You can make quite a bit more. It is pretty easy to start your business as a tradesman when you have experience, without employees you can easily net over 100k

You can make quite a bit more. It is pretty easy to start your business as a tradesman when you have experience, without employees you can easily net over 100k a year in low cost of living markets. Also, many construction workers get the benefit of side jobs and overtime. Definitely not an easy life, but there is something that can be said about the satisfaction you get after building something physical.