I worked with a pipefitter foreman several years ago who had his own side business - training and equipping new pipefitters. Fitters that were certified - after apprenticing under him for a few months - were drawing starting wages of about $100 an hour and were equipped with their own top-of-the-line welding rig(s).
No college required. No union dues (though if you were dumb enough, you could certainly go that route should you choose to). Very little in the way of student loans (only loans involved were for the apprentice's welding rig; usually paid off and clear within 12 months of starting). And the new certified pipefitter could take that set of skills and land comparable jobs anywhere in the country afterwards.
All they had to do, DUmbasses, was piss a clean Whiz Quiz.
