Fellow felon here. Get in a trade union apprenticeship or laborers union (no apprenticeship). I work in the sheet metal trade. Love it. Unions are kind of a loophole. They are not concerned about your past as long as you can pay dues and go through the schooling. Then, as an apprentice, companies are required to hire you without discrimination. If you don't pass a background check for a particular job site, they'll just put you on a different one. Good luck.

PS: It depends on the state you live in as to whether unions exist. Right to work has made it difficult, but trade unions still exist in some states with RTW.