u/FifthDimensionalGod

How crazy would I be to consider leaving Cyber for HVAC work?

I have been working in IT since I was 19 and for the last 5 years I have been working in Cyber Security where I am currently making right at 100k in a LCOL area.

I just hate the politics and the continuous learning that is required for this field. I am constantly having to train for more certifications and upskill just to stay relevant.

With the rise of AI I don’t think it’s going to replace all of the white collar workers but I do believe we will see a reduction of some kind in the work force, and the problem I have with that is it’s already so competitive in my field that I feel like I am basically stuck at my where I am forever because I see people more skilled than me are unemployed for more than a year in the current job market.

With the people that remain in the field I think learning how to use LLM’s will be the new norm and I just don’t have the motivation nor do I care to keep learning to keep up with all of this.

One of the big things I’ve like about the trades is how easy it looks for them to find other jobs. My electrician friends can lose a job Friday afternoon and be with another crew come Monday morning.

I’ve been wanting to swap to some sort of blue collar job (Electrician or HVAC) for the last several years but the problem has always been that I make too much money to take a pay cut with my bills.

I think if I went to school and got my EPA certification that I could do some side work while I work full time in Cyber and after a few years if AI did disrupt my job I could transition more easily to an HVAC opportunity but I obviously do expect some kind of pay cut in the beginning for this and unsure how long I could go to get back to what I’m currently making.

Another thing that I like about this is also the ability to open a business because I have several family members and friends currently with businesses in the trades that are doing really well for themselves and it’s always been a dream of mine to run my own and be my own boss. I understand there’s a whole lot more to this than just opening a business, but even if it’s something I fail at I would like to try it at one point in my life.

I just don’t want to have regrets and wonder why I just didn’t do something when I could have when I was young. I’ve been locked into this field ever since I turned an adult basically and I just can’t stand the idea of having to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life.

Grass is always greener so maybe I’m crazy and in for a rude awakening but I would appreciate any feedback!