Know this, and it's not an insult when I say this, it's the truth.
Every 17 year has their head up their ass. Every single one of them. You just don't know shit yet.
It's good you are wondering what to do, but don't look at things in terms of wo made more in a year. Look at it like this.
What else can dude do when his body wears out and the seasons are slow?
If you're educated, things can get hard also, but you have a better chance in switching fields later on than you do with a labor job like painting and decorating.
Just go back to school, be smart, keep your head own and learn your ass off.
Later on you will thank me for it, and agree with my opening statements.