Ask HN: What can I do to earn money?

(This is an alternate account for purposes of anonymity. I've read and commented at HN for a couple of years now. I submitted this once and got no traction, so I'm trying again as I think my situation is applicable to many others.) The advice I need is about earning a decent annual income given my constraints. While my dream is to build something that matters at scale, I've learned that I need a trade as a stepping stone, a domain to master and a steady way to earn money. I've picked that pat and am going to school this fall to gain a necessary credential. However, at this point, I just need to earn some money to pay bills and buy food for my wife and I. I am a deeply flawed mortal occupying the lowest rung on the HN ladder -- I'm neither strong enough to be an entrepreneur nor did I have the foresight to pick a trade. As the amount of noise on the subject of how to make money is staggering, I'm turning to HN. My confidence is low on this subject, but I'll state my goal plainly anyway