Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#1

Post by byebyetech » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 5:42 AM UTC

I've been working as software engineer for over 15 years. I feel burned out and have no interest left in this field where learning new things just keeps you at the same place in life. And no respect for experience, unless you demonstrate on a whiteboard with your implementation of a sorted bubble tree list.

My question is, how to successfully get out of tech and still make decent living ($100k+). Has anyone tried small business that worked out for you?

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#2

Post by ta11235 » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 5:47 AM UTC

+1000 - any ideas? Stories of successful escapes?

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#3

Post by test_pilot » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:25 AM UTC

Teaching is one way to get out, but probably won't make big money.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#4

Post by bsamuels » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:25 AM UTC

maybe become a commercial airline pilot? won't make you a living wage in the valley but you can live well virtually anywhere else

plus you get to fly planes which is cool

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#5

Post by gaius » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:30 AM UTC

bsamuels wrote: post #4

maybe become a commercial airline pilot? won't make you a living wage in the valley but you can live well virtually anywhere else plus you get to fly planes which is cool

Its a tough and over-saturated market, for pilots. Everyone I know in the air force is staying in as long as they can!

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#6

Post by thefastlane » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:32 AM UTC

i have similar concerns about the industry; programming, frankly, sucks in terms of career trajectory and i have pondered what the next phase might look like for me.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#7

Post by scythe » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:33 AM UTC

Oh, count me in. Any way out would be nice.

Can't believe I let anyone talk me into coding for a living.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#8

Post by jiggliemon » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:35 AM UTC

- Owner Operator Truck Driver - Owner Operator Plumbing Business Owner Operator Mobile Welding - Owner Operator Concrete Pumping

It's relatively easy to make over $100k as an owner of a small business.

It's an order of magnitude more difficult to find a company that will pay you a software engineers salary without a decade or so of experience in that field and associated education.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#9

Post by rw » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:36 AM UTC

What part of tech are you in? Maybe you're burnt out on that niche's particular subculture, not tech in general. For example:

Tired of 10-person startups? Move to a bigger company.

Tired by the constant churn in front-end libraries? Move down the stack and work on server software.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#10

Post by stephengillie » Sun, Aug 14, 2016, 6:39 AM UTC

What other skills do you have? What else can you do that's equally valued by society?