Evanston is building
data centers

Evanston, WY has about 1.3 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 1.3 GW still to build. The builders here include Prometheus Hyperscale.

At the busiest point, about 2,400 skilled workers will be on these sites at once, across all the trades. Many drive in from nearby towns, but the work starts here — and it is not split evenly, so some trades are short and some are not.

Worth training up for? Around Evanston, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, sheet metal workers, network/low-voltage technicians, hvac/r technicians, and electricians. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 338 ironworkers, but only about 18 of Wyoming's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 320. When builders cannot find enough ironworkers, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Sheet metal workers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 75 sheet metal workers, but only about 42 of Wyoming's sheet metal workers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 33. When builders cannot find enough sheet metal workers, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Network/low-voltage technicians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 150 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 85 of Wyoming's network/low-voltage technicians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 65. When builders cannot find enough network/low-voltage technicians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

HVAC/R technicians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 150 hvac/r technicians, but only about 142 of Wyoming's hvac/r technicians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 8. When builders cannot find enough hvac/r technicians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Electricians — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 675 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~678 electricians Wyoming has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Pipefitters — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 262 pipefitters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~285 pipefitters Wyoming has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

These are some of the best-paying jobs you can get without a four-year degree. When a trade is short, builders run overtime and pay to train, and experienced workers can clear $100,000 a year, with health care and a pension through the union. It is the same across the country: builders cannot find enough skilled workers. The U.S. needs about 140,000 more trade workers by 2030 to build all the data centers, and most builders say hiring is their hardest problem. Microsoft's president has called the shortage of electricians the biggest thing slowing data centers down.

You sign up and get your license through Wyoming. The Wyoming trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.