Degrees vary a great deal. I have had some really good techs without degrees. They had various certifications and/or experience - maybe military.
You will find any number of programs that, for money, offer training/degrees/certifications and job placement. Would not put much faith in the promises they might make.
There are many trade-offs involved. The specifics are mostly out of your control.
What you need to do is start reading the employment ads to see what skills and experience levels are being sought by "some businesses".
How well do you match those requirements? Can you honestly map your skill set, item by item, to those requirements?
As for pay that depends on the demand for the necessary level of skills and experience being required. For the most part you will probably start very low and need to work your way up the payscale. It will take time and much effort.
Plus there are the intangible considerations: will you be a good reliable worker? A team player? Honest, willing to step up and help? Not hassle your supervisor, co-workers, or clients/customers? Respect the workplace? Are you able to write and communicate? Pay attention to detail and learn from mistakes.
Summary answer: Map your skills to job openings and start applying see what responses you receive. Identify your weaknesses and address accordingly. Be very ready to work hard and make some trade-offs when necessary. Keep learning.