Mesa is building
data centers

Mesa, AZ has about 1.6 GW of AI data centers across 10 sites, with 636 MW still to build. The builders here include NTT, Amazon (AWS), Meta, Google.

At the busiest point, about 1,220 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? The work near Mesa is steady, but the area has enough workers for most trades. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 172 ironworkers, and the Mesa area already has about 645 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Network/low-voltage technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 76 network/low-voltage technicians, and the Mesa area already has about 402 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Electricians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 343 electricians, and the Mesa area already has about 4,185 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Welders — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 95 welders, and the Mesa area already has about 1,418 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Sheet metal workers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 38 sheet metal workers, and the Mesa area already has about 615 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Carpenters — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 210 carpenters, and the Mesa area already has about 3,620 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

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 Arizona. The Arizona trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.