Self employed plumber can make crazy loot. Even in the south where construction workers don't make union wages. You could easily make yourself rich or at least very well off and retire early simply by working hard and keeping a good name. Carpentry and most other trades aren't really comparable income wise
Hvac...is close. Plumber here charge about 150 bucks to show up..then what they do on a service call is in addition to that. Good money dealing with poop and a lot if their work doesn't even involve waste. I don't enjoy plumbing 2ork but looking back I wish I 2ould have gone that route. I'd have a lot more income, and it's easy work. To become a licensed plier in NC you just b have to work 2000 hrs..1 year..under a licensed plumber and then pass the written test. I can do everything they do includin sweating copper, and am pretty sure I could pass the test also. Just from helping my BIL who is a plumber and my FIL who is a GC. It ain't rocket surgery.