>>1162585If you have the time, money and smarts you're probably better off getting an engineering or other useful degree.
Otherwise trades are a good option, less investment, but still a reasonable payout, especially if you're smart enough to run a small company in your trade.
Biggest downside to trades is the lack of flexibility. If you learn HVAC, you're stuck with it, if people need less HVAC work, life gets harder.
If you're employable as an engineer, there's many industries that are gunning for you.
Trades are solid tho.