I’m in the HVAC trade and can’t find any technicians. The techs we do find hold all the power. If we were to try half the shit I read in this sub, they’d quit and get a job somewhere else along with a raise. Every HVAC company I’ve worked for pays for medical insurance for the tech, 401k, dental, company vehicles, the works. Pay is very competitive. It has to be.
An apprenticeship out of high school costs nothing. It’s not glamorous at first, but a trades background can springboard into a ton of other jobs. The best thing is if those fail, you always have the trade to fall back on.
I’ve known ambitious techs that become wealthy business owners, hard working techs that are able to comfortably raise a family, and lazy techs that coast their entire career but always have work.
I fell into this life after high school, but am grateful I did. If you don’t know what you want for a career, I suggest going the trade route.