I don't have a degree and have been gainfully employed for decades.
You're lucky. There are loads of careers where they simply will not hire without the credentials. Obviously, law and medicine, but science, math and engineering as well.
I have a nephew who has no degree but does well because he runs his own business - he's brilliant with computers, but could not get a computer job without the degree. He'd even written game apps for phones - so he IS smart. He has a game shop business similar to High Tides.
I've no doubt someone can be gainfully employed without a degree - I also know that if you want a specific career that requires it, you're not going to be interviewed. HR tosses your resume right away.
The only thing I know of that can substitute is military training, and even then most companies I worked for will SEND a veteran to school while he is on the job.