Sparks is building
data centers

Sparks, NV has about 424 MW of AI data centers across 2 sites, with 424 MW still to build. The builders here include Vantage, Tract.

At the busiest point, about 814 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 Sparks, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage 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 114 ironworkers, but only about 40 of the Sparks area's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Sparks area short about 74. 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 — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 51 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 40 of the Sparks area'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 the Sparks area short about 11. 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.

Electricians — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 229 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~380 electricians the Sparks area has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Sheet metal workers — could go either way. The data centers need about 25 sheet metal workers, and the Sparks area has about 52 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Welders — could go either way. The data centers need about 64 welders, and the Sparks area has about 135 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Pipefitters — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 89 pipefitters, and the Sparks area already has about 302 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 Nevada. The Nevada trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.