I didn't go to college, got a job doing industrial inspection just by walking into the right place at the right time at the age of 23, first year I made $40k only working half the year. Few years later I took a couple week long courses to get better certifications and now I make $200k+/year. My job requires me to work away from home more of the year than not, I get dirty and sweaty and have to wear coveralls but I don't work very hard, Im on standby more often than not,I play xbox or watch movies in my office more than half my day. My industry is starving for people, can't find technicians to hang out and watch movies for $200k/year because no one wants to work away from home. If you are willing to travel and get dirty there are a million jobs out there that pay extremely well. I live in work camps some times, the people there .asking sandwiches for the lunches make $35/hr, so do the people emptying garbage cans and sweeping the floor, they have a tough time finding people to do that too. If there's a laborers union in your town give them a call, they will find you work, give you awesome benefits, and pay you way way more than getting the same job at a non unionized work site.