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In the age of globalization and automation, the American economy has certainly changed within the past 20-30 years, making individuals with high-skill levels (having a bachelor's degree or higher) more likely to obtain and afford the American dream. While people with just an associates degree (there are some work fields that except this sort of degree more than others, especially in medical and automotive fields), post-high school certification, or have a high school diploma or less, usually have a lesser chance of obtaining the dream the U.S. was once known to have.
We are here to find out, if there are any cities in the U.S., where a person can work one, legal job, while having only a high school diploma or equivalency all the way up-to an associates degree, and still be able to obtain and afford the American dream?
Absolutely it is. But here is the caveat: Those who don't have the college degree need to have other skills, mostly in technology. That said, the combination of tech skills + a college degree would be even a better scenerio. This may sound simplistic, but I believe it to be true.
Get into a construction union. After a couple years as a paid apprentice you'll probably earn more than the household median. Certainly in my city it works that way, in the mid-40s per hour.
Well you'd have to start by defining a general "American dream" before we can speculate.
Is it just being able to put food on the table for your kids or even having kids? Living in a safe but modest neighborhood or something more? Going on vacation once a year? Driving a modest but efficient car? How many hours a week do you work and what type of work is it? etc.
In the age of globalization and automation, the American economy has certainly changed within the past 20-30 years, making individuals with high-skill levels (having a bachelor's degree or higher) more likely to obtain and afford the American dream. While people with just an associates degree (there are some work fields that except this sort of degree more than others, especially in medical and automotive fields), post-high school certification, or have a high school diploma or less, usually have a lesser chance of obtaining the dream the U.S. was once known to have.
We are here to find out, if there are any cities in the U.S., where a person can work one, legal job, while having only a high school diploma or equivalency all the way up-to an associates degree, and still be able to obtain and afford the American dream?
Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard....
Tom Cruise is a high school drop out as is Michael J Fox.
Justin Beiber doesn't have any fancy degrees either
I never got a college degree and make over 100k. But you will have to work harder and more hours than most people with a degree.
I am a 24 year veteran police officer and make 67,000 a year salary and 35,000 a year extra in part time jobs doing security off duty in uniform.
Many other trades are like this. Plumbers, construction, technology, I.T., Arts, and many more.
Whatever skills you have you can sell that work to others in need. Even dog walking and elderly care/babysitting.
Last edited by LuckyOaks; 09-15-2017 at 10:48 PM..
Reason: forgot few words
Tom Cruise is a high school drop out as is Michael J Fox.
Justin Beiber doesn't have any fancy degrees either
Well they are the exception and not the norm though.
Bill Gates wasn't your typical college droupout.
Tom Cruise & Michael J. Fox had Hollywood success so a high school diploma wouldn't have mattered and Beiber became a pop star as a teen also.
Is the American dream available to those with only a HS Diploma?
( I presume the following : owning a Home, a car , paying for Health Insurance, retirement fund, yearly vacation, etc.)
I guess it depends on the occupation or career.
Most won't be able to achieve the things I mentioned above unless they advance their education. It's not like 20+ years ago where you had a Union Job and you would have guaranteed wages / health insurance & a pension.
(Exclude the Military & the police from the equation above)
Why exclude military and police? Anyway, t is still possible. Besides construction and trades like plumbing, I know a lot of people with only high school education, or even lower, who worked very hard at low paying jobs,such as janitorial work, lived very frugal but satisfying lives, and used their savings to open successful businesses. I know some people doing that even now.
Since when does a degree guarantee a standard of living? Lots of people have gone on to be successful without a degree. Skills are needed though. Look at many mechanics, many of them realized when they were young they had a talent for automotive repairs. Many people have the unusual knack of finding an appropriate job suitable to support themselves.
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Absolutely
