Masters for Career Change

[ReyMysterioso]

I'm interested in this forum's input on what to pursue in a Master's degree.

My input is that (1) lack of a degree isn't holding you back (2) having an MBA doesn't align well with what you've described as your interests/career path.

The job you have now you got without even a bachelor's degree, so to flip the script a bit, do you think HAVING this degree now entitles you to more money?  Probably not.  

This is uncomfortable to say, but I've had this conversation with young chefs (my former profession).  There are jobs that simply pay what they pay - whether or not you have a degree or are paying for additional education/skills isn't going to change what the industry pays.  

In my opinion, you're following your passion instead of following the money (that's not a criticism) but if at the end of the day you want more money, you have to flip it and look for careers that pay more money.  Some people aren't wired that way (I'm in that group) and so I totally empathize with your situation.  My brother in law would pick up dog poop every day if it paid more money.  Again, not a criticism.  But, in my opinion, if you want to keep following your passion, you just need to grind more and worry less about the money- maybe look for other people's opinions about how to come at it with a different idea to monetize, but if you're going to change careers, something vague like "politics" or "sports team" aren't going to help you up your salary.  
Nurse, welder, IT.  3 jobs you can train for with direct paths into employment.  Not saying to pursue those, I'm saying they are A+B=C jobs. Get the skill, land a job.  That is not what happens when you go after an MBA.

I'm under no illusion that a degree gets you a job or entitles you to more pay. But lack of degree can certainly hold you back from those things. More than anything else, I got a B.S. because higher ed always felt like unfinished business, and I wanted to be the first in my family to graduate from college. But with degree inflation, it's the new high school diploma, and I also knew I really needed one to not be in a bad position in the job market.

While a degree does not equate pay or a job, per se, I HAVE found that many firms are very poor at equating skill sets to compensation, but very good at equating paper credentials to compensation, sadly. 

I really wouldn't mind continuing to be paid starvation wages if it was something I was passionate about - like say sports or politics. That's my main issue with the current job. I like it okay, but the subject matter we cover is something I have no passion for. It's hard to stay motivated, excel, and do really quality work when the work is on something you really don't give a flip about. Feels like work. If I worked in a field I was passionate about, and did what I loved for a living, I'd never work a day in my life.

For a specific political goal example...while I was poking around LinkedIn, I found that the current Director of Communications for the governor of my state has no background in politics, and transitioned into communications for the governor's office from being a sports talk radio personality. I thought "Well heck, I could do that." I just have to hustle, make connections, seek opportunities, and work my way into that kind of thing. It's a line of work I would really enjoy doing. (On top of that, I guarantee that guy gets paid more than a school teacher.)

So far the this thread is giving me the input I was looking for - i.e. a master's isn't necessarily a good investment to achieve my goals, yet I found that I really enjoy academics, and wouldn't mind continuing to pursue them. So really, I suppose if I pursue one, it should be more of a personal goal. (But not at the cost of going 25k in debt.) It's a shame WGU doesn't have more programs outside of Education, Business, IT and Nursing.

I may end up applying to Harvard Extension to see what kind of reduced tuition I could get for an ALM in Creative Writing. That would definitely be more interesting/rewarding on a personal level than a boring, generic MBA.

A second bachelor's is not out of the question either. I like learning.