hey bluecollarsingaporean ,
It's not that bleak, I am 27 this year and like you only holding a nitec from
ITE. I am working as a plant operator in the refinery. Compare to many of my peers from Uni i am earning more then them. FYI my last year income is about 70kp.a. And i only work 15days in a month. So brother, not true that the so called white collar earn much more then us many of them earn peanuts!
First you much know with your cert where can you get the most out of it, second aim there and try you every best to get in. you can try, oil/gas, petrolchem , pharmaceutical productions, enegry, shipyard, safety, air craft engr...etc
Secondly you will need to upgrade. As you cannot compare to degree holder outside you gotta made youself specialist, take steam engr licence if you can, boiler attandent, WDA safety officer licence...etc.
Thirdly , you must have the dare put in extra effort and tell youself you are no lesser then an
NUS grad. And you will make it. Look in army there is CO but also got RSM post for spec so don worry find your way to be a RSM lah. no doubt RSM don earn more then a CO but i believe a airforce RSM sure earn more then a OC in infantry.