33-year-old went from working in a warehouse to earning over $100,000 working in tech without a bachelor's degree—here's how

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This story is part of a series that explores the complexities of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society. Make It's As part of our "Ditching the Degree" series, women who have achieved six-figure salaries without a traditional college degree share their strategies for success. Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us at AskMakeIt@.

A decade ago, Shanelle Gibson was working around the clock, sorting and folding clothes in a warehouse from dawn till dusk. She had almost lost hope of finding her ideal career.

Gibson, then twenty-three years old, observed online as her friends celebrated graduating from college, finding their first corporate jobs and relocating to new cities.

Gibson nearly joined them. She spent one year studying at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, but ended up leaving after just a year due to financial concerns, having to think about the enormous debt she'd be saddled with if she pursued a four-year degree.

That decision marked the start of what Gibson refers to as her "soul-searching years," a time in her early 20s characterized by "hard, unfulfilling" jobs following her departure from school and relocation to Atlanta.

She worked in a warehouse, a pizza kitchen, a day care, and even served in the Air Force for six months, but nothing seemed to be a good fit.

Looking back, Gibson states she doesn't regret those years. They ultimately led her to a career that she loves, working in technology and product development.

She has been working in the tech field since 2016. Now 33 years old, she's a lead Scrum master at a small healthcare company, working full-time from her home in Loganville, Georgia.

Here's how Gibson transformed her career and earns six figures without a bachelor's degree:

A turning point in one's professional life was found on Craigslist

One morning in 2015 during another long shift at the warehouse, Gibson mentions, she looked up from the pair of chinos she was folding and had a sudden realization: she had been thinking about her career in the wrong way.

I was struck by this realization where I looked around at the piles of boxes and exhausted faces, and I thought to myself, 'This isn't where I'm meant to be. I feel like I was meant for something more than just a low-paying job that doesn't bring me fulfillment,' Gibson says. 'That sent me on a path to leave and just start applying to everything.

Tired of her situation, she uploaded her resume to Craigslist. A manager at ParkingSoft, a company that offers parking management software, saw her posting and asked her to come in for an interview for a job opening as a phone dispatcher at their Atlanta office.

Gibson landed the job and rapidly established herself as a standout employee. Within weeks, she was promoted to customer support analyst because her supervisor observed how effectively she independently resolved customer issues, rather than simply passing the problem onto the service team.

That job launched my tech career," she says. "Acquiring all the technical skills I used in that job – from SQL to JIRA, helped make me a more confident and competitive candidate for better-paying tech roles, even without finishing college.

3. Self-study: A large number of aspirants took to online courses, blogs, and YouTube tutorials to learn about Scrums from scratch.

Gibson left ParkingSoft in 2019 and spent the following two years working in technical support and project management at companies including Ceredian Dayforce and United Healthcare.

She eventually felt underwhelmed by the repetition of customer service duties.

A friend recommended that she look into becoming a Scrum Master, a role centered around mentoring product development teams and overseeing Agile processes, which is a method for adaptable, incremental project management.

Gibson, who craved more demanding work, was drawn to the idea, as it made use of her problem-solving skills. In 2021, Gibson earned her Scrum Master certification through Scrum Alliance after graduating from a two-day $400 course.

She secured her first Scrum Master position at UnitedHealthcare shortly after. In 2022, she became a Lead Scrum Master at her current company.

Earning a six-figure salary doesn't require a specific formula.

Gibson keeps a standard 9 to 5 routine while working remotely from home, sometimes getting a head start or closing up shop a bit later, depending on her workload.

It's honestly the ideal job for an introvert like myself," she says. "I work best in quiet spaces, allowing me to think more clearly and be more creative; not having to be the most vocal or energetic person makes it easy for me to be a great Scrum Master.

It was also the first job where Gibson made over $100,000 a year. For her, surpassing $100,000 was "pretty shocking," she mentioned.

I realized I was capable and diligent, but society makes us think you need a college degree to get a well-paying job," she goes on. "Achieving that milestone helped me understand that there's no secret formula to making a six-figure income; it's ultimately up to you to decide how much effort you're willing to put in to reach that goal and not let something like a degree requirement hold you back.

The technical skills Gibson acquired in the Scrum Master course – working with different Agile software and online project management tools – significantly contributed to her ability to switch to this field without a bachelor's degree. Just as important, however, were the soft skills she developed in retail and customer service, such as problem-solving and time management.

Gibson's top suggestion for others trying to get a well-paying job without a bachelor's degree? Don't overlook the value of your transferable skills, and the importance of a positive attitude in pursuing your career ambitions.

The success or failure of your college experience doesn't determine your worth as a person," she says. "You can still improve your skills by reading books and taking online courses or boot camps. With the right mindset and dedication, you can achieve your goals in whichever area you're passionate about.

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