Also its more about benefits nowadays to go union or not. Im making more per hour dollar wise than the union MIC scale is here. Not uncommon for non union shops to be competitive with pay. Im really trying to tell you dont settle on either option as the only way. Go through the options in your area talk to them and try to get the job best suited to you. We all have our opinions but only you can decide what's best.
I don't find it very stressful at all. Once you know what your doing your just making a box go up and down. People are the pita. But you learn to shrug them off and not let people stress you out. Customers (rude or annoying) dont phase me anymore.
I get 10 paid holidays plus 5 weeks paid vacation.
Like I said very well paid. My wife stays at home and keeps the house up so we can have fun on the weekend. There's a reason we have a reputation in the trades of being the highest paid.
I say absolutely get in the trade. If you end up hating it you can go get a job anywhere. You'll have the skills of an electrician, sprinkler guy (running pipe), iron worker, carpenter. Pretty much every trade is wrapped up into one high octane moving parts trade called elevators.
