I know a water treatment plant worker, two plumbers, and an electrician in the Kansas City area, and they all make as much, if not more than my programming cont

I know a water treatment plant worker, two plumbers, and an electrician in the Kansas City area, and they all make as much, if not more than my programming contemporaries. For instance, a friend tried to get me to work at Cerner for ~75-80k (good money in the Midwest), but those plumbers were making that plus some (45 dollars an hour, so in some cases would make more depending on overtime), the Electrician worked for himself and though I don't know his yearly earnings, he was making closer to 60/hr (based on a quote to install a ceiling fan, and since he was a HS buddy, he probably gave me a discount). The wastewater plant worker? He's a manager now making 100k or so, but started out at 60k, not bad for the midwest as well. I'd not trade my cushy, indoor job for that, mind you, just the idea that trade workers necessarily make peanuts, I believe, is without merit.