[indes]

The industrial trades suck until you can break into supervision/planning/management (which takes a ton of experience). I completed my journeyman pipefitter ticket in 2011 and the wages are the same now as they were then for the guys on the tools. The work itself isn't that bad and as nice as it is to be outside all day in the summer its brutal in the winter. After being on a desk for a few years I never want to end up back outside doing my trade lol.

Everyone I know that seems to be "upper middle class" is in sales. They all sell whatever, I don't know exactly how one ends up in mine equipment, valve or kenworth sales but they seem to be doing alright.

EDIT: I just wanted to add if you're an industrial tradesman the rates are currently from 45$-55$/hr. The entire industry has been hacking and slashing at all the benefits that used to exist like paid lunches, OT after 40 (yay compressed work week), paid travel, retention bonus, completion bonus. I don't think the squeeze is worth the 100k/yr.