Despite not completing her college education, a 32-year-old woman now earns more than $100,000 annually.

When asked about her future aspirations, Chelsea Norstedt didn't specify a job title but instead mentioned a number.

"Growing up in a low-income household, my biggest aspiration was to earn enough to afford a car or meet my monthly expenses, ensuring that the lights were always on and groceries were always available," she reveals to CNBC Make It. "In such households, dreams beyond that are unclear."

Erie, Pennsylvania, where Norstedt grew up, is a coastal city with average household incomes as low as $12,000 in some areas.

As she considered various career options, Norstedt aimed to earn at least $40,000 to live comfortably in Erie, according to MIT's Living Wage Calculator.

Despite leaving college without a bachelor's degree, Norstedt's income now surpasses her teenage dreams, even after making the challenging decision to abandon her college education.

On average, college graduates earn more than those without a four-year degree; however, the so-called college wage premium is diminishing.

In the mid-2010s, the college wage gap reached its peak, but it decreased by four percentage points in 2022. Currently, bachelor's degree holders earn approximately 75% more over their career than those without a degree.

As a senior account manager at Huntress, a cybersecurity startup, Norstedt earns close to $150,000. She works remotely from Miami, Florida.

Norstedt broke into tech and started earning six figures without a bachelor's degree.

Starting out at $45,000

In 2014, Norstedt left Penn State University before completing her bachelor's degree in criminology by two semesters.

To assist her ailing mother, Beth, she returned to her childhood residence in Erie.

In 2016, Norstedt's mother passed away from a drug overdose, but while she was alive, she instilled in him the confidence and drive to work hard and find his place in the world, according to Norstedt.

"I worked as a bartender and server at various restaurants in town, whichever would hire me," Norstedt recalls.

She searched for higher-paying office jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed without a college degree, while planning to return to Penn State the next academic year and save as much money as possible.

A friend suggested that she apply for a job at Verizon, as the company had recently abolished certain requirements for various entry-level and customer service positions.

In January 2015, Norstedt secured her first job as an experience specialist at a Verizon store in Altoona, Pennsylvania, earning approximately $45,000 annually. "I felt like I was rich," she recalls.

How mentors and on-the-job training propelled her career forward

Within four years at Verizon, Norstedt experienced rapid career growth and was promoted three times, transitioning through various roles in customer service, sales operations, and people development.

Norstedt claims that by the time she was 24, she was making approximately $100,000 annually, but the ROI of completing her degree was diminishing.

"She reveals that she would have had to borrow more money and possibly accrue debt to attend college, even though she already had a fulfilling job with a good salary."

Verizon's supportive managers and free training programs were instrumental in Norstedt's rapid rise up the corporate ladder.

"Whenever I wanted to learn a new skill or struggled on a project, my managers connected me with someone else on staff who could teach me."

In 2019, Norstedt departed from Verizon, but she notes that her time there "opened many doors for me in my career."

A job that 'makes a small difference in this crazy world'

In February 2021, Norstedt relocated from Pennsylvania to Florida to work for a small software development firm based in Miami.

Norstedt's job in the cybersecurity field was introduced to her through that job, which led her to Huntress, where she began working in April 2024. Currently, Norstedt is a senior account manager at Huntress, where she supports small businesses in using Huntress's cybersecurity software and products to safeguard themselves from threats.

"Working in this field is incredibly gratifying," she says. "I feel like I can make a small difference in this crazy world by safeguarding people's information online."

Standing out, sans degree

At least a high school diploma or GED and the completion of an online boot camp or training are typically necessary for most cybersecurity jobs.

With the increasing threat of cyberattacks, there is a rising demand for professionals capable of addressing them. In response to this escalating need, many employers, including Google and IBM, are no longer requiring degrees for cybersecurity jobs.

"Completing a college degree is not a requirement for a career in cybersecurity, according to Norstedt. Instead, having a strong portfolio and relevant experience can help you succeed in the field."

Sometimes, Norstedt contemplates returning to college to complete her bachelor's degree.

After a decade away from academia, she would have to start her bachelor's degree from scratch because her undergraduate course credits have expired.

Plus, she's "ridiculously happy" at Huntress.

"Norstedt states that he works with intelligent and compassionate individuals and feels financially stable, without worrying about missing out on other chances due to not having a college degree."

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