Well this is place where $400K worth of salary and perks at Google are brushed of as 'Oh, but bay area is so expensive'. 55-60K for them would be like kids' private schooling.

> Who considers 55-60k "high paying"

the state's average annual wage of $54,000.

That accounts for all cost of living adjustments, since it is the same state. I wouldn't consider 2%-10% above average "high paying"

Just because they're trade jobs doesn't mean they're located in "90% of the rest of the country." All the good paying construction trades are going to be in places where they're building lots of high rises; places where rent is high enough to warrant such construction. If you're living in San Francisco as an ironworker then $55,000 means you're barely getting by. Construction jobs tend to start really early in the morning so long commutes are pretty much off the table, too.

You've got a very myopic view of the US if youthink construction is only happening in expensive coastal cities. Also, 'trade jobs' are not limited to construction.

Everywhere I look land is cheap and lifestyles are good. They can’t build SFR houses fast enough.

And I’m ignoring downtown Renaissances happening all across the Midwest.