Is HVAC a based trade...

No.

Great cross post, thanks

I've been in HVAC for 18 years now. The big money is in commercial/industrial HVAC. It is a well paying trade, and it is hard work. You absolutely need to know what you're doing, because you can get hurt real quick. I'm a project manager now, so I make over $100k salary, but my highest grossing year was $125k working as a technician (obscene amount of overtime). Get in with a union too if possible, their trade schools are usually free, but they are very strict and will throw you out if you fuck up. The more you know about various types of equipment, the more employable you are going to be. And there are all races in HVAC, which shouldn't matter, but whatever.