imo a "skilled trade" involves a hard to learn skill that is in high demand. Consequently, the demand yields a higher salary than a commodity "non-high skilled" trade that is not high in demand.
> I fail to see how you can be an electrician longer than a software engineer
Because electrical components and systems do not evolve and change as fast as software constructs, neither does plumbing.
> but even if that was true there are far more careers a college degree enable that pay more.
That's debatable when you account for student loans paired with less marketable degrees. Otherwise, I feel that student debt wouldn't be an issue.