Data Center Trades
Data center construction is short of people, not of work. This board lists the trades that are actually constrained, corridor by corridor, with what they pay.
Construction is short roughly 600,000 workers, and about 89 percent of firms report trouble filling skilled positions. In data center markets specifically, wage premiums of up to 30 percent over standard commercial rates are common, and a single hyperscale project can pull 1,400 electricians on site at peak.
Which trades, which corridors
Every trade below is short in at least one corridor. The two tightest markets are highlighted.
| Trade | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | Base range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Voltage Electrician | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $85,000 - $145,000 |
| Controls and BAS Technician | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $78,000 - $130,000 |
| Pipefitter | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $70,000 - $120,000 |
| Commissioning Agent | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $95,000 - $160,000 |
| HVAC Technician | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $65,000 - $115,000 |
| Instrumentation Technician | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $72,000 - $125,000 |
| Low Voltage Technician | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $55,000 - $95,000 |
| Millwright | VA | TX | OH | AZ | GA | $70,000 - $125,000 |
Corridors
Common questions
Which trades are actually short on data center builds?
Electricians with medium voltage and switchgear experience are the most constrained in active markets. Controls and BAS technicians are running long backlogs, and commissioning agents are close to impossible to hire mid-build. Pipefitters and HVAC follow the megawatts coming online.
How much better does data center work pay?
Wage premiums of up to thirty percent over standard commercial rates are common in active data center markets, before per diem and before overtime.
Where is the work concentrated?
Northern Virginia is the largest market in the world and the tightest. Dallas-Fort Worth is now the third largest colocation market in the country. Columbus, Phoenix and Atlanta are the other growing corridors.
How do I get onto a data center build?
Through the electrical and mechanical contractors who hold the packages, not through the hyperscaler. The hyperscaler does not employ the trades.
What should I ask before signing a travel job?
Three things: whether per diem is paid on non-work days, who pays for the trip home between phases, and whether the rate changes when the phase changes.