Just my opinion
If you do decide to enter this trade I would recommend getting the degree, there will likely be some point down the road where you need it to obtain a certification or license. But like any education it will not get you wealth. At best it will get you an interview. And if that goes well you get a job. And if you have a job that means you have an employer who is paying you as little as possible. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just the way it is with every business.
The three best ways to build wealth in this country are the stock market, real estate, and owning a business. Not too many people build any real wealth just having a job, so I would recommend being realistic about what to expect with your HVAC/R career.
If owning an HVAC/R business is your goal then you have a long road ahead of you and it won’t be easy, so hopefully this is a career you’re passionate about. I would recommend taking every class possible, acquiring every certification, asking questions about everything, reading, etc. If you work really hard at all this for 5 years you may have acquired enough field experience to go out on your own.
Now you will need a whole new set of skills. Just like you learned the trade you now have to learn how to legally operate a business, tax laws, asset protection, accounting, marketing, write a business plan, inventory, and the list goes on and on. This all requires more classes, seminars, reading, researching, etc. It also requires a bit of capital to start up the business so start saving now. But perhaps most importantly once you’re on your own you really have two choices, learn to sell or get a job.
As a technician working for someone you should do more than is expected of you every day. Go beyond what you get paid to do. You’ll probably get **** from your coworkers, but it’ll also get noticed by your boss and customers. You need to be valuable to the company to have leverage when negotiating your wages. You need to be making them money and solving their problems. The best raises will come when you give your two week notice, sometimes it comes to that. If you know what your worth then get what your worth, but you may have to play games like that to get it.
If going into business isn’t for you, then learn on the side how to play the stock market and/ or get into investment real estate. You’ll probably end up building wealth quicker than the guy investing all his time and money into their own HVAC/R business. Again you need to take classes, read, seminars, etc., but with the internet and living in this country, it’s all made possible for the average Joe. But none of it comes easy, so be prepared for that and don’t quit along the way.
Good luck.
"I’m an actor… I do a job and I go home. Why are you interested in me? You don’t ask a truck driver about his job."
James Gandolfini