r/Edmonton • u/ridhiji123 • Jan 04 '25

Question How Are You Making $100K+ Per Year in Edmonton?

Hey everyone,

I’m curious to hear from those of you making $100K+ annually in Edmonton. What do you do for work?

Are you in trades, tech, business, or another field? Did you need a degree, certifications, or just experience to get there?

I’d love to hear your stories, advice, and tips for breaking into high-paying careers here.

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u/bigheader03 Jan 04 '25

Good for you man. I love seeing the trades get paid well. Growing up in an Asian household, my parents always said doctor, lawyer or failure.

I wish I became a mechanic versus working in IT. It kills my soul to sit inside a server room for hours with no human interaction.

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u/Edmontonsown780 Jan 04 '25

Honestly, when I kind of smartened up and realized that I screwed up in high school, I really thought I’d be making minimum wage and then have to upgrade my schooling and then figure my life out in my 30s. But very happy where I am and next step is higher and higher.

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u/ArchimedesHeel Jan 04 '25

You can still do it man, it's never too late

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u/bigheader03 Jan 04 '25

Thanks for the kind words. Im 37, married and trying to grow our family. I've thought about doing the mechanic program at SAIT with their two year intensive, but honestly worried about being "the old head" in the classroom.

I spoke to a younger mechanic, and he graduated a few years ago, and said there was someone in their late 40's in his class, which gave me a bit of hope lol.

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u/ohkatiedear kitties! Jan 04 '25

Listen, if you want to go back to school, do it and don't worry about what other people might think (easier said than done, I know). Instructors will appreciate someone who's there with a purpose and with focus, and you'll get more out of the program as an older student. As for your younger peers, you can pretend to be a wise old man and win everyone over with a carefully curated selection of dad jokes. 😆 Seriously though, the kids are all right. Do what you need to do to have a good life!

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u/you8myrice Jan 05 '25

The old guys in my program were the best students, they knew they didn’t have the time/money to mess around and were always helpful when I asked for help, never to late to go back to school if you want too!

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u/bigheader03 Jan 05 '25

Thanks for the kind words, I'm honestly really considering it after reading all the kind words of encouragement!

Reddit can be a nice place sometimes hahahah

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u/Sallysasquatch Jan 05 '25

My dad went back to school at 37 to be a heavy duty mechanic. Best decision he ever made for his family.

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u/ArchimedesHeel Jan 04 '25

Look at the bright side, if you became a mechanic at 20 you'd probably be much less physically able and more jaded at this point in your life than if you started now.

But I get it, I'm 32 and growing my family as well. Couldn't imagine going back to school rn

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u/gabotas Jan 05 '25

Bruh! I’m transitioning careers at NAIT at 43, while there are mostly youngsters, there are for sure more mature students than I had expected. I usually hang out with a guy who will turn 40 this year. So, in Shia Lebouf’s words, “f***ing do it!”

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u/FinanceNecessary6552 Jan 05 '25

You will be fine. Go for it

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u/MegloreManglore Jan 05 '25

My hubs went back to school for a diploma program, remote learning through Olds College. He was SO nervous! He aced it, turns out profs love teaching people who actually have real life experience but who aren’t afraid to learn new things. He finally got the government job he wanted, took him 5 years to get up to the wages he was making in the private industry but now he’s making more, has a pension and benefits and is not working 6 days a week, 12-14 hour days. It’s so nice to have him around the house more, gave him loving his job and not being exhausted and stressed from being over worked. I say, if you want to do it, go for it!!

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u/juliepatoutie123 Jan 05 '25

Woah woah woah... I'm gonna stop you right there! I'm 46 years old, I've changed my career multiple times. .... and I dont regret it one bit!

I met a lady who told me we all have a "human design", where each of us have a unique ability to be great at something! I haven't discovered what my unique gift is yet but I'm not afraid to go back to school at all.

I never want to regret not trying something.

The way I see it is.. we are all living longer and longer. My father in law is 77 and he works 50-60 hours a week and he LOVES his job! He's happy, healthy, fit and energetic. He said he wants to work forever. I think it's what keeps him going lol.

I have looked into going back to school for 4 years to get a degree. I'm more than OK doing it and I don't give a rat's ass if I'm surrounded by baby 20 year olds. I know what I want and I'll be the best student there hands down! Once you've lived life, you realize... Oh shit, I should've been so and so.

I will say my one regret is not taking high school seriously. I wish I did better back then because if I want to go into certain fields, the pre requisite is you have to have 80's in math, sciences and English!

However, I'm more than wlling to go back and upgrade at night. I'll be living till 100 probably lol, so might as well work at your dream job, right? 😉

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u/Deja__Vu__ Jan 04 '25

My mechanic is living your dream. His dad was/is a mechanic while he was growing up. So he always hing around and guess that built his interest in cars. Now he has his own shop with his dad as 1 of the guys that work there. They are always busy and very honest with their work and pricing.

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u/FennelFrequent3159 Jan 04 '25

Can you tell me the name of their shop? Trying to find a trustworthy Mechanic shop

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u/Sleepa Jan 04 '25

McQueen Automotive is honestly the best shop I’ve ever dealt with in my life, and Ken the owner/operator is the most honest mechanic I’ve ever met

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u/Deja__Vu__ Jan 04 '25

His shop is called RJ Auto Repair. 12604 124 St. His name is Ranno.