Waitressed from January to March and started dancing in April, chart shows the exponential change in income, with November being an insanely good month. Im beyond grateful and although it’s not for everybody and it’s also not forever, it’s what’s working for me now. Please be respectful, just wanted to show a different side to this sub.

Was making 50k and got a yearly 2% raise to 51k. I asked for a 16% increase to $58,000 for good performance and it was denied.

Interviewed with some other companies and just got an offer from a competitor for a 40% raise to $72,500. It’s technically the same job/role, too.

People thought I was crazy for asking for a 16% increase, but I know my value and it all worked out for the better. I never would have been making 72k if they accepted my 16% request. So in a weird way, I’m grateful for it being denied.

10 years into the best career choice I've ever made. Lots of overtime available whenever I feel like working it.

Not to brag but I’m over here seeing millionaires or people making $100k+ on the thread. It makes me envious, but I’m working toward an accounting degree so I hope I can dream of even making at least over $100K. I work full time and go to school. I’m a reconciliation associate

I was poor working for solar panel manufacturer as a Solder Repair Technician making $17/hr working 34hours a week with a stay at home mom, and 3 kids. For 6 years prior to my solar panel gig I was a Foreman for a foundation repair company making $85,000 a year I lost my job when the owner sold the company to a corp. Most of you guys wouldn't care but I'm proud to say that after my lights got turned off I took my one trade skill and my last paycheck and invested straight into starting a company of my own. Something I talked about for 2 years. 4 days after I landed my first contract which paid little over 8.1k for 2 days of work. Shortly after I took that money and advertised and got uniforms and a LLC, EIN and Insurance after paying my bills and getting caught up I was getting low on funds and worried I couldn't land a second job which I did a week after with my first client for another 1.9k cause she was impressed with the first results. This set me up for the month and allowed me to put 1k down on a truck and stop paying for uhaul rental to transport material. About 2 weeks later I landed a 4.8k contract which allowed me to pay my bills up till feb of 2025. I then struck gold and got on google and now I have 97k in contracts lined up and just took payment on 12/06/2024 for 18k to do a 4 day job 30mins down the road which allowed me to pay off my truck and my debt and have for once in my life debt free, 10k in my savings and actually get people christmas this year. Which these contracts I have scheduled out I have another payment to collect on 01/06/25 for 14k for a 1week job. Obviously I'm putting 30% back for taxes and keeping my material and receipts for everything but it's giving me hope that at 25 years old I'm not gonna be a disappointment for my whole life and can actually make something of myself. I'm looking at potentially making 200k+ in 2025 120k of that being profit. TAKE THE LEAP AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!

Start my new job next week, feels like a dream come true! (27F) working in medical imaging with a 2 year degree/certs and less than 2 years experience. This was my progression with salary over the last year-ish $17-$19/hr - just certificate $25/hr - 2 year degree $33-35/hr - degree + another certificate $44/hr - same education. Ask for the big number, they might just give it to you!

My net worth crossed 3M and income for 2024 crossed 1M. I still have a long way to go but I am incredibly grateful for where I am and all that it took to get here.

Worked odd jobs to get through college. Didn’t have enough to buy myself 3 meals a day. Moved to the US on a scholarship. I survived domestic violence and sexual assault. I took some wild bets on myself. It was a lot of irrational conviction in my goals, insane amounts of hard work (I am not a smart person. just sheer hard work), persisting even when things got really hard (this happened a lot, it is not a smooth climb) and when you do all this, the universe blesses you with some luck.

Sharing with this group in the hope that this reaches someone (especially women) who don’t come from a lot, and are told they cannot succeed.

Quoting from the Pursuit of Happyness, people can’t do something themselves, they’ll tell you, you can’t do it. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do something.

The best part of this journey is not the net worth I’ve accumulated or the position I’ve reached. It is the confidence I’ve built that no matter what life has in store for me, I have what it takes to persevere and win.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Wanted to join in. Plan on going back to school to hit 100k mark.

First month(ish) as a pawn broker. Sure, I might work a bit more than 40 hours a week. But they pay for lunch every day and my hours are consistent (9-6 most days).

Plus, they’re willing to work around my college schedule in January.

Pacific northwest USA. Multispecialty group. 1/8 call, busy practice working 60-70h/week and maybe taking 3 weeks off a year at most.

2025 is gonna be my year not much but grateful I have a job Just got my Cdl too.

Started working a few months ago and maximised the 401k since I only had 3-4 months to do so this year!

I'm the definition of started from the bottom. My parents were migrant farm workers when we arrived in the US and we were barely scraping by my whole childhood. Then I lost my dad when I was 10 and my mom at 15. I've been working my entire life although under the table and in cash until I became a parent in 2012 did I start taking my working career seriously. Fast forward 12 years and I'm making 6.5x what I made back then. I've doubled my salary in the last 4 years of my career alone.

My whole career has been in operations and administration. I started as an admin assistant and I'm now the Vice President, Operations at a Film/TV studio in LA.

I'm the only VP in the studio without a college degree, and half the time I know more than most of my peers with MBAs.

Hope others get inspired to pursue your goals regardless of your preparation.

I followed Richard Branson's advice: "If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”

I've had to work harder than the next guy but it has paid off.

This is the only place I really have to brag on myself and celebrate my wife and my own successes without feeling like a gloating dickhead.

28M, merit raises came in today - got my base increased from $73k to $80k, with bonus should put me close to $95k gross income.

Wife went from $77k base to $83k and estimated $7k in bonuses puts her at $90k gross.

It’s crazy to think we will be grossing over $200k/yr household income in the next couple of years. That’s as much as my parents make with PHDs!

Not bad for two 28 year olds with no college degrees living in a LCOL area! We aren’t rich but we’re building wealth and live comfortably, in my mind that’s the biggest blessing I can ask for besides our health!

Throw away for obvious reasons.

I was addicted to heroin from age 19 to about 25 (2015). My life was in shambles, homeless on and off, couch surfing "friends" houses. Keeping a job was laughable. I'd stay long enough to get a check or 2 and mess it up somehow. I hit rock bottom more times than I can count.

Fast forward to 2015 I had finally had enough and got sober and never looked back. Scored a job through a high-school friend, operating heavy equipment for $15 and hour. Absolute terrible company, but it was something. I stuck with that job while living in a shitty apartment until I could leverage the experience to get into a better job.

Beginning of '16 i was able to get a job in the steel industry as a laborer (bottom). I moved to the other side of the state for that opportunity. Pension, 401k, health insure, and good pay for the time. I finally felt like I made it. Nought a house at 28. I moved up through the company and padded my resume as much as possible. I felt I could retire from there, but knew I wanted more from life.

Which brings us to EOY '22. I used the experience from the steel industry and was able to get into a leadership role in gas and oil. I doubled my income year 1. I will break 200k (LCOL) 2024.

I don't post this to brag, although I am proud. I post this in hopes someone struggling might see this. We do recover. There is light on the other side and a wonderful life waiting on you when you decide it's time.

53, no degree but a year of trade school, industrial electrician on the coast of Washington state

Thought I’d share what I made this year as a psychiatrist and get some thoughts from others in the field in different states as to what they are making ( comments from others are welcome as well).

After 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, 3 years of residency, 2 years of fellowship and countless amount of dollars spent.

Love the job though and wouldn’t change a thing about the journey.

• I’ll have a pension that pays 90% of my highest salary when I retire at 50. (I could retire as early as 42 but in that case my pension would only pay about 60%.)

• I take about 2 months off per year to travel. Stacking shifts and a great vacation benefit allow me to do this.

• I’ll have lifetime health insurance

• I max out yearly contributions to a tax advantaged account provided by the city in addition to the pension.

Will likely owe the Feds $25k-$30k but should get back ~$15k-$20k from New York State.