Who builds Washington's
data centers?
Washington is building 788 MW of new data centers across 6 sites. Here is the work that means for the trades — and why there are not enough workers for it.
Worth training up for in Washington?
YES means the data centers will need more of that trade than Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington
Washington is building 1.5 GW of new AI data centers across 6 sites. 721 MW is already running, and 788 MW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Microsoft, Vantage, Voltage Park, Vultr.
At the busiest point, about 1,514 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 Washington, the data centers look most short on ironworkers. Those are the best bets right now. Here is the read, trade by trade.
Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 213 ironworkers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~285 ironworkers Washington has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.
Network/low-voltage technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 95 network/low-voltage technicians, and Washington already has about 920 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 426 electricians, and Washington already has about 4,595 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 118 welders, and Washington already has about 1,920 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 165 pipefitters, and Washington already has about 3,052 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 95 hvac/r technicians, and Washington already has about 1,772 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 47 sheet metal workers, and Washington already has about 968 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 222 data center technicians to run them — steady, permanent jobs that Washington can mostly fill.
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 Washington, 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 | 426 | 4,595 | 4,169 spare | 57 | NO |
| Carpenters | 260 | 6,585 | 6,325 spare | — | NO |
| Ironworkers | 213 | 285 | 72 spare | — | YES |
| Pipefitters | 165 | 3,052 | 2,887 spare | — | NO |
| Data center technicians | — | 438 | 216 spare | 222 | CLOSE |
| Welders | 118 | 1,920 | 1,802 spare | — | NO |
| HVAC/R technicians | 95 | 1,772 | 1,677 spare | 25 | NO |
| Network/low-voltage technicians | 95 | 920 | 825 spare | 13 | NO |
| Plumbers | 71 | 3,052 | 2,981 spare | — | NO |
| Sheet metal workers | 47 | 968 | 921 spare | — | NO |
| Elevator mechanics | 24 | 292 | — | — | — |
"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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