[LWJ]

I worked with small contractors for a large part of my career.

Opinion:

HVAC- far more tools and training and same $$$ as other trades.

Plumbing- far more $$$ for similar commitment.

Electrical- not as much of a "dirty job" as plumbing. Low voltage is largely inside and in heated buildings (often) and thus more pleasant.

Consider other blue collar gigs. I am a big fan of unions for this. Add a union and then you have cool stuff like high purity piping for wafer fabs. Nice environment. Pays great. Not sure long term viability? Crane operator. Again. Great wages.

Framing? Have a childhood friend who does this. Low barrier to entry and you live and die by new construction.

I prefer service and remodel work. Better $$$ and lower risk.

Roofing? This trade attracts scumbags. I think there is a huge vaccum for a professional roofing firm. I have a large and well known one as a client currently. Great margins. Lots of repeat work.


Flooring? No idea.
Painting? I know many. Super low barrier to entry. Boom in summer with home exteriors. Not really a fan. But, I know some well run painters that do well.

Cabinetry? I hired perhaps the best cabinet shop in the Portland metro area to redo much of my home. They made pennies. I told them to charge more. It is a high capital investment and doesn't seem to have margins unless you make crap for the warehouse stores in large large quantities. Not a fan.

Good luck. I told my 23 year old son when he was looking for work that AI was never going to unplug a toilet. Good choice, looking at the trades.