Sandston is building
data centers

Sandston, VA has about 700 MW of AI data centers across 4 sites, with 200 MW still to build. The builders here include QTS, Meta, Iron Mountain.

At the busiest point, about 384 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 Sandston, the data centers look most short on ironworkers. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 54 ironworkers, but only about 50 of the Sandston area's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Sandston area short about 4. 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.

Network/low-voltage technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 24 network/low-voltage technicians, and the Sandston area already has about 118 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 108 electricians, and the Sandston area already has about 825 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 12 sheet metal workers, and the Sandston area already has about 112 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 30 welders, and the Sandston area already has about 310 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 66 carpenters, and the Sandston area already has about 728 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 Virginia. The Virginia trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.