| I decided to never go back. I am 5 years into software development, 18 years in the tech industry overall. I have managed to get work at some great companies and have kept my salary close to or above 6 figures for much my career. How? I worked my ass off. I cannot even really express the amount of time and effort I have put into my career. Especially once I switched gears and started software development full time. Even before that, I always put more time in my job than just about anyone else I knew. The downside is the effort has been detrimental to my health, I have hospitalized myself a few times due to the stress of working to much. Should you get a degree? My opinion, based on what I have seen over the years, is that with a degree you do not need to work as hard to make as much. I am not implying that people with degrees do not work hard. Without a degree, you really need to bust your ass to make it to the upper salary ranges. Without a degree, many many doors will be closed to you, regardless of how skillful you may be with your craft. If I had to do it over again, I would buckle down and get that degree. As much as I love what I do, and I truly do, the amount of time and effort it has take me to get this far, not to mention the health issues, it is just not something I would recommend for others. On the other hand, if your are aspirations are a bit lower and you are just looking to make living...it is definitely possible to pursue this type of job without a degree and maybe even with a little less work than nuts like me. |