for a propane company. Didn't pay all that well but it was probably the most enjoyable job I've had. I delivered propane in the mountains of Colorado and then Idaho. Some of my customers were at 10,000+ feet in Colorado! It could be a challenge in the winter. Hurt my shoulder, went back to work, hurt my other shoulder, packed it in. Between the shoulders and back injuries from my military days I decided I'd had enough.

I retired when I was 59. Got divorced and moved from Idaho to SW Oklahoma. I live on my VA disability and I'm happier now than I've been most of my adult life, I think. I love it here.

Just remarried yesterday! We're about to relax and enjoy our "golden" years on a little piece of land somewhere around here.

I know...TMI. It's hard to stop once I get started.
Married yesterday and you did not let any of us know? If nothing else we could have thrown you a virtual bachelor party. Pretty sure I still have a link to some pole dancer videos. :P :P :P
 

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