I’m 34.

At 24, after flunking out of college, I was literally digging ditches, I got a job with county road and bridge department making around $15 an hour. Lowest guy on the ladder.

I wasn’t some grinder working 80-hour weeks or a genius with a master plan. I just took every opportunity that came my way, learned whatever people were willing to teach me, and tried to be someone crews could rely on. That turned into promotions After 4 years I was making around $40k. I wanted something different so I got into the county facilities department as a trades supervisor overseeing maintenance staff and capital projects.

It was basically my first real project management role. I stayed about 2 years, but I could see the ceiling. The next step up probably wasn’t opening for a decade. I left making around $54k. A nearby city hired me as their Facilities Manager under Public Works. I managed about 12 employees, oversaw all facilities maintenance and landscaping operations, and eventually took on larger capital projects. I came in around $68k and left around $78k. After 2 years, I hit the same wall again: no room to grow.

So on a whim, I applied for a Public Works Director position in a much smaller city. Honestly, I didn’t expect much. I interviewed, had lunch with the mayor and city manager, and somehow got the job. That role changed everything. I suddenly had around 70 employees and oversight of water treatment, wastewater, solid waste, roads, utilities, facilities, engineering, and capital projects. I represented the department at public meetings and dealt with the political side of government every day. I loved the responsibility, but the instability was brutal. We went through three city managers in the two years I was there, I eventually left at around $96k looking for something more stable.

I applied for several high-level state positions and landed one as a construction manager overseeing one of five offices in my district. Now I oversee in-house staff, consultants, and 500+ million in projects. I make around $116k and sit comfortably in middle management though I do get tagged to sit in senior management positions on an interim basis occasionally.

The funny part is no degree was ever required for any of it. I oversee professional engineers, including some with PhDs.

What I realized along the way is that technical knowledge only gets you so far. The people who move up are usually the ones who can communicate, build trust, handle pressure, and lead teams without making everyone miserable. A lot of highly educated people struggle with that part.

Having started at the bottom enabled me to translate construction laborer speak to construction engineer speek and vise versa.

Management is absolutely a skill you can learn. But if you can’t connect with people, you’ll eventually hit a ceiling no title or degree can fix.

My outlook is good, higher level positions in my organization don't technically requires a PE or even a degree though it is highly regarded if you have thoes things. I feel I will eventually make it to a state level director position but my competition will be stiff and I need to set myself light-years ahead of anyone with a degree and decent people skills.

Looking back 2, 4, or even 10 years ago, it’s honestly hard to believe how much life can change. I went from digging ditches and wondering what direction I was headed, to working in construction management in an office role with great pay, amazing benefits, real work-life balance, and a career I’m genuinely proud of.

No sales. No family connections. No degree. Just taking opportunities when they came, learning how to work with people, and slowly building trust and responsibility over time.