A huge issue is region/nation. Unless you have luck with your trades business here in Germany and the market is not over-saturated and the guild actually lets y

A huge issue is region/nation. Unless you have luck with your trades business here in Germany and the market is not over-saturated and the guild actually lets you start the business, you're looking not at 100k€ but 30-50k€ per year, and that's with some significant seniority already so you're waaaay behind in earnings. The opportunities are there, but going into the trades, esp. when you look at the next 40 years, is not much better than giving university a shot (ok, it's no tuition here). Plus, with a college degree, getting visas for abroad is easier and in these troubled times mobility of this sort is also something I wouldn't like to miss.