ASHBURN, Va. — The artificial intelligence boom is driving demand for electricians, and young workers may be able to build six-figure careers without taking on college debt, says veteran tradesman Andrew Miller. In 26 years in the industry, he says, he has never been short of work.
Miller, who raised six children while working in the trades, said the surge in data center construction is opening up well-paid opportunities for people who want financial independence without a traditional four-year degree.
He said the growth of data centers has helped make Northern Virginia one of the country’s wealthiest areas. In his view, places that turn away from the industry, including California, risk seeing investment and wealth move elsewhere.
Electricians can reach six-figure pay after completing their training, Miller said. For someone in their early twenties, he added, that kind of income can be life-changing.
“They cannot produce enough electricians fast enough,” he said, noting that he has remained employed through economic downturns.
The federal government has long supported employment in Northern Virginia, but Miller expects data center growth to push demand for skilled tradespeople even higher.
The region, often called “Data Center Alley,” has become a major hub for the country’s expanding AI infrastructure. Loudoun County is at its center. By March 2026, more than 230 data centers had been built or were under construction there, with another 116 projects in development.
Bill McGraw, of electrical contractor J.E. Richards, said apprenticeship programs offer a route into the trade without a college degree. Apprentices combine classroom learning with paid, practical work.
Those accepted into a program through International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26 can start at roughly $27 to $28 an hour, McGraw said, even without prior experience. Journeymen can earn about $62 an hour, or nearly $129,000 a year at 40 hours a week, before overtime.
Don Slaiman said Local 26’s hiring hall has expanded from fewer than 9,000 workers to more than 17,500 as data center construction has accelerated in Northern Virginia.
Electricians are needed not only to build facilities, but also to maintain them and upgrade equipment and infrastructure. “There’s always continuous work there,” McGraw said.
Miller said the economic impact reaches beyond the job site. A single data center project may employ up to 2,000 craft workers, bringing customers to local restaurants and creating demand for housing and other services.
Those workers need places to eat and stay, he said, and many become part of the surrounding community.
As AI drives demand for more facilities, Slaiman said the industry can provide stable careers and help workers support their families. He expects more data centers to be built and said the jobs can help people raise a family and pursue the American dream.
