> This is the markdown version of https://www.classet.ai/skilled-trades-careers/data-center-technician > Learn more at https://www.classet.ai Energy ![Data Center Tech](/career-icons/av-technician.svg) # Data Center Technician ## Every website you opened today lives on a server somebody has to keep cold and powered. That somebody is a Data Center Technician. Keep the servers, power, and cooling in a data center running around the clock. Rack and cable hardware, swap failed drives and power supplies, monitor UPS and generator systems, and respond to alarms before customers notice an outage. Salary Range $40,980 – $100,540 per year (10th–90th percentile) Median Salary $61,860 per year Growth Outlook High Growth(+6%) 2024–2034 projected [Browse Data Center Tech Jobs](/jobs) ### Tasks & Responsibilities - Rack, cable, and label servers, switches, and storage hardware to build-out specifications. - Swap failed drives, memory, power supplies, and network cards, then verify the fix in the ticketing system. - Walk the data hall on scheduled rounds to check temperatures, airflow, and power draw at the rack and row level. - Monitor UPS, generator, and switchgear alarms and escalate electrical faults to the facilities team. - Run structured cabling, patch fiber and copper, and test links with certification tools. - Respond to hardware and environmental alarms on a 24/7 shift rotation, including nights and weekends. - Maintain accurate asset records and change logs for every piece of equipment touched. - Follow lockout/tagout, arc-flash, and confined-space procedures around live electrical and mechanical systems. ### Tools of the Trade Cable testers and certifiersFiber cleaning and inspection kitsMultimetersInfrared thermometersServer liftsTorque screwdriversESD wrist strapsLabel printersKVM and crash cartsTicketing and DCIM softwareTwo way radiosPersonal protective equipment ### Knowledge Areas Computers and Electronics Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and networking. Electrical Power Systems Working understanding of UPS, PDU, generator, and switchgear systems and how a fault in one affects the rest of the hall. Mechanical and Cooling Basics of CRAC/CRAH units, chilled-water loops, hot and cold aisle containment, and airflow management. Telecommunications Structured cabling standards, fiber and copper media, and network patching. Public Safety and Security Site access controls, escort procedures, and the safety rules that apply around live electrical equipment. ### Work Profile Physicality 5/10 Training 6/10 Structure 7/10 ## Related Energy Careers [![Landscape Architects](/career-icons/landscape-architects.svg)Landscape Architects](/skilled-trades-careers/landscape-architects) [![Boilermaker](/career-icons/boilermaker.svg)Boilermaker](/skilled-trades-careers/boilermaker) [![Solar Installer](/career-icons/solar-installer.svg)Solar Installer](/skilled-trades-careers/solar-installer) [![Oil Operator](/career-icons/oil-operator.svg)Oil Operator](/skilled-trades-careers/oil-operator) [![Electrical Power-Line](/career-icons/electrical-power-line.svg)Electrical Power-Line](/skilled-trades-careers/electrical-power-line) [![Wind Service](/career-icons/wind-service.svg)Wind Service](/skilled-trades-careers/wind-service) [![Commercial Diver](/career-icons/commercial-diver.svg)Commercial Diver](/skilled-trades-careers/commercial-diver) [![Recycling Coordinator](/career-icons/recycling-coordinator.svg)Recycling Coordinator](/skilled-trades-careers/recycling-coordinator) [View All Careers](/skilled-trades-careers) ## Data Center Technician FAQ What does a data center technician do? A data center technician keeps the hardware and the environment around it running. On a typical shift you rack and cable new servers, swap failed drives and power supplies, patch fiber, walk the hall checking temperatures and power draw, and respond to alarms from the UPS, generators, and cooling systems. Most facilities run 24/7, so the job is shift work with rotations that cover nights and weekends. How do I become a data center technician? Most people come in from one of four paths: IT help desk or hardware support, an electrical or HVAC trade background, military technical roles, or a community college program in networking or electronics. A high school diploma plus CompTIA A+ or Network+ gets you interviews for entry-level hardware roles; electrical or mechanical experience opens the critical-facilities side. Hyperscalers such as Microsoft also run their own academies with community colleges. Employers hiring for a new campus will often train the data-center-specific parts on the job. What certifications do data center technicians need? None are legally required, but a few move you up the pile. CompTIA A+, Network+, and Server+ cover the hardware and networking side. OSHA 10 or 30 and NFPA 70E arc-flash awareness matter for anyone working near live power. Data-center-specific credentials such as CDCTP (Certified Data Centre Technician Professional) or a Schneider or Uptime Institute operations course help for senior and critical-facilities roles. Fiber optic certifications are a plus at colocation sites. How much does a data center technician make? BLS does not track data center technicians as their own occupation. The closest federal proxy, computer user support specialists, had a May 2025 median of $61,860, with the 10th percentile at $40,980 and the 90th at $100,540. Data center employers commonly pay above that proxy, and shift differentials, on-call pay, and overtime push critical-facilities technicians higher still. Pay varies by metro, with Northern Virginia, Phoenix, Dallas–Fort Worth, Columbus, and Atlanta among the busiest markets. Is data center technician a good career? If you want steady, indoor technical work with a clear ladder, yes. Hyperscalers and colocation operators are opening new campuses across the country, each one needs a 24/7 operations team, and about a quarter of data center staff get hired away every year, which keeps demand for experienced techs high. The trade-offs are shift work and the pressure of an environment where downtime costs the customer real money. Techs who add electrical, controls, or network skills move into critical-facilities, NOC, or facilities-manager roles. If you would rather build data centers than run them, the construction side hires electricians, HVAC technicians, and plumbers by the hundreds per campus; see the Electrician, HVAC Technician, and Plumber career pages for those paths. ## Start your Data Center Tech career today Classet connects skilled trades workers with employers hiring now. Apply and interview 24/7 with our AI-powered platform. [Browse Data Center Tech Jobs](/jobs)[Explore All Careers](/skilled-trades-careers)