[JavaBrewer]

I don't know about pay, but trade jobs would be difficult/impossible to automate or outsource anytime soon. If I were just out of high school I would give a trade school serious consideration over a college degree.

Edit - apprentice for a few years, branch out on your own. If you are the type of person who takes pride in their work then the jobs will find you. I would pause on auto repair, I think near future cars will be locked down by the manufacturer in a way that would ace out the independent shop.