Who builds Wyoming's
data centers?

Wyoming is building 6.8 GW of new AI data centers across 15 sites. 0 MW is already running, and 6.8 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Microsoft, Prometheus Hyperscale, Crusoe, CoreWeave.

At the busiest point, about 13,110 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 Wyoming, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, sheet metal workers, network/low-voltage technicians, hvac/r technicians, and electricians. 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 1,844 ironworkers, but only about 18 of Wyoming's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 1,826. 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.

Sheet metal workers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 410 sheet metal workers, but only about 42 of Wyoming's sheet metal workers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 368. When builders cannot find enough sheet metal workers, 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 819 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 85 of Wyoming'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 Wyoming short about 734. 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.

HVAC/R technicians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 819 hvac/r technicians, but only about 142 of Wyoming's hvac/r technicians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 677. When builders cannot find enough hvac/r 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 3,687 electricians, but only about 678 of Wyoming's electricians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 3,009. 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.

Pipefitters — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 1,434 pipefitters, but only about 285 of Wyoming's pipefitters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 1,149. When builders cannot find enough pipefitters, 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 2,253 carpenters, but only about 615 of Wyoming's carpenters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Wyoming short about 1,638. 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.

Data center technicians — worth training up: YES. Once these data centers open they will need about 1,004 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 Wyoming, 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.