Really? Time to move to the USA I guess. Here in Europe it seems to me there's a big gap between minimum wage and high paying jobs. Not much in between

(Afterthought: Don't forget the time and cost of retraining. I don't doubt your statement that you'll make just as much but I doubt it'll be right off the bat)

Union electricians make about $60/hr in my metro area of 3M in the upper Midwest, union plumbers, sheetmetal workers, and pipefitters are all around there or higher. The total pay package is over $100/hr if you include health insurance, vacation, and pension.