(09-01-2017 09:22 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  My father-in-law dropped out of High School in the 11th grade. He makes $40/hour as a contractor and works 60+ hours a week. Most of it goes unreported so it's cash in his pocket. He is one of those guys who can tell you what's wrong with your car by listening to it over the phone.. can build computers from the ground up, and has built a house from start to finish.

That is a rare, dying breed.

Sounds a lot like my father, although he did graduate high school (spent last two years at a Joint Vocational School) He spent 20 years in the military working in aircraft maintenance. Since that time has spent the past 25 years doing the same in the private sector. Brings home ~$165K a year between his pension and earnings with great benefits.