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With a bit of wisdom and humility it will likely become evident that there is more than a kernel of truth in what they are saying. Lacking that, you should at least consider taking the time to build a model to test their statements.
The low cost of training combined with relatively high immediate earnings means decent tradespeople are way ahead of most white collar professions for the first 5 - 10 years. Invest that money (rather than buying the loaded F150 and matching jet skis) and the advantage likely persists even longer in an up market.
It is specious to compare tradesman salary to IB and Big Law partners. As you should know, very few make it down this path for 20+ years.
From a behavioral perspective, there is a strong argument to be made that doing work where benefits are obvious and immediate, combined with a salary path where you learn to live within your means early is a path to real happiness.
P.S. Have you ever seen how much a tradesman who makes partner makes (ownership stake in a moderate sized trades company). Around me (MCOL) many live in multimillion dollar houses. $150k lol.
My cousin went to trade school and is a line worker. His first job was in the US Virgin Islands and he’s banked everything’s he’s made because his travel costs / meals / etc were completely covered. I don’t know if salary wise he’ll ever outpace me but he absolutely has more invested and banked than I do.
Same thing goes with nurses, they think everyone else’s job works the way theirs does where what you making starting is relatively close to the rest of your career when that kid who started in sales at 40k might be making 400k in ten years while you’re still a plumber at 100. No offense to them it’s a hard job that needs doing
I grew up in the Bay Area, so I have the opposite problem where everyone thinks people earn as much as a SWE.
Wouldn’t worry about what people think. Live and let live. If they think bankers make $150K after 20 years, okay then, they make $150. Next