Bianca Miller was one of many students who initially enrolled in a four-year program, hoping to build a career working with machines and engines. She chose mechanical engineering but quickly found herself feeling disconnected from her dream.

“I was studying mechanical engineering and I didn’t like the fact that half of my classes didn’t relate to the actual career that I wanted to get into,” Miller told *Fortune*. “I was disappointed by that.”

Even students who stuck it out didn’t seem much better off. Miller noted that some of the brightest mechanical engineering peers she knew struggled to find work, sometimes not even landing unpaid internships.

Determined to take control of her career, Miller shifted her focus. Instead of slogging through years of general education requirements and accumulating debt, she turned her eyes to the skilled trades. By the time she graduated, she had no trouble finding a job. In fact, companies were practically “begging” for workers.

Now, at 25 years old, Miller works for United Airlines as an avionics technician at Newark Liberty International Airport, repairing plane engines and electrical systems. She has already doubled her investment in the program and makes over six figures.

Plus, unlike many office jobs, her role isn’t at risk of being replaced by AI. “The opportunities are endless,” Miller said. “At the end of the day, there really is no wrong.”

Aging aircraft fleets combined with a wave of retirements have created an urgent demand for new technicians. In the U.S., the median salary for these roles is around $79,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, Miller shared that overtime can push pay well above six figures—and in some cases, even past $300,000.

Miller’s path reflects a growing trend among Gen Z workers choosing skill-based training over traditional four-year degrees. Enrollment at trade-focused institutions has surged nearly 20% since spring 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

That said, traditional higher education remains far from obsolete. Despite challenges in today’s job market, millions of degree holders still find jobs annually. Over a lifetime, a bachelor’s degree has an average 682% return on investment, highlighting its long-term value.

At the same time, alternative education pathways are proving faster, cheaper, and lucrative. “[Trade school] is just not talked about enough. It’s not presented as an idea because of how we were raised. It’s you go to college—trade school is not really an option,” Miller explained. “But the job market is great.”
https://fortune.com/2025/10/20/gen-z-college-dropout-now-making-six-figures-repairing-plane-engines-21-month-training-aviation-maintencance/