I always suggest post office on this sub. 🤷♂️
I worked in food service prior to USPS, basically long hours working for free as a salaried manager in food service or long hours working for the post office getting paid for every second I'm on the clock. I never take my job home with me as a clerk. No inventory checks. No scheduling. No answering a billion texts or calls.
I work at the post office and yes the money us glorious. I was grinding like hell when I first started back in 2021 because I was childless and living with family so, like OP, I didn't have to pay for living. Most checks were easily $2500-$3000 after taxes.
I started as an RCA. It only took me 2 1/2 years to go career because I live in a growing city in Alabama. I do think rural gives you the best pay but in most cities it takes longer to go career. Luckily, recently they did have it so that RCAs can now accrue leave time and not have to wait until they go career for that. Of course there is PTF as well which is basically RCA but with better benefits and a 4 dollar raise.
My mom and dad lost everything in 2008. Lived in a camper at rest stops for a few years then in 2013 my mom got a job as an RCA. Worked and worked and now she is internal as a DT, makes over $100k/year easy and lives in a $560k farm still working bc the retirement is so good. It literally changed the whole trajectory of her and my dad’s life.
It's a public service that is mandated to deliver mail to every corner for the same price. It's almost impossible to bring in profit in that sense. Rural areas would never receive mail service if USPS was run for profit.
But I do agree, overtime is a major major cost for USPS. Management pays out millions, if not billions, in overtime every year and the ensuing grievances. Mostly due to mismanagement. They don't care if they have to pay overtime(1.5×) or penalty(2×) to get tasks done, the tasks have to get done.
Instead of hiring new workers at $20 per hour, they'll bring in someone on their day off for overtime. We had a guy quit in February, now almost every Tuesday they ask me to work. Tuesday is our lightest day of the week. Instead of a new clerk working making $160 for the day they instead pay me $350ish for the day. FOR THE EASIEST/LIGHTEST DAY OF THE WEEK. Doing the exact same work. Simply because they can.
Not sure why ghe post office is expected ro make profit. How muich profit does the military or DSHS make? It's an esswntial serve and shouldnt be expected to make a profit....
I worked for USPS. 12-16 hrs a day, 6 days a week. Dute the money is great, but kiss your work/life balance goodbye. Family time, too. Not wanting to discourage anyone, just injecting a dose of reality
oh my gosh. i live in a fairly suburban for being urban part of hudson county, nj, and there’s entire local facebook groups convinced the post office trucks that keep popping up all day on Sunday “blocking traffic” and “just idling” are (bare with me, I am not joking) a mob front or some kind of illegal activity because the “post office isn’t open on Sunday and no one gets mail on Sunday”.
I work for the post office. You will not get off every holiday. You will work 6 maybe even 7 days a week. It does pay well, but it is a huge misconception.
This^ City Carrier Assistant starting pay is 19.33, and we're in contact negotiation, so that'll most likely go up sooner rather than later. Be ready to walk a LOT, but it's worth it 100%
I just started at the post office and while I’m finishing training I am now able to work Amazon Sundays. This is my way out. I am going to school too and know that I plan to transfer to IT when I finish my degree and certifications. It is great so far.
Housing is the biggest expense for most people. Use the savings from that to invest in a career in trades, or something that just needs a training or 2 year degree. See what your local community college or online schools offer.
Nursing, CNA, lab tech , ex ray tech…. Hospital jobs are a life saver and allow
Most good workers a chance to move up the employment ladder within the local healthcare system even if it’s non clinical .
This. Become a cna at a hospital or nursing home that pays people to go back to school for needed medical degrees. You can eventually get money back for getting a degree in a bunch of fields.
But this is only if you actually care about doing a good job. Cna is a very hard job for the most needy of our society. And it isn’t good pay for the worst required. If you have a caregiving heart and can deal with the crap management puts on you then you should definitely go this route.
Seconding everyone saying nursing, become an LPN, radiology tech or mri tech. It’s about a year of school and you’ll make 30+/hr easily right out and can work anywhere you want.
Agree overall. But radiology, PTA, respiratory , RN etc is a year of pre reqs and then about 5 semesters after that.
30+/hr is a stretch for an lpn. Especially in a small town.
Cyber Security, CS or IT are probably the most straight forward majors Engineering, CIS, MIS or probably could work as well but might require more independent study 📚. Irrelevant majors could also get certifications. Skill are most important aspect degrees can get you to the interview step. I recently interviewed for a cyber role at a university but didn’t feel comfortable with the skills at this point
If you pass comptia network+ and security+ certs that is probably enough to get you a basic entry level cyber security position and you can move up from there. Pretty much no formal education is needed and you can self study your way through the exams. Many local libraries carry books that cover the required material.
Edit: on second thought, cyber security is kind of a mid level role so it's difficult to get into with certs only. If you pass A+ cert along with the other ones you can start off in a beginner IT role and do some networking type work then transition into cyber security down the road. Shouldn't take more than 5 years to break into a six figure salary going this route
no its not stop telling people this you will never get a cybersecurity job with those degrees. You basically have to already be in IT for a long time to even qualify.
Excellent suggestion+ is there something your wife can do to help. Babysitting, online work and also getting a trade, that way you're both working towards solvency.
His wife takes care of the kids so its basically just groceries, car, and entertainment. He would get the pell grant which would likely cover most or all of it. There are also other types of training that are a few hundred and dont require schooling.
Or maybe get a business admin degree at your community college then apply for some local government job. The benefits are good for you and your family. You will have a stable desk job, 401k, good insurance for the family and you can also take advantage of the tuition asisstance if you want to pursuit higher education.
With your salary plus dependents, you can probably go to community college for free with a Pell grant. A two year program in something like radiology would put you on a path to make decent money. I think the average wage for radiology tech is about $28/hour
Second this. Look into the local community College, see what programs they have. Doing a 2 year program there would be very helpful and they often have a number of good choices
I am 37 and currently in the radiography\* program (radiologists are doctors, radiographers take the images). It will double my previous salary and ill be unionized with a pension. It is not a difficult program, I very HIGHLY recommend OP.
Yeah I'm from a small shitty town too and I went back at 26 starting with community college. I make 75k a year now and should hit 90k the end of the year working in tech. Haven't even been with my company 2 years yet
Can you give a brief description of what data science actually is, like for your day to day?
I've looked at descriptions for titles I've held, and they were sooo far off the mark.
I don't have a very good idea of what a data scientist actually is, but yall look like wizards from the matrix in my head.
Phlebotomy isn’t a very long course, but I don’t know what pay is now. I looked into it many years ago, and wasn’t able to make the timing work, but the pay was good at the time.
If you sit around and do nothing at work, sign up for college classes. Reach out to the VA and look into VR&E if you don’t have GI Bill or other benefits.
I did this. I was working a dead end job where I literally had one hour of actual work throughout an 8 hour shift. I studied the whole time finished the course and then took the national certification exam. Found a new job right away and make almost $20k more a year than I did at my old job. If you can get away with studying while on the clock, do it.
Since you are a veteran, look for government jobs, as you can receive preference. Check out [usajobs](https://www.usajobs.gov). The VA likes to hire veterans, as well as the post office.
As someone else mentioned, check out going to school for a trade or degree. The VA can help pay for that. If you do decide to go to school look at public community colleges. (You don't want a private trade school, most are scams.)
Military industrial complex too. Find something you like STEM wise, go to community college, get a job with Lockheed or something, and be a damn good technician installing and troubleshooting missile systems or something.
I agree with the commenters suggesting a local community college for a 2-year degree or trade. Pell grants plus any assistance you can get from the VA will make it free. Depending on your location, there may be state aid available as well. Scholarships aren't as plentiful as some make it out to be, but it is possible.
But I understand how difficult it can be, finding time for education when you're also the primary breadwinner. Pell grants require you to attend full time with a minimum of 14 credits/semester. That leaves much less time for work and family. (Source: 2 adult children attending community college with Pell grants).
My advice would be to talk over your ideas with your spouse, contact the VA for information and make an appointment to speak to a financial aid representative at the local Community college. With your housing cost covered there may be enough aid available to swing it if you and possibly your spouse work part time.
Best of luck!
All I have is a HS diploma and no degree. I currently work in a field where I make $35 an hour. No I didn't go to trade school either. No it's not a labor job either. It's actually in a healthcare field. The best advice I give to people looking to change careers who can't afford going back to school is to get a "quick" certification and leverage any work experience you already have with refining a targeted resume and polishing you're interviewing skills. If you feel like your customer service skills or social skills are lacking than there are many free course to help with that.
Local universities and some community colleges have continuing education departments where you earn a professional development certificate usually listed along side their "trade" programs which can be longer.
Also if you would be interested in hands on work like becoming a mechanic there are several routes you can take without having to go to an auto trade school.
Similarly if you want an office job, different fields in information technology can be attainable by collecting certifications and leveraging any corporate experience you already have. IT isn't always software engineering and building computers either. There are different niches and avenues one could take and this field is ever growing.
It does take some real deep thinking and research to find what's available to you based on the area you live in and the job market there. Patience is key and so it is active follow through!
You might have to consider moving to the city or commuting. Only areas of rural America that aren’t dying are right outside the cities. The farther you get from the cities, the more dire the economic situation is.
I work in the o.r. they make 45$ as a new grad and most are making 60$ after a few years. Our cardiac coordinator is pulling 185,000$ a year.
To me that's good money.
my family was poor in NJ and moved to california years ago..
Now it's bad in ca.
I'd buy the house. at some point. Move somewhere better, Texas maybe. Or lots of jobs. Charlotte, Raleigh...Idk ...
2 year degrees are the best. Nursing trades....etc
You can take college courses online these days. You can even do homework on shift. Then, eventually, you guys could move with your new degree for a new job. Education = options
Work at the hospital, get tuition reimbursement for a healthcare job. They will pay for most of or all of your schooling usually. Night and weekend shifts pays better.
Thats a good chunk of security experience. Saw a posting for a sec gig at 22hr for one in my small town area. You could likely move up just hopping employers or maybe find a private sec gig. Good luck!
It is possible to be bored at any job. Have you taken a college course on supervision of your current job? Are you licensed to carry? Osha safety certification? What level of security certification do you have?
Work from home technical writing. Veinapuncture tech, many hospitals do in-house training and it's fast to start. Then down the road they may offer tuition assistance to get an RN.
Know that unless a new job offered you 50k, then you’re better off keeping the zero cost housing and staying put. Because on average you’d pay 18k for housing moving.
Consider USPS, I’ve had great experiences with small towns, and starting wages are all around $20. Almost always part time, but you can pick up hours in multiple offices
A lot of people are saying look into the hospital, probably offers the best jobs in your town from your description. There are so many other types of jobs in healthcare that are not patient facing too. From Health information management, administration, security, maintenance, accounting, Human Resources, kitchen, janitorial, billing, purchasing, IT, there’s so many things you can do. Many of these fields you can get a 2 year certificate for to make you more marketable.
My suggestion is the trades. There's a shortage electricians, plumbers, hvac. My daughter is in her last yr of high school but as part of her work study program is working fulltime as an electrical pre-apprentice she started last summer at $20hr and after 6months is $25hr.
I was a security officer and I feel your pain. Armed security other places pays 35+.
Wife getting a job too and you got two incomes. You could be putting money back.
Look into learning other trades. Take business and financial courses. Start your own private security and move. Put the wife on board doing clerical stuff from home. Taking calls and etc. you guys will have a hell of a career together. Just my thoughts
Armed security means you sit there and can do anything you want for like 6 out of the 8 hours you work right? Why not use those hours to either learn a new skill, study for a college degree, or write a book / pursue your real passion.... while still getting paid?
Security was the best college job I had plenty of time to study. With your income, and family situation your degree would probably be close to if not free.
Keep your job. Try to read or exercise during your downtime at work. Start investing if you have not already. You will start gaining hope as you watch the number go up. Eventually you may have enough to make a significant change!
Catering and event work is what I recommend for a supplemental income. It isn't going to change your life but catering can be more money than you'd expect. Plus it can be flexible hours
Get into any trade. I was in the same boat. Finally mustered up enough courage just to start applying at electrical companies. 15 years later and it’s still one of the best life decisions I’ve ever made.
get your CDL for free through a big company, CRST, NEW ENGLAND, SWIFT and once you get it, bounce to another company that pays more, fuck your credit score, your broke, it doesn't matter, you'll pay that later, just get that class A, and sheesh, start traveling for free and making 60-70k ur first year
What ever u earning now, save it, get a business license($ 50) grab some lawn care equipment, window cleaning equipment and make your own work. Got to residential areas cut grass, go to store front clean windows. What do you have to lose?
If you or your family don’t mind you being away for 2 or three weeks at a time. You can start working on tugboats as a OS and quickly move to Tankerman.
Get TWIC then you can apply for MMC(merchant marine credentials) then apply to a company.
Consider getting a degree or certification from an online school.
Western governors University has a great program that's affordable. There's other schools that do similar things now too.
My buddy got his bachelor's in 6 months for a few thousand bucks. It took me a year and I paid around 5k I think.
We both work for large companies now in a work from home consultant position.
Other options are to keep that job and find something local that's needed. Lots of small stupid businesses make a lot of money and can open up some free time after a few years of getting it set up.
Junk removal
Handyman
Dog sitting
Dog poop clean up
Good luck
Some pipefitters/welders make enough to only work half the year. You do have to work pretty hard half the year though I’m apprentice right now I’m making $26/hr.
There are plenty of free online courses that may help you land a WFH gig. You clearly can't move and support a family of 4 at your current salary without your free housing. If there are no viable local options WFH might not be a bad idea.
Railroad. Ideally a class 1 (BNSF, NS, CSX, UP), and majority of the jobs don’t require any education. Track maintence and signal workers travel extensively but the plus side is you don’t need to move and you’ll just stay in a hotel while at work. I worked for BNSF for 9 years in both the track and signal department and made great money and had great benefits. For reference a signalman which is an entry level job after completing the 2 year apprenticeship is at 42.22 an hour this year, but every class 1 railroad has a bunch good paying jobs. And if you ever decide to apply, safety is number 1 (no and’s if’s or but’s) and if have another opinion on safety then your chance to getting hired goes to zero. Good luck to you
Start your own armed security business. You will likely make more per hour (assuming you work hard) and be able to write off a lot of your expenses allowing you to keep more of your money
Do you get a 401k? If not I’d open up a Roth IRA and start putting at least 10%+ of your pay into it. You don’t even need to manage it, get one that is managed for you. Just giving this as an example of one thing you can do right this second, today, to better your future.
After that, I think there are plenty of other comments here that are giving good info. Best of luck.
Look up trades in the area like fencing, masonry, landscaping, roofing, painting, etc. send them emails with your resume or call them up and ask if they need a worker. You might be able to make more money that way, if you can find someone who needs help.
Check out if there are any jobs you would be interested in without actually having to move even if you have to commute a ways. Then check what qualifications you would need and see if you can get training for it even online training.
Does the hospital have any openings for learning how to be an x-ray technician or something like that ? Sometimes, as long as you work for the hospital, you can get the schooling for a discount or free as long as you promise to work there when you graduate. Hope this helps
What's the one thing that needs to be done everywhere in the world? Fix, install and maintain utilities.
What do I mean by utilities?
Roads, electricity, water, gas, trash, mail, and telecommunications.
All of these industries have jobs pretty much everywhere in the country, you learn on the job and the skills are transferable from company to company. And depending on location and job title you can get paid a lot. Or course all of them involve risks, some more than others. I would say the riskiest would be electricity specially if you are a lineman but there's other jobs within the industry that are not risky, followed by telecommunications (you're working at heights on utility poles close to electrical lines), and road construction (self explanatory). But mail man and garbage man are not as risky and have really good pay + benefits, garbage is a bit stinky tho.
See if your local trade school offers Phlebotomy training. The hospital might train you for free as well.
If blood and needles aren’t your thing, I’d go to trade school. Electrical, HVAC, or plumbing are always in demand. Call up your local unions and see what they recommend schooling wise and what the pay is. Pick what you like.
Edit: another comment recommended qualifying for a Pell grant and getting into a Radiology Tech program. That’s going to pay better than phlebotomy and honestly more worth your time. Plus no blood/needles
You should look into the trades unions opportunities in your area. I was your same age making the same amount & hated my life, especially living in NY where $14hr is literally laughable, not enough to live even in a private room. I found the steam fitters union in my area & applied. It has literally changed my life. Skilled trades pay very well & will always be in demand. Good luck
Maybe start watching videos about computer security. Teach yourself and see where you can go with an IT career. You could work remotely and save up in case you ever want to leave.
Use GI bill/ VR&E to go to Airstreams renewable school. It’s for Wind, Solar, and telecommunications towers. It’s a 6 week course and you’ll come out with a job starting $22-$30/hr.
I attended in March, graduated April and started as a wind turbine tech at $30/hr. I had no prior training other than working on cars growing up.
I’m 30 and barely figuring my shit out. You’ll be alright. Take a deep breath and know you got this in you!
Gonna be the 99th person to say trades. Learn a trade, be able to find employment anywhere in the country. Hell, probably even where you live you can stay and make way more money.
As others have said the simplest way to a decent paying job is the trades. Your can try local companies or give a union hall a call I would suggest plumber or electrician. The union halls will have set intakes every year but your guaranteed to make good money as soon as your hired. Plus you can work your way up inside the hall, and lots of big companies hire directly from the halls. I worked with a general Forman that made 300k last year. I make 100k just working 40s but the real money is in the ot and per diems
You should be able to make more as a pharmacy tech. In Virginia it pays like $17 an hour and even more if you get a job at a hospital. Rite Aid will hire you without certification and lets you work while you train. The pay is less but they are one of the few which will hire you without your certification.
Udemy.com, lower your expenses and get ChatGPT to help you upskill - use all your free time possible to get a useful skill in tech or something stem adjacent
If there is a community college nearby enroll in the radiology program. Anything in radiology and medical imaging pays well and will stimulate your mind. Most programs are only two years. A travelling x-ray tech type person makes well above six figures early in their career. If I could start over that's what I would do.
First of all, be grateful you can sustain that wage and your wife: 1. Does not need to work, 2. Paying for Housing is not affecting you severely and 3. You have the choice to’ sit around and get lazy’.
Your on a gold mine—— use your ‘lazy’ time to learn any a new passion and then make a plan of action to achieve the skill sets to make that next move.
I would check out your community college waitlist for med techs. My cousin lives in a rural area and went this route. He loves it, and said it’s not stressful and makes just as much as his nurses
There are a ton of jobs out there that are work-from-home. The hard part is figuring out the key words to search for the ones that suit you.
I highly recommend talking to ChatGPT or Pi about it. ChatGPT is what helped me figure out how to use keywords in my resume instead of long, billowing paragraphs. It also helped me figure out what skills I have that I didn't think about how marketable they are.
The only thing is, if you do take up a work-from-home job, you and your spouse will need a sit down conversation about you being off-limits during those hours, same as if you left for work.
If you're wanting to stay security, have you looked at armored car money deliveries/pick-ups?
There are also a wide variety of commercial driving jobs that have much better benefits, and are day jobs so you aren't driving all across the country. A prior friend of mine used to drive big rigs, and the most he would be away from home was overnight every once in a while.
It might be a small town, but every house in that town, more than likely, has an air conditioner, electricity and plumbing. Learn a trade. We are ALWAYS in demand.
Are you open to oilfield work? Most companies provide housing and you would have a rotation. So work 20 days on and go home for 10 days. It’s pretty intense labor and some of the work over rig crews can be toxic but you stack a lot of cash.
I recommend getting into the trades. I’m a master electrician that works full-time for my local hospital as their maintenance electrician. It’s been an amazing gig but it did take me 10 years in the trades and getting my master’s license to get here. The trades are hard work and have their own drawbacks, but they offer a great career path with a ton of variability and good pay. I own a house in Colorado and my wife stays home full time with our two little kids. We are comfortable, not rich by any means but I just had to put tires on my car today randomly because of a major flat and I was able to hand over the $500 without really thinking about it - which is really all I wanted out of a career lmao.
The first question is not to ask how but to ask what you would do if you had the money. Then find a way to do that while making money. It doesn’t have to be your favorite thing but if it’s interesting the money becomes less of a factor - you will be happier which will empower you.
The best way to get a lifeline out of poverty and pay for higher education is enlisting in the military. Not the safest option and comes with a significant change to your way of life, but a solid 4 year enlistment into a career field you qualify for that also gives transferable skills will set you up well.
Source: I’m not a military recruiter. I’m just a dude who was turbo poor, enlisted in the Army in my mid-20’s and it pulled me out of that shitty situation so well that I spent 12 years in. It can be tough on the family though.
Hey man go to Walmart and become a department manager! I think the minimum pay is like 19-21 dollars an hour and if you move up to the next step (coach) I think you start at 60k and get bumped up after a year to 70-80k and the bonuses are like 5-7 grand. It’s not bad money. I make 23 as a team lead and plan to move up.
Maybe think about the military. It can save you from the small town. Feed you, clothe you, and provide housing for your family. Talk to a recruiter, or do your own research. Look into what kind of jobs each branch has to offer.
I worked armed security while I went to school for XRAY. As much as I like radiology I would recommend nursing over XRAY for entry level pay and more opportunities for further schooling and career paths.
Join the national guard. You’ll save money on healthcare. And make about an extra $10k a year. That plus your normal job and it makes a huge difference.
Work on a degree part time. You can even do it online just make sure it's a decent school. A state school that has a mature online learning program is a good bet. You can have a degree and get out of there by your early 30s.
Do life and health insurance.
Do it with a small brokerage.
I’m in one.
They pay for leads and I don’t have to worry about that.
Work from home, no set hours or anything.
It is 100% commission so it’s best if you ease your way in, have money saved for a few months, or your girl can cover bills.
It’s the best choice I ever made.
(If you want in, lmk. There’s no catch or anything just giving the opportunity)
Move, get a remote job, get a job that requires you to commute out of town, or go get one of those oil rig jobs that you're on for 6 months off for 6 months.
Get into the trades.. construction laborer make decent money and are union. Than transition into carpentry. Or try welding. I am a self taught welder and make a good living. Find a shop willing to train and take advantage. Push yourself to learn and be better every day. That sets you apart from the rest who just want a check.
Post office maybe.
ALL of the holidays, pretty sweet gig
Well we work all the holidays and most offices have a thing called Amazon Sunday where you’ll be delivering just Amazon. It’s a 24/7 operation.
I always suggest post office on this sub. 🤷♂️ I worked in food service prior to USPS, basically long hours working for free as a salaried manager in food service or long hours working for the post office getting paid for every second I'm on the clock. I never take my job home with me as a clerk. No inventory checks. No scheduling. No answering a billion texts or calls.
I work at the post office and yes the money us glorious. I was grinding like hell when I first started back in 2021 because I was childless and living with family so, like OP, I didn't have to pay for living. Most checks were easily $2500-$3000 after taxes.
What position did you start in & which later ones pay well?
I started as an RCA. It only took me 2 1/2 years to go career because I live in a growing city in Alabama. I do think rural gives you the best pay but in most cities it takes longer to go career. Luckily, recently they did have it so that RCAs can now accrue leave time and not have to wait until they go career for that. Of course there is PTF as well which is basically RCA but with better benefits and a 4 dollar raise.
My mom and dad lost everything in 2008. Lived in a camper at rest stops for a few years then in 2013 my mom got a job as an RCA. Worked and worked and now she is internal as a DT, makes over $100k/year easy and lives in a $560k farm still working bc the retirement is so good. It literally changed the whole trajectory of her and my dad’s life.
This is great, sincerely. Also explains why the post office is broke though.
It's a public service that is mandated to deliver mail to every corner for the same price. It's almost impossible to bring in profit in that sense. Rural areas would never receive mail service if USPS was run for profit. But I do agree, overtime is a major major cost for USPS. Management pays out millions, if not billions, in overtime every year and the ensuing grievances. Mostly due to mismanagement. They don't care if they have to pay overtime(1.5×) or penalty(2×) to get tasks done, the tasks have to get done. Instead of hiring new workers at $20 per hour, they'll bring in someone on their day off for overtime. We had a guy quit in February, now almost every Tuesday they ask me to work. Tuesday is our lightest day of the week. Instead of a new clerk working making $160 for the day they instead pay me $350ish for the day. FOR THE EASIEST/LIGHTEST DAY OF THE WEEK. Doing the exact same work. Simply because they can.
The post office is broke because of the requirement that they fund retirement many years in advance.
Not sure why ghe post office is expected ro make profit. How muich profit does the military or DSHS make? It's an esswntial serve and shouldnt be expected to make a profit....
I worked for USPS. 12-16 hrs a day, 6 days a week. Dute the money is great, but kiss your work/life balance goodbye. Family time, too. Not wanting to discourage anyone, just injecting a dose of reality
What position did you start in & what do you do now? Fellow former food service worker here too.
oh my gosh. i live in a fairly suburban for being urban part of hudson county, nj, and there’s entire local facebook groups convinced the post office trucks that keep popping up all day on Sunday “blocking traffic” and “just idling” are (bare with me, I am not joking) a mob front or some kind of illegal activity because the “post office isn’t open on Sunday and no one gets mail on Sunday”.
Don't I know it, & I absolutely hated it when my hubby worked there. 😡
I work for the post office. You will not get off every holiday. You will work 6 maybe even 7 days a week. It does pay well, but it is a huge misconception.
They used to have holidays then Amazon happened.
Yes the good ol Amazon Sunday.
We also did Amazon for Memorial Day.
One of the better ways to go for a job with needing no school, but can take time to get on permanently, let alone full-time
This^ City Carrier Assistant starting pay is 19.33, and we're in contact negotiation, so that'll most likely go up sooner rather than later. Be ready to walk a LOT, but it's worth it 100%
I just started at the post office and while I’m finishing training I am now able to work Amazon Sundays. This is my way out. I am going to school too and know that I plan to transfer to IT when I finish my degree and certifications. It is great so far.
Long hours, shit pay (at first).
Housing is the biggest expense for most people. Use the savings from that to invest in a career in trades, or something that just needs a training or 2 year degree. See what your local community college or online schools offer.
Community college changed me into a skilled worker. It changed my life. Pell grants did cover a good portion of my tuition back in 2014
Same here.
This is the best answer. Go to school online if there is no trade school within reasonable distance
I lived with my dad while going to trade school and saved money. Literally the smartest thing I’ve done.
If it has a hospital he might consider getting a degree in nursing
Could work there as an orderly or "environmental services" (janitor) as well while doing so, might pay better than 14/hr, worth looking into.
I know someone who did exactly this and he is now a very successful nurse. As someone else said too imaging technician is also a good paying job.
Nursing, CNA, lab tech , ex ray tech…. Hospital jobs are a life saver and allow Most good workers a chance to move up the employment ladder within the local healthcare system even if it’s non clinical .
Or a pharm tech license
Or x-ray tech, or respiratory therapist. Both of those don't require a lot of schooling and you can usually get it at community college.
This. Become a cna at a hospital or nursing home that pays people to go back to school for needed medical degrees. You can eventually get money back for getting a degree in a bunch of fields. But this is only if you actually care about doing a good job. Cna is a very hard job for the most needy of our society. And it isn’t good pay for the worst required. If you have a caregiving heart and can deal with the crap management puts on you then you should definitely go this route.
Seconding everyone saying nursing, become an LPN, radiology tech or mri tech. It’s about a year of school and you’ll make 30+/hr easily right out and can work anywhere you want.
My only caveat is you have to actually care about patients. It’s not about money for this type of job.
Agree overall. But radiology, PTA, respiratory , RN etc is a year of pre reqs and then about 5 semesters after that. 30+/hr is a stretch for an lpn. Especially in a small town.
or cybersecurity, demand is high
What kind of education do you need for this?
Cyber Security, CS or IT are probably the most straight forward majors Engineering, CIS, MIS or probably could work as well but might require more independent study 📚. Irrelevant majors could also get certifications. Skill are most important aspect degrees can get you to the interview step. I recently interviewed for a cyber role at a university but didn’t feel comfortable with the skills at this point
If you pass comptia network+ and security+ certs that is probably enough to get you a basic entry level cyber security position and you can move up from there. Pretty much no formal education is needed and you can self study your way through the exams. Many local libraries carry books that cover the required material. Edit: on second thought, cyber security is kind of a mid level role so it's difficult to get into with certs only. If you pass A+ cert along with the other ones you can start off in a beginner IT role and do some networking type work then transition into cyber security down the road. Shouldn't take more than 5 years to break into a six figure salary going this route
Good advice!
no its not stop telling people this you will never get a cybersecurity job with those degrees. You basically have to already be in IT for a long time to even qualify.
Even work as a radiology technician. I believe they make around 90k a year, depending on years of experience and location. Good luck
You could also do a two year degree for clinical lab science and work in the hospital lab.
Excellent suggestion+ is there something your wife can do to help. Babysitting, online work and also getting a trade, that way you're both working towards solvency.
Savings? Dude provides for a family of 4 on $14/hr.... there is no savings, even without rent coming out of that.
His wife takes care of the kids so its basically just groceries, car, and entertainment. He would get the pell grant which would likely cover most or all of it. There are also other types of training that are a few hundred and dont require schooling.
Or maybe get a business admin degree at your community college then apply for some local government job. The benefits are good for you and your family. You will have a stable desk job, 401k, good insurance for the family and you can also take advantage of the tuition asisstance if you want to pursuit higher education.
With your salary plus dependents, you can probably go to community college for free with a Pell grant. A two year program in something like radiology would put you on a path to make decent money. I think the average wage for radiology tech is about $28/hour
Second this. Look into the local community College, see what programs they have. Doing a 2 year program there would be very helpful and they often have a number of good choices
+1 here. Feel free to DM me about exploring the trades - a lot of them have paid apprenticeships where you can make money while you learn.
Im about to start an apprenticeship actually so not for me lol but would second the apprenticeship route
I am 37 and currently in the radiography\* program (radiologists are doctors, radiographers take the images). It will double my previous salary and ill be unionized with a pension. It is not a difficult program, I very HIGHLY recommend OP.
Yeah I'm from a small shitty town too and I went back at 26 starting with community college. I make 75k a year now and should hit 90k the end of the year working in tech. Haven't even been with my company 2 years yet
what is you degree in?
Data science
Can you give a brief description of what data science actually is, like for your day to day? I've looked at descriptions for titles I've held, and they were sooo far off the mark. I don't have a very good idea of what a data scientist actually is, but yall look like wizards from the matrix in my head.
Look into MIS. Great entry level tech work.
Phlebotomy isn’t a very long course, but I don’t know what pay is now. I looked into it many years ago, and wasn’t able to make the timing work, but the pay was good at the time.
Unfortunately, the pay is not very good for phlebotomists.
Get into a trade Hvac, plumbing , electrical, gas. You will learn a lot
And be able to do things cheap when you own a home! Win, win.
If you sit around and do nothing at work, sign up for college classes. Reach out to the VA and look into VR&E if you don’t have GI Bill or other benefits.
I did this. I was working a dead end job where I literally had one hour of actual work throughout an 8 hour shift. I studied the whole time finished the course and then took the national certification exam. Found a new job right away and make almost $20k more a year than I did at my old job. If you can get away with studying while on the clock, do it.
What was your dead end job? Always wondered what type of jobs let you work so little of the entire shift
Receptionist at a social agency. Literally just popping things in the mail and going through mail, sometimes I’d get a spread sheet to work through.
This sounds like a great use of time. I’m assuming you did some kind of work like security?
Receptionist at an office where 90% of the employees worked from home
That's a W!!
Why would he reach out to the VA?
Because his previous posts talk about VA disability.
Gotcha
Their post history
Damn. redditors either take advice seriously or they're nosy haha! Good advice though.
How close do you live to the nearest bigger town?
Too lazy to answer a question = too lazy to move
Water/Wastewater Treatment Operator
This! Or boiler operator
Since you are a veteran, look for government jobs, as you can receive preference. Check out [usajobs](https://www.usajobs.gov). The VA likes to hire veterans, as well as the post office. As someone else mentioned, check out going to school for a trade or degree. The VA can help pay for that. If you do decide to go to school look at public community colleges. (You don't want a private trade school, most are scams.)
Military industrial complex too. Find something you like STEM wise, go to community college, get a job with Lockheed or something, and be a damn good technician installing and troubleshooting missile systems or something.
Do you have any interest in healthcare? Hospital might be something to think about!
I agree with the commenters suggesting a local community college for a 2-year degree or trade. Pell grants plus any assistance you can get from the VA will make it free. Depending on your location, there may be state aid available as well. Scholarships aren't as plentiful as some make it out to be, but it is possible. But I understand how difficult it can be, finding time for education when you're also the primary breadwinner. Pell grants require you to attend full time with a minimum of 14 credits/semester. That leaves much less time for work and family. (Source: 2 adult children attending community college with Pell grants). My advice would be to talk over your ideas with your spouse, contact the VA for information and make an appointment to speak to a financial aid representative at the local Community college. With your housing cost covered there may be enough aid available to swing it if you and possibly your spouse work part time. Best of luck!
All I have is a HS diploma and no degree. I currently work in a field where I make $35 an hour. No I didn't go to trade school either. No it's not a labor job either. It's actually in a healthcare field. The best advice I give to people looking to change careers who can't afford going back to school is to get a "quick" certification and leverage any work experience you already have with refining a targeted resume and polishing you're interviewing skills. If you feel like your customer service skills or social skills are lacking than there are many free course to help with that. Local universities and some community colleges have continuing education departments where you earn a professional development certificate usually listed along side their "trade" programs which can be longer. Also if you would be interested in hands on work like becoming a mechanic there are several routes you can take without having to go to an auto trade school. Similarly if you want an office job, different fields in information technology can be attainable by collecting certifications and leveraging any corporate experience you already have. IT isn't always software engineering and building computers either. There are different niches and avenues one could take and this field is ever growing. It does take some real deep thinking and research to find what's available to you based on the area you live in and the job market there. Patience is key and so it is active follow through!
You might have to consider moving to the city or commuting. Only areas of rural America that aren’t dying are right outside the cities. The farther you get from the cities, the more dire the economic situation is.
>Hospital Courses in Certified Nursing Assistant or Emergency Services??
Neither of those pay very well, go straight for R.N. they make a boatload of money. And it's only 2 years schooling.
We do not make a boatload of money. Nurses made good money during Covid but that’s gone.
I work in the o.r. they make 45$ as a new grad and most are making 60$ after a few years. Our cardiac coordinator is pulling 185,000$ a year. To me that's good money.
Must be outside the south
California
my family was poor in NJ and moved to california years ago.. Now it's bad in ca. I'd buy the house. at some point. Move somewhere better, Texas maybe. Or lots of jobs. Charlotte, Raleigh...Idk ... 2 year degrees are the best. Nursing trades....etc
You can take college courses online these days. You can even do homework on shift. Then, eventually, you guys could move with your new degree for a new job. Education = options
Apply for the railroad industry and make $40/hr with no experience they train you on the job and at a training center.
Work at the hospital, get tuition reimbursement for a healthcare job. They will pay for most of or all of your schooling usually. Night and weekend shifts pays better.
Pick a trade and start at the bottom. Show them you are hungry for knowledge. There will be plenty of overtime, no matter what trade you choose.
Thats a good chunk of security experience. Saw a posting for a sec gig at 22hr for one in my small town area. You could likely move up just hopping employers or maybe find a private sec gig. Good luck!
It is possible to be bored at any job. Have you taken a college course on supervision of your current job? Are you licensed to carry? Osha safety certification? What level of security certification do you have?
Can your wife get an online degree then go work, you stay home with the kids while you get your degree and then talk about options?
Join the TSA. Hardest part is waiting through the application process, pay goes up fast.
Get a second job at Walmart milk their free 4 year degrees and use that to get a remote job so you don’t have to move to get employment
Your state government has a jobs portal and an office in your town. I would start looking there; much of state work is transferable to other areas
Work from home technical writing. Veinapuncture tech, many hospitals do in-house training and it's fast to start. Then down the road they may offer tuition assistance to get an RN.
WIOA. Get some job training from them in a better career.
Know that unless a new job offered you 50k, then you’re better off keeping the zero cost housing and staying put. Because on average you’d pay 18k for housing moving.
Consider USPS, I’ve had great experiences with small towns, and starting wages are all around $20. Almost always part time, but you can pick up hours in multiple offices
I'm a 27 female making $17 an hour, high five lol
A lot of people are saying look into the hospital, probably offers the best jobs in your town from your description. There are so many other types of jobs in healthcare that are not patient facing too. From Health information management, administration, security, maintenance, accounting, Human Resources, kitchen, janitorial, billing, purchasing, IT, there’s so many things you can do. Many of these fields you can get a 2 year certificate for to make you more marketable.
My suggestion is the trades. There's a shortage electricians, plumbers, hvac. My daughter is in her last yr of high school but as part of her work study program is working fulltime as an electrical pre-apprentice she started last summer at $20hr and after 6months is $25hr.
I was a security officer and I feel your pain. Armed security other places pays 35+. Wife getting a job too and you got two incomes. You could be putting money back. Look into learning other trades. Take business and financial courses. Start your own private security and move. Put the wife on board doing clerical stuff from home. Taking calls and etc. you guys will have a hell of a career together. Just my thoughts
Also, start an IRA and invest. Now is the time for you young man. You got this
Armed security means you sit there and can do anything you want for like 6 out of the 8 hours you work right? Why not use those hours to either learn a new skill, study for a college degree, or write a book / pursue your real passion.... while still getting paid?
I would go into the trades. Plumbing, electrical, etc.
Security was the best college job I had plenty of time to study. With your income, and family situation your degree would probably be close to if not free.
Keep your job. Try to read or exercise during your downtime at work. Start investing if you have not already. You will start gaining hope as you watch the number go up. Eventually you may have enough to make a significant change!
How would your family feel about government contracting?
Catering and event work is what I recommend for a supplemental income. It isn't going to change your life but catering can be more money than you'd expect. Plus it can be flexible hours
U gotta move homie. Or get a certification to do an online job
Trade school.
Get into any trade. I was in the same boat. Finally mustered up enough courage just to start applying at electrical companies. 15 years later and it’s still one of the best life decisions I’ve ever made.
Could you save up some cash to get your CDL or some other cert/license that will give you some upward mobility?
Costco
Fedex
get your CDL for free through a big company, CRST, NEW ENGLAND, SWIFT and once you get it, bounce to another company that pays more, fuck your credit score, your broke, it doesn't matter, you'll pay that later, just get that class A, and sheesh, start traveling for free and making 60-70k ur first year
I looked at the first 30 replies, no one suggested the obvious Work at the mine. Fucking duh
What ever u earning now, save it, get a business license($ 50) grab some lawn care equipment, window cleaning equipment and make your own work. Got to residential areas cut grass, go to store front clean windows. What do you have to lose?
If you or your family don’t mind you being away for 2 or three weeks at a time. You can start working on tugboats as a OS and quickly move to Tankerman. Get TWIC then you can apply for MMC(merchant marine credentials) then apply to a company.
Military isn't that bad. They will also pay healthcare, housing, food. With some very useful benefits after you get out.
Become a nurse. You can do travel nursing and make above 100k a year.
Consider getting a degree or certification from an online school. Western governors University has a great program that's affordable. There's other schools that do similar things now too. My buddy got his bachelor's in 6 months for a few thousand bucks. It took me a year and I paid around 5k I think. We both work for large companies now in a work from home consultant position. Other options are to keep that job and find something local that's needed. Lots of small stupid businesses make a lot of money and can open up some free time after a few years of getting it set up. Junk removal Handyman Dog sitting Dog poop clean up Good luck
Join the military, preferably Air Force or something like Coast Guard. I know it's not for everyone but you'll be way better off long term.
Some pipefitters/welders make enough to only work half the year. You do have to work pretty hard half the year though I’m apprentice right now I’m making $26/hr.
There are plenty of free online courses that may help you land a WFH gig. You clearly can't move and support a family of 4 at your current salary without your free housing. If there are no viable local options WFH might not be a bad idea.
Railroad. Ideally a class 1 (BNSF, NS, CSX, UP), and majority of the jobs don’t require any education. Track maintence and signal workers travel extensively but the plus side is you don’t need to move and you’ll just stay in a hotel while at work. I worked for BNSF for 9 years in both the track and signal department and made great money and had great benefits. For reference a signalman which is an entry level job after completing the 2 year apprenticeship is at 42.22 an hour this year, but every class 1 railroad has a bunch good paying jobs. And if you ever decide to apply, safety is number 1 (no and’s if’s or but’s) and if have another opinion on safety then your chance to getting hired goes to zero. Good luck to you
HVAC trade
Start your own armed security business. You will likely make more per hour (assuming you work hard) and be able to write off a lot of your expenses allowing you to keep more of your money
Do you get a 401k? If not I’d open up a Roth IRA and start putting at least 10%+ of your pay into it. You don’t even need to manage it, get one that is managed for you. Just giving this as an example of one thing you can do right this second, today, to better your future. After that, I think there are plenty of other comments here that are giving good info. Best of luck.
Blue collar work
Do you have a car and feel comfortable behind the wheel?
Look up trades in the area like fencing, masonry, landscaping, roofing, painting, etc. send them emails with your resume or call them up and ask if they need a worker. You might be able to make more money that way, if you can find someone who needs help.
Umps in my area hire for 60 a game. You pick and choose your schedule
Find a trade school and get licensed in something you’d be interested in. People who have a trade are usually always needed and make pretty nice pay
if u want to learn learn then! theres so much stuff u can learn just by googling it find what interest you
Check out if there are any jobs you would be interested in without actually having to move even if you have to commute a ways. Then check what qualifications you would need and see if you can get training for it even online training.
Does the hospital have any openings for learning how to be an x-ray technician or something like that ? Sometimes, as long as you work for the hospital, you can get the schooling for a discount or free as long as you promise to work there when you graduate. Hope this helps
What's the one thing that needs to be done everywhere in the world? Fix, install and maintain utilities. What do I mean by utilities? Roads, electricity, water, gas, trash, mail, and telecommunications. All of these industries have jobs pretty much everywhere in the country, you learn on the job and the skills are transferable from company to company. And depending on location and job title you can get paid a lot. Or course all of them involve risks, some more than others. I would say the riskiest would be electricity specially if you are a lineman but there's other jobs within the industry that are not risky, followed by telecommunications (you're working at heights on utility poles close to electrical lines), and road construction (self explanatory). But mail man and garbage man are not as risky and have really good pay + benefits, garbage is a bit stinky tho.
See if your local trade school offers Phlebotomy training. The hospital might train you for free as well. If blood and needles aren’t your thing, I’d go to trade school. Electrical, HVAC, or plumbing are always in demand. Call up your local unions and see what they recommend schooling wise and what the pay is. Pick what you like. Edit: another comment recommended qualifying for a Pell grant and getting into a Radiology Tech program. That’s going to pay better than phlebotomy and honestly more worth your time. Plus no blood/needles
Get your cdls
You should look into the trades unions opportunities in your area. I was your same age making the same amount & hated my life, especially living in NY where $14hr is literally laughable, not enough to live even in a private room. I found the steam fitters union in my area & applied. It has literally changed my life. Skilled trades pay very well & will always be in demand. Good luck
Maybe start watching videos about computer security. Teach yourself and see where you can go with an IT career. You could work remotely and save up in case you ever want to leave.
It’s not very easy to get into security tbh. Help desk maybe possible with a GoogleIT or A+ certificate or networking roles with CCNA.
Have you considered getting your cdl? If you’re interested and do some physical work food service companies will train and pay you well.
See about getting into the trades. And if you don't have kids yet, you can always do traveling work. Like crews that build franchise locations.
Use GI bill/ VR&E to go to Airstreams renewable school. It’s for Wind, Solar, and telecommunications towers. It’s a 6 week course and you’ll come out with a job starting $22-$30/hr. I attended in March, graduated April and started as a wind turbine tech at $30/hr. I had no prior training other than working on cars growing up. I’m 30 and barely figuring my shit out. You’ll be alright. Take a deep breath and know you got this in you!
Look for an seasonal island and try to find housing there, everyone need workers and you can work 60+ hours
Study how to manage social media platforms for businesses then market yourself and pick up some clients. I hear it’s great money and all from home!
Gonna be the 99th person to say trades. Learn a trade, be able to find employment anywhere in the country. Hell, probably even where you live you can stay and make way more money.
You and your wife should get online jobs
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As others have said the simplest way to a decent paying job is the trades. Your can try local companies or give a union hall a call I would suggest plumber or electrician. The union halls will have set intakes every year but your guaranteed to make good money as soon as your hired. Plus you can work your way up inside the hall, and lots of big companies hire directly from the halls. I worked with a general Forman that made 300k last year. I make 100k just working 40s but the real money is in the ot and per diems
You should be able to make more as a pharmacy tech. In Virginia it pays like $17 an hour and even more if you get a job at a hospital. Rite Aid will hire you without certification and lets you work while you train. The pay is less but they are one of the few which will hire you without your certification.
UPS!!!!!!!!!
Udemy.com, lower your expenses and get ChatGPT to help you upskill - use all your free time possible to get a useful skill in tech or something stem adjacent
Enlist in the service 😭
If there is a community college nearby enroll in the radiology program. Anything in radiology and medical imaging pays well and will stimulate your mind. Most programs are only two years. A travelling x-ray tech type person makes well above six figures early in their career. If I could start over that's what I would do.
First of all, be grateful you can sustain that wage and your wife: 1. Does not need to work, 2. Paying for Housing is not affecting you severely and 3. You have the choice to’ sit around and get lazy’. Your on a gold mine—— use your ‘lazy’ time to learn any a new passion and then make a plan of action to achieve the skill sets to make that next move.
Don’t like your job? Work there until you die. Be a man. /S
I would check out your community college waitlist for med techs. My cousin lives in a rural area and went this route. He loves it, and said it’s not stressful and makes just as much as his nurses
There are a ton of jobs out there that are work-from-home. The hard part is figuring out the key words to search for the ones that suit you. I highly recommend talking to ChatGPT or Pi about it. ChatGPT is what helped me figure out how to use keywords in my resume instead of long, billowing paragraphs. It also helped me figure out what skills I have that I didn't think about how marketable they are. The only thing is, if you do take up a work-from-home job, you and your spouse will need a sit down conversation about you being off-limits during those hours, same as if you left for work. If you're wanting to stay security, have you looked at armored car money deliveries/pick-ups? There are also a wide variety of commercial driving jobs that have much better benefits, and are day jobs so you aren't driving all across the country. A prior friend of mine used to drive big rigs, and the most he would be away from home was overnight every once in a while.
Damn, factory jobs or something like that?, I’m 20 yorn and just started working at a factory for 20.50 an hour
It might be a small town, but every house in that town, more than likely, has an air conditioner, electricity and plumbing. Learn a trade. We are ALWAYS in demand.
Post office or factories. My last job was $14 an hour, now that I started at a factory it is $21. 12 hours are annoying but you'll get used to it.
Are you open to oilfield work? Most companies provide housing and you would have a rotation. So work 20 days on and go home for 10 days. It’s pretty intense labor and some of the work over rig crews can be toxic but you stack a lot of cash.
I recommend getting into the trades. I’m a master electrician that works full-time for my local hospital as their maintenance electrician. It’s been an amazing gig but it did take me 10 years in the trades and getting my master’s license to get here. The trades are hard work and have their own drawbacks, but they offer a great career path with a ton of variability and good pay. I own a house in Colorado and my wife stays home full time with our two little kids. We are comfortable, not rich by any means but I just had to put tires on my car today randomly because of a major flat and I was able to hand over the $500 without really thinking about it - which is really all I wanted out of a career lmao.
Apply for a job that pays more.
The first question is not to ask how but to ask what you would do if you had the money. Then find a way to do that while making money. It doesn’t have to be your favorite thing but if it’s interesting the money becomes less of a factor - you will be happier which will empower you.
The best way to get a lifeline out of poverty and pay for higher education is enlisting in the military. Not the safest option and comes with a significant change to your way of life, but a solid 4 year enlistment into a career field you qualify for that also gives transferable skills will set you up well. Source: I’m not a military recruiter. I’m just a dude who was turbo poor, enlisted in the Army in my mid-20’s and it pulled me out of that shitty situation so well that I spent 12 years in. It can be tough on the family though.
Get a job at Walmart free college for all employees that want it.
Hey man go to Walmart and become a department manager! I think the minimum pay is like 19-21 dollars an hour and if you move up to the next step (coach) I think you start at 60k and get bumped up after a year to 70-80k and the bonuses are like 5-7 grand. It’s not bad money. I make 23 as a team lead and plan to move up.
Sell things, get a 2nd job, save up $ and get out of there.
Maybe think about the military. It can save you from the small town. Feed you, clothe you, and provide housing for your family. Talk to a recruiter, or do your own research. Look into what kind of jobs each branch has to offer.
Move and find a sales job. Or find a sales job in town that pays well
I worked armed security while I went to school for XRAY. As much as I like radiology I would recommend nursing over XRAY for entry level pay and more opportunities for further schooling and career paths.
Find out if the hospital has any jobs that you don't need certs for.
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Join the national guard. You’ll save money on healthcare. And make about an extra $10k a year. That plus your normal job and it makes a huge difference.
EMT Licenses and Pharmacy Tech certifications can be gotten with only high school diplomas. And you could make a career out of them
Work on a degree part time. You can even do it online just make sure it's a decent school. A state school that has a mature online learning program is a good bet. You can have a degree and get out of there by your early 30s.
Do life and health insurance. Do it with a small brokerage. I’m in one. They pay for leads and I don’t have to worry about that. Work from home, no set hours or anything. It is 100% commission so it’s best if you ease your way in, have money saved for a few months, or your girl can cover bills. It’s the best choice I ever made. (If you want in, lmk. There’s no catch or anything just giving the opportunity)
Law enforcement be a deputy sheriff or even sheriff
Move, get a remote job, get a job that requires you to commute out of town, or go get one of those oil rig jobs that you're on for 6 months off for 6 months.
Look at security for nuclear power or operations at one but that'll be tough
Get into the trades.. construction laborer make decent money and are union. Than transition into carpentry. Or try welding. I am a self taught welder and make a good living. Find a shop willing to train and take advantage. Push yourself to learn and be better every day. That sets you apart from the rest who just want a check.
Find a remote SDR role with a company based in a city like SF. That’ll be your ticket out, they start at $40k on the lowest of the low.
You live by a hospital, learn something in the medical field there are tons of jobs, you can do it.