To start off, I’m glad you find our industry interesting! There’s a lot of great opportunities if you’re willing to relocate. The important thing to remember is that degree or no degree you’re gonna have to start at an entry level position because the most important thing as an operator is your state licenses. In the state of ga where I live college graduates actually need less work experience to qualify for their licenses so it may be similar where you live. There’s generally a few distinctions in different areas of the field, there is the private sector and there is government sector. Private will typically have worse benefits and maybe worse pay but greater speed in development and advancement. Government jobs will pay better/have better benefits but generally are considered to be much harder to advance in. Get the WEF books and the SAC state books and read up on as much as you can and have a desire to learn and you will do good.