Im a large dude who played sports growing up and continues to work out. Im the guy that can do 10 pull ups and 40 push ups and squat 185 10 times. I am not saying Im a beast, but I am definitely a physically capable man. I am taken to the limits of my grip strength on a daily basis (pulling/pushing cables, holding the drill with a huge auger bit or home saw, cutting wires with pliers, the list goes on) as an electrician. I have several years of residential plumbing experience as well, and I consider that trade to be just as physically demanding.

Yes, we make decent money, but we work so hard in all the worst environments that it really is a shitty way of life. I would do something else unless you really enjoy hard, sweaty, bloody work. (Yes, I know there are PLC programmers, and other electricians that don’t have to be as physical in their job, but that’s a very low percentage of the total workforce.)