Who builds New Mexico's
data centers?

New Mexico is building 2.7 GW of new AI data centers across 3 sites. 0 MW is already running, and 2.7 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Stargate / Oracle / OpenAI / Stack, Meta, DOE NNSA / Los Alamos National Laboratory.

At the busiest point, about 5,146 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? It depends on the trade. In New Mexico, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, carpenters, and sheet metal workers. Those are the best bets right now. Here is the read, trade by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 724 ironworkers, but only about 25 of New Mexico's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves New Mexico short about 699. 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 322 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 275 of New Mexico'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 New Mexico short about 47. 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, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 1,447 electricians, but only about 1,272 of New Mexico's electricians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves New Mexico short about 175. When builders cannot find enough electricians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Carpenters — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 884 carpenters, but only about 805 of New Mexico's carpenters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves New Mexico short about 79. When builders cannot find enough carpenters, 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, tight. The data centers need about 161 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~162 sheet metal workers New Mexico 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 563 pipefitters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~725 pipefitters New Mexico has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

HVAC/R technicians — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 322 hvac/r technicians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~455 hvac/r technicians New Mexico has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Data center technicians — worth training up: YES. Once these data centers open they will need about 394 data center technicians to run them, day and night. These are permanent jobs, and there are not enough local data center technicians to fill them — so they hire and train. Steady, long-term work.

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 New Mexico, 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.