What is a good career for a 24-year old guy with a family, a GED, and a passion for music and technology?

Becoming a DJ, as another poster suggested, isn't really an option. It pays worse than what you're making now, on average.

You have two possible paths: look in your current company, and look outside it.

Within your current company/industry, what jobs do you think you might like? What education would be needed to help you get them? And would your employer be willing to pay for you to get it? They might.

If that's not a good option for you, then look outside your company. You like tech and music, but need something that's fairly fast to get into, and due to your family and life demands, that pays well and that is hiring. I'm thinking one of these options might suit you well:

1) one of the trades - and for you, I'm thinking plumbing, electrical, or HVAC. They take less than a year of classwork, then you do an apprenticeship, and once you're really working, you will make WAY more than $25k per year. These trades are in demand in most regions of the US (although you'd want to check what's in demand in your region). They work with your interest in tech - especially electrical, which may really be a good fit. And electrical tends to be fairly recession-proof, as many homeowners don't want to tackle electrical work on their own, and new construction requires a licensed electrician, not just some guy who does electric on the side. You can check your local community colleges and your local unions for training programs. Check there first, and only if you don't find what you need do you look at trade schools, because trade schools are wicked expensive.

2) Look at the academic programs available via your community college. I think you'd really enjoy being a computer tech/help desk, and all you need for that is an associates degree in computer science, plus things like A+ certifications, which you'd get while you were getting your associates. CCs are inexpensive and reputable, and they offer part-time programs for people who work full time. And if your current company has a computer help desk, they may be willing to help you pay for the program.

I like this option for you because even in this recession, help desks are still hiring. The pay is good, the job is interesting and varied (although sometimes frustrating), and it sometimes does involve music tech, depending on where you work.

3) Another option - and this one is a very good fit to your interests - is audio engineering/sound engineering. Sound engineers work in theater, in film/tv, in recording, and in industry. It's a perfect combo of your interest in music and tech, and for some of the jobs, you only need an associates degree. Thing is, this isn't something that's in demand everywhere. I live in NY, so there's plenty of work here, but if you're in, like, Broken Bow, Nebraska, then this is not a reasonable option for you.

Finally, and as an aside - do you play an instrument? If you play and like to perform, then one option for you to have on the side is to form a wedding and events band. I am not joking. A friend of mine is in a wedding band in Massachusetts. He is booked every weekend during the season, and it is a significant supplement to his income. It also allows him to perform and play - yes, with constraints, and yes, in a suit, but it keeps his skills up, and brings in extra income. It's an option.

Related to that, if you play really well, you can give music lessons to local kids. You can get in touch with local music schools and offer your services, or do it on your own. No need for a degree for that, but you do need patience and you need to be able to explain things. But you write well, so I suspect that you can do this.

you could become a dj on a radio.