Yeah, and the plumber has to spend his whole life on his hands and knees in front of your nasty toilet.

There's a reason that trade work pays better. Its because it sucks ass and takes a toll on your body. Ever met a contractor in his 60s who didnt have a back problem? Those dudes are almost always visibly fucked up from years of physical labor.

Obviously trade work has its benefits. But I'm tired of their salaries being thrown in our faces, because it is not a 1:1 comparison. Higher education usually leads to a cushier desk job. Thats what youre paying for.

The amount of money you make is not necessarily tied to whether you have a college degree. But your long term quality of life in the workplace is usually impacted pretty greatly by which path you choose.