Entry level 17k a year with a solid job and pension etc, you won't get that on a 3 year apprenticeship to be a plumber etc..
Seeing as you have waited some time already before making a career choice, I'm sure a year or 2 longer on "not such great wages" won't matter in the long term
I wish I had been brave enough at nearly 30 to go down the apprenticeship route, or night school etc..but with a daughter dependant on me it wasn't an option. Doesn't matter how long you take to get there, as long as you get there. You're only racing yourself