The AI boom is proving to be a windfall for construction workers building the massive data centers that power everything. According to the Wall Street Journal, data center construction workers are seeing pay increases of 25% to 30% compared to their previous jobs, and in some cases, much more.
Among them is Demond Chambliss, who sold his small drywall business in Columbus, Ohio, to take a supervisory position overseeing 200 employees at a data center site. He now makes over $100,000 a year. “I pinch myself every day when I go to work,” the 51-year-old told the publication. In Oregon, electrical safety specialist Mark Benner makes $225,000 a year, and electrician Andrew Mason makes more than $200,000 managing workers at six data centers in Northern Virginia.
According to the Journal, this is more than just a base pay increase. Companies are making it even better with perks like heated breakout tents, free lunches, daily incentive bonuses, and even remote project management positions. One construction site pays workers $100 a day, which can be expensive.
The surge comes as major technology companies such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft compete to build hundreds of new data centers, leaving an industry-wide shortage of about 439,000 skilled workers, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors trade group.
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