Ain't THAT the truth! I wish they taught trades in public school instead of a lot of the dumb stuff they do teach. I'd be better off knowing heating and cooling plus basic math than I would be not knowing a useful trade, but knowing advanced math.
Plumbing, heat/cooling, electric. in 2007 i knew an independent dump truck driver making over $200k...he admitted it was a high water mark...but still - CDL and willingness to work.