With no bachelor's degree, a 33-year-old went from working in a warehouse to earning over $100,000 in tech—here's how.

The Ditching the Degree series by CNBC Make It features women who have achieved six-figure careers without a bachelor's degree and share their success secrets. If you have a story to share, email us at [email protected].

Shanelle Gibson, ten years ago, was working 12-hour shifts sorting and folding clothes in a warehouse. She nearly abandoned hope of finding her dream job.

Gibson, at the time 23, observed her friends celebrating their college graduation, securing their first corporate jobs, and relocating to new cities online.

Gibson almost enrolled with them. She spent a year studying at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia before dropping out due to the debt she accumulated while pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Gibson's decision marked the beginning of her "soul-searching years," a time in her early 20s when she struggled with "hard, unfulfilling" jobs after leaving school and moving to Atlanta.

Despite working in various places such as a warehouse, pizza kitchen, day care, and even six months in the Air Force, she couldn't find her calling.

Gibson reflects on those years and realizes she has no regrets. They eventually paved the way for her successful career in tech and product development.

Since 2016, Gibson has been employed in the tech industry and is currently a lead scrum master at a small health-care company, working remotely from her home in Loganville, Georgia.

According to financial documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, Gibson earns about $132,000 in her current role, which she says would have been "unimaginable" had she continued working in the jobs she had in her 20s, which paid no more than $15 an hour.

Gibson shifted her career path and now earns six figures without a bachelor's degree.

A career breakthrough on Craigslist

In 2015, while working at the warehouse, Gibson had a sudden realization that she had been approaching her career incorrectly.

"Gibson recalls having an "aha moment" where he looked around at the mountains of boxes and tired people working alongside him and thought, "I shouldn't be here, I feel like I'm destined for more than this minimum wage job I'm not happy in." This realization prompted him to quit and start applying everywhere."

She posted her resume on Craigslist in search of a change and was invited to interview for a phone dispatcher role at ParkingSoft's Atlanta office.

Gibson was promoted to customer support analyst after proactively solving customer problems instead of forwarding calls to the service team.

"The job that launched my tech career taught me technical skills such as SQL and JIRA, which made me a more confident and competitive candidate for higher-paying tech jobs, even without a degree."

Becoming a scrum master, sans degree

Gibson held technical support and project management roles at Ceredian Dayforce and United Healthcare after leaving ParkingSoft in 2019.

Over time, she became bored with the routine of customer service duties.

A friend recommended that she consider becoming a scrum master, which involves coaching product development teams and overseeing Agile processes, a methodology for managing projects in a flexible and iterative manner.

Gibson, who wanted more challenging work that utilized her problem-solving skills, earned her scrum master certification in 2021 through Scrum Alliance. The two-day course cost approximately $400.

In 2022, she joined her current company as a lead scrum master, shortly after landing her first scrum master role at UnitedHealthcare.

'There's no special formula to earning six figures'

Gibson adheres to a standard 9-to-5 work schedule when working remotely, occasionally logging on earlier or later based on her workload.

"As an introvert, I find this job to be the ideal fit for me," she remarks. "I excel in focusing my attention in tranquil environments, which enhances my creativity. I don't need to be the most extroverted or lively individual to be an excellent scrum master."

Gibson's first job where she earned more than $100,000 a year was "pretty shocking" for her.

"Society often suggests that obtaining a college degree is necessary for securing a high-paying job, but I realized that there's no guaranteed formula for earning six figures. It's up to each individual to determine their level of effort and not let societal expectations limit their potential."

Gibson's technical skills from the scrum master course, such as working with Agile software and online project management, were crucial in her transition into this field without a bachelor's degree. Additionally, her soft skills developed in retail and customer service, including problem-solving and time management, were equally important.

To secure a well-paying job without a bachelor's degree, remember the importance of leveraging your transferable skills and maintaining a positive mindset while pursuing your career aspirations.

"Success in college does not determine your identity as a person, as there are numerous ways to enhance your skills through reading books and online boot camps. With the right attitude and effort, you can achieve any goal you set your mind to."

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