Who builds California's
data centers?
California is building 718 MW of new data centers across 10 sites. Here is the work that means for the trades — and why there are not enough workers for it.
Worth training up for in California?
YES means the data centers will need more of that trade than California can spare — so they pay well, pay to train, and run overtime. NO means there are already plenty.
"Short" means the data centers need more of that trade at the busiest point than the area has free to take on new work. Most workers stay on their regular jobs; only about 1 in 4 are free for big new projects like these.
Will California have enough workers?
At the busiest point of the build. Bars to the left mean a shortage (good if you are in that trade). Bars to the right mean workers to spare.
What this means if you work a trade in California
California is building 986 MW of new AI data centers across 10 sites. 268 MW is already running, and 718 MW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Lambda, Microsoft, Vantage, DOE NNSA / Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
At the busiest point, about 1,380 skilled workers will be on these sites at once, across all the trades. But the work is not split evenly — some trades will be short, and some will not. That is what decides whether it is worth training up.
Should you train up for this? In California the data centers are steady work, but the area has enough workers for most trades already. Here is the read, trade by trade.
Ironworkers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 194 ironworkers, and California already has about 1,742 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 388 electricians, and California already has about 18,355 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 43 sheet metal workers, and California already has about 2,295 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 108 welders, and California already has about 6,525 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 86 network/low-voltage technicians, and California already has about 3,810 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
Pipefitters — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 151 pipefitters, and California already has about 11,365 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
HVAC/R technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 86 hvac/r technicians, and California already has about 8,505 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
Data center technicians: once open, the data centers will need about 145 data center technicians. California already has enough for that.
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.
The building jobs run for a few years; the jobs that run the data centers last longer. Either way, a shortage is good news if you are in that trade. To start in California, look at the apprenticeship programs for the trade you want. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.
Every trade, by the numbers
| Trade | Needed at peak | Free to take it on | Short or extra | New data-center jobs | Train up? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 388 | 18,355 | 17,967 spare | 37 | NO |
| Carpenters | 237 | 26,625 | 26,388 spare | — | NO |
| Ironworkers | 194 | 1,742 | 1,548 spare | — | NO |
| Pipefitters | 151 | 11,365 | 11,214 spare | — | NO |
| Welders | 108 | 6,525 | 6,417 spare | — | NO |
| HVAC/R technicians | 86 | 8,505 | 8,419 spare | 17 | NO |
| Network/low-voltage technicians | 86 | 3,810 | 3,724 spare | 8 | NO |
| Data center technicians | — | 1,865 | 1,720 spare | 145 | NO |
| Plumbers | 65 | 11,365 | 11,300 spare | — | NO |
| Sheet metal workers | 43 | 2,295 | 2,252 spare | — | NO |
| Elevator mechanics | 22 | 708 | — | — | — |
"Needed at peak" is the most of that trade working across all the building at the busiest time. "Free to take it on" is how many local workers could move to data-center jobs — about 1 in 4 of the trade; the rest keep their regular jobs. "Short or extra" is the gap. "New data-center jobs" are permanent jobs that stay once a data center opens. "Train up?" is YES when the work needs more than the area can spare (so they pay well and pay to train), NO when there are plenty already. Elevator mechanics are left out of the verdict because their work depends on the building's design.
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