Data center technician: what the job is, what it pays and how to get one

What a data center technician does

The core of the job is the hardware. Microsoft’s careers page lists powering equipment up and down, basic troubleshooting and diagnostics, and quality checks and changes among a technician’s tasks, all while keeping the floor safe and up to standard[4]. The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the closest federal occupation, computer network support specialist, as someone who analyzes and troubleshoots network problems and handles routine maintenance[1].

A data center never closes. Meta says its teams keep its data centers running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year[7], and BLS notes that because support services may be needed around the clock, some specialists work nights or weekends[1].

Technicians are only part of the staff. Electricians and HVAC mechanics work on the power and cooling side, and BLS ties growth in both trades partly to data centers[8][9].

How much does a data center technician make?

There is no official pay figure for the title itself. BLS doesn’t publish a “data center technician” category, so the table shows national median pay in May 2025 for the occupations the work falls under.

Industry-specific figures exist too. In BLS’s May 2023 survey of the data processing and hosting industry, computer network support specialists earned a mean of $78,190 a year[11]. Virginia reports average earnings of about $100,000 for data center employees and contractors, according to the state’s legislative auditors[2].

These are medians and averages across all experience levels and regions, not starting pay.

Do you need a degree?

Often not. BLS says network support specialists typically need an associate’s degree, but that candidates for support roles can qualify with a high school diploma plus relevant IT certifications[1]. The big operators also run their own training programs (below).

Certifications that help

Three CompTIA certifications cover the basics. The organization bills A+ as the industry standard for starting an IT career and says no other IT credential shows up in more tech support job listings[12]. Server+ covers server installation, management and troubleshooting and is pitched at people working in data centers[13]. Network+ tests networking skills and lists data centers among its exam topics[14].

None is a legal requirement; they are a way to show an employer the basics.

Training programs run by the operators

Microsoft Datacenter Academy. Launched in 2018, the program has grown to more than 30 partners, including local colleges, technical institutes and nonprofits[5], and Microsoft says more than 12,522 students have enrolled[5].

AWS. Amazon Web Services runs a 12-month paid Work-Based Learning Program in data center operations, and participants who complete it are promoted into roles at its data centers[6]. In 2023, AWS said its Data Center Technician program, built with community colleges in Oregon, Ohio and Virginia among others, offered scholarships and training to people without tech experience[15].

Both programs work through local colleges[5][15], so the community college nearest a campus is a good place to ask. The data center jobs near me tool shows the jobs announced for projects closest to your ZIP code.

Job outlook

The numbers point in two directions. BLS projects employment of computer support specialists as a whole to fall 3% from 2025 to 2035, while still expecting about 48,700 openings a year[1]. For electricians it projects 9% growth, much faster than average[8], and names AI and data center demand among the forces behind rising electricity use[8].

Each building employs relatively few people once it opens. Virginia’s JLARC puts the staff of a typical 250,000-square-foot building at about 50 full-time workers, about half of them contractors, compared with about 1,500 workers on site at the height of construction[3].

Common questions

What does a data center technician do?

Keeps the servers and other hardware running: powering equipment up and down, troubleshooting and diagnosing problems, and running quality checks, as Microsoft describes the job. The closest federal occupation, computer network support specialist, analyzes and troubleshoots network problems and handles routine maintenance.

How much do data center technicians make?

BLS has no separate category for the title. For the closest occupations, May 2025 national medians were $76,220 for computer network support specialists and $61,860 for computer user support specialists; Virginia’s legislative auditors report average earnings of about $100,000 for data center employees and contractors in that state.

Do you need a degree to be a data center technician?

Often not. BLS says network support specialists typically need an associate’s degree, but that a high school diploma plus relevant IT certifications can qualify candidates for support roles.

What certifications do data center technicians need?

None is legally required. CompTIA A+ is the usual starting point; CompTIA says no other IT credential shows up in more tech support job listings. Server+ covers server installation and troubleshooting, and Network+ includes data centers among its exam topics.

Do data center technicians work nights?

Many do. Data centers run around the clock, and BLS notes that because support may be needed 24 hours a day, some computer support specialists work nights or weekends.

How many people work at a data center?

Fewer than most people expect once it opens. Virginia’s JLARC reports about 50 full-time workers at a typical 250,000-square-foot data center, about half of them contractors, against about 1,500 workers on site at the peak of construction.

Sources

1. Computer Support Specialists, Occupational Outlook Handbook
   U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025-05
   6 source excerpts

   “The median annual wage for computer network support specialists was $76,220 in May 2025.”

   “Network support specialists typically need an associate's degree, and user support specialists typically need to complete some college courses. However, candidates for either type of position may qualify with a high school diploma plus relevant information technology (IT) certifications.”

   “Computer network support specialists analyze and troubleshoot computer network problems. They have an important role in the daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance of their organization's networks.”

   “Because computer support services may need to be available 24 hours a day, some specialists work nights or weekends.”

   “The median annual wage for computer user support specialists was $61,860 in May 2025.”

   “Overall employment of computer support specialists is projected to decline 3 percent from 2025 to 2035. Despite declining employment, about 48,700 openings for computer support specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.”

2. Data Centers in Virginia
   Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), Virginia General Assembly · 2024-12-09
   Source excerpt

   “On average, data center employees and contractors earn about $100,000 per year, varying based on job role and area of the state.”

3. Data Centers in Virginia (Report Summary)
   Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), Virginia General Assembly · 2024-12-09
   2 source excerpts

   “Data center jobs tend to be high paying. Several data center representatives indicated that a typical 250,000-square-foot data center may have approximately 50 full-time workers, about half of which are contract workers.”

   “Construction of an individual data center building usually takes about 12 to 18 months, and data center representatives indicated that, at the height of construction, approximately 1,500 workers are on site from various construction-related industries.”

4. Data center technicians | Microsoft Careers
   Microsoft · 2026-09-27
   Source excerpt

   “Handle hardware start-ups and shut-downs, perform basic trouble-shooting and diagnostics, quality checks and changes, ensuring everything is safe, secure, and up to standard.”

5. Microsoft Datacenter Academy helps launch tech careers
   Microsoft (Microsoft Source) · 2026-09-21
   2 source excerpts

   “Since its launch in 2018, the program has expanded around the world through over 30 partners, including local colleges, technical institutes and nonprofits.”

   “To date, more than 12,522 students have enrolled in Microsoft datacenter academies around the world.”

6. AWS Work-Based Learning Program
   Amazon Web Services (amazon.jobs) · 2026-09-27
   Source excerpt

   “The WBLP is a 12-month paid training program covering everything you need to know about data center operations, leading to careers in logistics, infrastructure delivery, decommissioning, and more.”

7. Explore quality career opportunities at Meta data centers around the world - Meta Data Centers
   Meta · 2025-06-24
   Source excerpt

   “Cross-functional teams build and keep our data centers operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

8. Electricians, Occupational Outlook Handbook
   U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025-05
   3 source excerpts

   “the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and demand for data centers to support this growth are expected to contribute to rising electricity demand.”

   “The median annual wage for electricians was $63,190 in May 2025. ... Number of Jobs, 2025 | 821,000”

   “Employment of electricians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.”

9. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, Occupational Outlook Handbook
   U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025-05
   2 source excerpts

   “Commercial construction, including data centers, and residential building construction are expected to drive employment growth.”

   “The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $61,010 in May 2025. ... Number of Jobs, 2025 | 440,900”

10. Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Occupational Outlook Handbook
    U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025-05
    Source excerpt

    “The median annual wage for network and computer systems administrators was $99,130 in May 2025. ... Number of Jobs, 2025 | 323,600”

11. May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: NAICS 518200 - Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
    U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2023-05
    Source excerpt

    “15-1231 | Computer Network Support Specialists | detail | 6,130 ... $78,190 | 15-1232 | Computer User Support Specialists | detail | 21,040 ... $64,160 | 15-1244 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators | detail | 7,500 ... $109,900”

12. A+ Certification | CompTIA
    CompTIA · 2026-09-27
    Source excerpt

    “CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard to start your IT career and appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential.”

13. Server+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA
    CompTIA · 2026-09-27
    Source excerpt

    “CompTIA Server+ validates your skills in server installation, management, and troubleshooting, making it the industry standard for professionals working in data centers, on-premises, and hybrid environments.”

14. Network+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA
    CompTIA · 2026-09-27
    Source excerpt

    “You will be assessed on your abilities in network connectivity, documentation, service configuration, data centers, cloud, virtual networking, monitoring, troubleshooting, and security hardening.”

15. 5 ways AWS data centers benefit local communities
    Amazon (About Amazon) · 2023-10-12
    Source excerpt

    “AWS's Data Center Technician program, created in partnership with community colleges including Blue Mountain Community College in eastern Oregon, Columbus State Community College in Ohio, and Northern Virginia Community College, offers scholarships and training to people with no previous tech experience”

Each source was opened and checked against the excerpt shown. Company statements are identified as such. Figures are as published; where sources differ, each is shown.