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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
12 Highest-Paying AI Jobs You Can Start Without a Degree, According to Codie Sanchez
College isn't the only path to a high-income career. Some of the highest-paying jobs are in the industries you wouldn't think of. Entrepreneur Codie Sanchez, founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, recently shared some of the top, high-paying AI jobs in the trades sector that pay anywhere from $60,000 to over $300,000 that you can jump into right now. Read Next: For You: Sanchez said autonomous vehicle technicians represent the future of automotive repair, working with AI-powered systems. These professionals install, repair, calibrate and update the technology behind self-driving cars, including sensors, LIDAR, radar, cameras and drive-by-wire systems. Companies like Waymo, Tesla and Uber desperately need skilled technicians to maintain their growing fleets, with entry-level positions starting at $60,000 to $85,000 annually, according to Glassdoor. If you're an automotive mechanic, Sanchez said that you're 80% already qualified for this role. Trending Now: You can make anywhere between $80,000 and $100,000 per year as a commercial drone pilot, according to ZipRecruiter. Businesses in agriculture, construction, utilities, logistics, delivery and emergency services are adding drones to their operations, which means more demand for drone pilots. According to Sanchez, you only need a remote pilot certificate from the FAA by passing the Part 107 exam. You can start with side gigs like real estate photography before scaling to bigger jobs like industrial inspection or film production. Every warehouse upgrading to smart robotics needs technicians. Companies like Amazon, Tesla, Siemens and Figure AI are always hiring these professionals to troubleshoot and repair automation systems. The average salary is about $65,000 a year, according to She noted that most technicians require high school diplomas and vocational certificates in robotics, mechatronics or industrial automation. As AI expands, data centers need more humans to service them and this is where money is going to be, Sanchez said. These technicians rack servers, troubleshoot networks, swap GPUs, manage cooling systems and earn $70,000 to $75,000 a year, according to Glassdoor. Sanchez noted that companies like Amazon Web Services are desperately hiring technicians faster than they can find qualified candidates. If you have a 2-year associate degree in IT or networking or are a military veteran, you could easily land this role. There's some sort of AI in everything right now, even in building, which requires technicians to maintain AI-powered systems, including HVACs, security networks and smart lighting. She explained that these professionals handle such automations from their laptops, earning starting salaries of $60,000 to $65,000, with top technicians in large commercial buildings earning $80,000 to $100,000 annually, according to Glassdoor. IoT (Internet of Things) technicians install and maintain thousands of AI-driven sensors that monitor everything from city traffic systems to factory production lines. Sanchez noted that most IoT technicians come from either IT networking or electrical trades backgrounds. These professionals earn base salaries of $82,000 annually, per ZipRecruiter. Sanchez described medical equipment technicians as life-saving professionals who calibrate smart sensors and network critical devices in hospitals. The average salary is about $62,000 to $63,000 a year for entry-level positions, with experienced technicians earning more than $100,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is a field that's projected to grow by over 18%. Most people need a 2-year associate degree in biomedical technology. Additional certifications like CBET (Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician) could mean more pay. These are professionals who operate and maintain robotic arms that weld everything from car frames to construction equipment. Most technicians start at a $60,000 annual salary, but specialized ones can start at $95,000, she said. Sanchez mentioned two paths to get into this field: starting as a traditional welder or studying industrial robotics or mechatronics with a focus on welding. These technicians use AI-powered tools to monitor machinery and predict failures before they happen. They analyze heat, vibration, noise and performance data in real-time and earn anywhere from $75,000 to $95,000 on entry in high-growth industries, according to ZipRecruiter. A background in mechanical or electric maintenance is perfect to get started, Sachez said. Sanchez also mentioned that wind power has been growing for a while and so is the demand for wind turbine technicians. These technicians install, maintain and repair those massive turbines that turn wind into clean energy. She said these professionals earn $70,000 starting salaries, with experienced technicians earning $150,000 to $250,000 annually. She also mentioned companies like NextEra, Vestas and GE Renewables that are aggressively hiring wind technicians. Sanchez pointed out that 5G expansion has created a huge demand for tower technicians who install, upgrade and maintain wireless networks. She said that these technicians earn starting salaries of $75,000 to $90,000 annually and only require a high school diploma to get started. These technicians maintain and repair today's high-tech farming machines like GPS-guided tractors, autonomous harvesters, smart irrigation systems and drone networks. According to Sanchez, there's going to be a need for more techs who know agricultural equipment inside out as more farms adopt AI and smart tech to boost efficiency. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance (And 2 Reasons They Should) This article originally appeared on 12 Highest-Paying AI Jobs You Can Start Without a Degree, According to Codie Sanchez
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
10 Ways To Earn a Top Salary Without Climbing the Corporate Ladder
Traditionally, the highest paying salaries are often higher up the work food chain. Managers often make significantly more money than those they manage. However, younger generations are not necessarily aspiring to these roles. According to a recent Deloitte work survey, only 6% of Gen Zers aim for a management position in their careers. Learn More: Read Next: However, Gen Zers still want to make good salaries. Here are some expert-backed ways they can do so without necessarily climbing that corporate ladder in the traditional way. First, 'high paying' is a term relative to such factors as profession, field, employer, experience and geographic region, according to Wendy Terwelp, CEO of Opportunity Knocks of Wisconsin, LLC, a boutique career development firm. It's important to consider your interests, where you want to live and what figure equals the salary sweet spot. She recommended checking out salary ranges for different job types at and Find Out: For a great starting place to explore careers, Terwelp recommended checking out sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Some jobs that pay in the six-figure range include: Software engineer Computer engineer Nurse practitioner Pharmacist Surgical nurse Specialties — such as airline pilots and air traffic controllers Other jobs that may also pay that well but require less schooling or come with on-the-job training, include: Journeyman plumber General contractor HVAC repair Electrician There are emerging roles dubbed 'new collar,' Terwelp said, that are associated with professions where employees develop their technical and soft skills through nontraditional education paths. 'Employers trying to fill these roles focus on candidates' skill sets rather than formal education degrees.' New-collar employees may train on the job or through classes and certifications in community colleges, technical or trade schools, software boot camps, apprenticeships or internships. 'Depending on the role, some employees may even be self-taught,' she said. With so much technical information available on the internet, it's not impossible for someone to learn the skills they need before ever starting a job. Sales jobs are often lucrative, though they may be commissions-based, which can be great for the self starter, those who like to talk to people and those who don't want to stay chained to a desk. Terwelp pointed out that there are sales jobs in multiple industries, including: financial services, insurance, real estate, engineering sales, medical sales (durable medical equipment, pharmaceutical sales) and many more. There are always freelance and consulting style jobs where a person can parlay a skill or interest into a service, filling a gap for people who are too busy to do those services themselves. From virtual assistants to content writers and marketing consultants, freelance possibilities abound. 'This [grew] especially during the pandemic when people were able to work remotely and reassess their career goals,' Terwelp said. She said that to do this kind of work, 'a person needs to be highly motivated, structured, connected and well known.' You may be able to start with word of mouth in your existing networks until you can invest in the marketing to go wider. Another way up the salary chain is to become a 'fractional' professional, Terwelp suggested, such as a fractional CFO, where they contract with an organization. '[They] still get the corporate experience without being a corporate employee.' If you're good with numbers and finance and haven't heard of 'quantitative analysis,' it's a good time to learn more, according to Lisa Dupras, owner at Elev8 Coaching. 'This is a lucrative career path in finance that doesn't necessitate corporate ladder climbing or personnel management,' she said. Quantitative analyst, trader and developer roles require high-level skills in advanced math, data modeling, programming and financial industry knowledge. They involve designing or optimizing complex financial models used to determine pricing, trading decisions and product risk. Quantitative analysts design and refine pricing and risk models for financial products. Quantitative traders build algorithmic strategies to optimize financial portfolios. Quantitative developers are responsible for developing and maintaining trading systems and their infrastructures. These high-demand jobs are typically found at hedge funds, trading firms, investment banks, asset management firms, stock exchanges, government agencies and consulting companies and can make in the high $200,000s, she said. You may need a postgraduate degree, however. If you decide to go a more independent or freelance route, Terwelp said it's important to 'elevate [your] personal brand' to increase visibility in the workplace. 'Participate on committees, employee improvement teams and ERGs. Document [your] achievements, projects done outside of the scope of [your] job duties. ' A variety of programs can help boost skills and credibility depending on the person's occupation and industry, Terwelp suggested. 'For example, engineers earning a PMP (project management professional) or RNs (nurses) earning their NP (nurse practitioner) designation.' She urged digging deep into soft skills too, like EQ (emotional quotient), interpersonal skills and presentation skills, business writing skills, and networking and community building skills. 'Continue to upskill. Build internal networks. Raise [your] internal visibility,' she said. Most importantly, evaluate your career decisions carefully, Terwelp said. 'What will you gain? What might you lose? What is it worth to you?' More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Says Trump's Executive Order To Lower Medication Costs Has a 'Real Shot' -- Here's Why This article originally appeared on 10 Ways To Earn a Top Salary Without Climbing the Corporate Ladder Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is That Online Course Promising Six-Figure Income a Scam? Experts Weigh In
fizkes / As people struggle with fears of recession, some may turn to courses with the promise of 'getting rich quick' — from something like e-commerce or drop-shipping to coaching or becoming an 'influencer.' Be Aware: 30 Scam Phone Numbers To Block and Area Codes To Avoid Check Out: The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing Some courses that teach you how to start or grow businesses are perfectly legit — but many others are scams. How can you tell the difference? Watch for these red flags. If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is Many courses promise a six- or even seven-figure income with very little work. Be careful if the instructor is making these claims without evidence to back it up or making it sound a lot easier than you might imagine. Check sites like Glassdoor or or even the Department of Labor website, to see what the average professional makes in the field you plan to study. Understand what success might look like and what it could take to get there. Read Next: Here's How To Use AI To Quickly Start a Side Gig, According to Codie Sanchez It Promises Results Likewise, whether a course promises to make you a millionaire or just enough to pay off your student debt, be skeptical of any course that guarantees results. 'No course or coaching program should promise guaranteed results, because there are too many factors at play: timing, market demand and personal circumstances,' said Treasa Edmond, strategic business coach and 'Boss Responses' podcast host. 'Some people will succeed wildly. Others will struggle.' Further, no course should state or imply that you'll have success if you just read the materials. 'Passive watching doesn't lead to transformation, implementation does,' Edmond said. If you choose a course that seems like a good fit for your goals and you still don't succeed, Edmond pointed out that it doesn't necessarily mean the course is a scam. 'It just means the outcome depends on more than enrolling,' she said. The Instructor Doesn't Seem Reputable If a company or instructor has negative reviews, consider other options. On the other side of that coin, if reviews that seem over-the-top positive but vague, it's also wise to steer clear. Also, if a company has no social media accounts, especially if it's lacking a LinkedIn, this could be a red flag, Selzy explained in a blog post. You Won't Have Access to the Instructor Before you sign up, find out what support tools will be available throughout the program. A membership community where you can chat with other students, have live calls or get coaching from the instructor is often where breakthroughs happen.
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Florida Memorial University partners with developer for multi-million dollar upgrades
William McCormick and his staff had been trying to recruit professors to Florida Memorial University, the only historically Black university in South Florida, but ran into an issue: new hires couldn't find affordable housing. 'Even when we interviewed qualified candidates, they would accept the job, but then they couldn't find proper housing,' McCormick, FMU's interim president told the Miami Herald. 'So we didn't get quality hires on board because they just couldn't afford to find some place to stay.' The average salary for an employee at Florida Memorial is $77,611, according to a website that contains compensation data, but the median cost of a home in Miami Gardens, where FMU is located, is more than $530,000, according to Zillow, and the average cost of rent is $3,000. The solution that the university found was to partner with a Miami-based developer to build workforce housing for its employees and residents and additional student housing with the hopes of accommodating its current student population and increasing enrollment. The partnership with Redwood Dev Co would add at least six residential buildings with 300 units each on partially-vacant land owned by the university just outside of its campus in Miami Gardens near the Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport. Another 1,000 dorms will also be built on campus, co-founder and principal David Burstyn told the Herald. Plans also call for updated amenities, including a cafe, new basketball courts, a turf field, and academic facilities. All told, the development could cost between $500 million and $1 billion, he said. Construction is expected to begin within the next 12 months. Details on the price for the workforce housing units have not been released. The partnership is similar to other private-public partnerships developers do with municipalities. FMU will lease its land for a select amount of years to developers at a low rate, and Redwood Dev Co will find the financing for the development. 'What we're going to be doing in that first phase is a complete face-lift of the front of the university with the security-guard gate, landscaping and giving a real curb appeal, freshness for the community,' Burstyn said. 'So when you drive through FMU, you could really see that this is a project that is being underway and has not only the short-term but the long-term vision.' McCormick said he also wants to grow the student population from 1,300 to about 3,000 students, something that additional beds could help with. Right now, the university has about 800 beds for students. When McCormick saw the lack of affordable housing in South Florida cost FMU new hires, he realized the university had enough land to meet a need on campus and for its potential employees . He eventually met with Burstyn about potentially building housing on and near campus and other potential upgrades on campus. A plan was presented to and approved by the FMU board of trustees at a February meeting, McCormick said. 'There's a big need in Miami-Dade, and being able to present an opportunity for them to get some decent housing, I think it's a good testament to our commitment to [residents] as they've been committed to us,' he said about the affordable housing. 'Part of this vision of President McCormick is what's also going to help the growth of the university,' Redwood Dev. Co co-founder and principal Brian Sidman said. 'By having additional housing on the workforce side and helping the local community, we will also help with his vision for the university in terms of growing the student population with new best-in-class facilities.' Developers have also partnered with Miami-based architect Kobi Karp, who wants to maintain the history of the 146-year-old institution while highlighting it as an 'educational destination.' Karp said the school's location near the border of Broward and Miami-Dade counties makes it a prime institution to attract students across South Florida. 'We want to step up and create a campus that is relevant and compatible,' Karp told the Herald. 'I have a desire, with the president and his whole team, to create a signature destination here, second to none.' McCormick views the partnership as a possibility for other HBCUs that might be running into a similar issue. 'How many other HBCUs across the country could benefit from a model that we are creating, a national model?' he wondered. 'We're going to start local, bring the benefits and show the diversity of ideas and vision, the innovation, and create this development ecosystem on the campuses of HBCUs.'
Forbes
27-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Forget Degrees. These 5 Surprising Jobs Pay $80,000+ In 2025
Skilled trades offer career stability and are recession-proof Looking for a job that pays lucratively without sinking into student debt into thousands of hours in lecture halls for four years? In 2025, less Gen Z professionals are including college graduation in their future career plans. Instead, they're opting for a trend that brings financial security, long-term career longevity and future-proofing, and ongoing professionals development and freelancing opportunities: working in the trades. But what's fueling this relatively new phenomenon? Several factors include social media influencers and trends, the cost of attending college, and the career stability and security provided in the trades, which are usually jobs less likely to be impacted by layoffs or the threat of AI and automation, due to the nature of their work. 'The annual cost of attending a four-year, in-state public college increased by about 30% between 2011 and 2023, according to Make It calculations based on data from the Education Data Initiative, and went up by 42% at private, non-profit four-year colleges,' a recent CNBC story reported. Now of course, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to skilled work in the trades, but these five jobs in particular are a good starting point for your consideration, so you can see what's possible. Salary information is extracted from where possible, and from other salary benchmark sources such as ZipRecruiter. Training information automatically assumes you already have a GED or high school diploma. What you'll do: Work in the exploding renewable energy industry and contribute towards a greener economy through installing, maintaining, and repairing wind turbines Certifications and training: Associate degree in wind energy technology Job forecast: This is by far the most promising job on this list as far as BLS estimates as concerned, with job growth projections of 60% (much faster than average) from 2023 to 2033. Average salary range: $77,070 and $95,013, with many salaries hovering at $86,113 What you'll do: Working within renewable energy, your role would entail installing, repairing, and maintaining, rooftop solar panel systems that generate energy Certifications and training: Solar panel installation technical courses and on-the-job training. Job forecast: Job growth is projected to be 48% by the BLS, much faster than the usual job growth rate, making this the second most promising job on this list thanks to the green industry boom. Average salary range: $53,833 to a high of $86,477, with the median being $70,140 What you'll do: Repair, install, and maintain moving walkways, elevators, and similar indoor transportation apparatus Certifications and training: Elevator mechanic apprenticeship programs Job forecast: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that this role is growing 6%, which is faster than the average job growth rate. Average salary range: $52,976 to a high of $115,487 (mostly hovering at $81,000) What you'll do: Administer radiation treatment to patients in medical settings, particularly within oncology Certifications and training: The ARRT industry standard certification, associate degree in radiology Job forecast: Job growth for this role is sustained, according to BLS data Average salary range: $95,100 to $113,500 (mostly hovering at $104,700) What you'll do: Manage and direct construction projects from inception to completion, for civil, commercial, and/or private residential contracts Certifications and training: Associate degree and on-the-job training Job forecast: Job growth is predicted to be 9% by the BLS, which is much faster than average Average salary range: $107,228 and $156,994, with $132,475 being the typical median salary These five roles are in high-demand, are gaining popularity, and offer attractive salaries while being stable and recession-proof. Some technician and trade roles offer you the opportunity to start a business or work as an independent contractor, giving you more freedom over the projects you accept, and when and where you work. Employers prioritize hands-on skill sets above theory and degrees Say goodbye to drowning in debt and wasting four years in studying for something that employers don't see as practical or aligned with their skills gaps. Welcome to the new future of work: skilled, hands-on, trade workers. Join them and lead the way in revitalizing America's waning trades industries and being part of the clean energy transformation.
