23M and honestly feel like I may have made the wrong call going to uni. Looking for some outside perspective.
I graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Construction Management and currently work as an estimator for a tier 3 construction company in Melbourne. I’m on $75k + super and have been with the company for about a year.
Meanwhile one of my mates is the same age, did an electrical apprenticeship, qualifies this year, and is stepping into close to $150k on union sites ($68/hr + allowances + OT).
Now I’m sitting here wondering if I chose the slow lane. I spent years at uni, have HECS debt, and I’m earning roughly half of what he’ll be on.
I’m seriously considering quitting and starting an electrical apprenticeship, but I can’t tell if I’m thinking rationally or just comparing myself to someone in a hot trade at the right time.
I know construction management careers can ramp up later (PM, contracts administrators, senior estimator etc), but based on my knowledge it would maybe 5-7 years to reach 150k and would involve a lot of pressure & responsibility.
Has anyone been in a similar position? Stick it out in the white-collar construction path, or pivot into a trade while I’m still young enough to do it?
Am I seeing genuine opportunity, or just shiny object syndrome?