Data Center Jobs: Where They Are & How to Get In
The AI build-out has made data centers one of the fastest-growing places to work in North America — and most roles don't need a university degree. Here's where the 1,757 facilities are, who runs them, and how to get hired.
*U.S. median for computer network support specialists, May 2024 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Where the jobs are
Data center jobs follow the buildings. These states have the most facilities on our live map — click one to see every site near you:
📍 Find data centers near meBrowse all states →
The main roles (and what they involve)
Data center technician
The core job: racking servers, swapping drives, running cables, responding to alerts. The usual way in — often with just a certification or two.
Critical facilities / electrical
Electricians and power techs who keep the megawatts flowing — UPS systems, generators, switchgear. Trade licences transfer straight in.
Cooling & HVAC
AI racks run hot. HVAC and, increasingly, liquid-cooling techs are in demand at every new campus.
Network engineer
Fibre, switches, routing. The step up from technician — and the pay steps up with it.
Security
Data centers are guarded 24/7. Physical security officers and access-control staff are hired at nearly every site.
Construction & commissioning
Hundreds of new facilities are under construction — electricians, pipefitters and commissioning agents get in before the doors even open.
Who's hiring
The biggest operators by facilities on our map:
| Operator | Facilities mapped | Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Web Services | 243 | Amazon data center jobs → |
| 73 | Google data center jobs → | |
| Microsoft | 60 | careers.microsoft.com |
| Meta | 60 | metacareers.com |
Plus colocation giants — Equinix, Digital Realty, QTS, Flexential — which together run hundreds more sites and hire the same roles.
What it pays
Technician-track roles typically fall between the U.S. medians for computer user support ($60,340) and network support specialists ($73,340); step up to systems administration and the median is $96,800 (May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Full breakdown: data center technician salary →
Frequently asked questions
Do data center jobs require a degree?
Most entry-level technician roles do not require a university degree. A high-school diploma plus an IT certification (like CompTIA A+ or Server+) is a common way in — the BLS notes candidates can qualify with a diploma plus relevant IT certifications. See our certifications guide.
Which state has the most data center jobs?
Virginia, by a wide margin — 389 facilities on our map, the biggest concentration on Earth. Texas (202) and Oregon (128) follow.
How do I find data center jobs near me?
Use our interactive map — hit “Near me”, see which facilities and operators are around you, then apply on those operators' careers portals directly.
Are data center jobs growing?
Facility construction is booming with the AI build-out, and operations roles follow every new campus. Note that the broader BLS 'computer support' category is projected to decline slightly through 2034 — the growth is concentrated in data-center-specific and critical-facilities roles rather than general IT helpdesk work.