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Emma W. Thorne 
Emma W. Thorne
News Editor at LinkedIn
Published Aug 14, 2024
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One of the hottest jobs in tech doesn't require a college degree — and you can make six figures doing it. Data-center technicians are in high demand as tech giants invest billions in these crucial sites, which power everything from AI technologies to cloud storage, The Wall Street Journal reports. Pay has surged 43% in just three years, per one certification provider; the median is $75,100, but experienced techs can make much more. Unusually, these jobs blur the lines between blue- and white-collar: They require significant technical knowledge, but also a degree of physical labor.
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Te-Ping Chen
Author, Land of Big Numbers; Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
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The Tech Job Paying Six Figures, No College Degree Required wsj.comTo get one of the hottest jobs in tech, Deborah Martinez Castellanos didn’t need a bachelor’s degree. She needed a flair with a screwdriver—and a high tolerance for artificial lighting. Demand for data technicians is booming as companies pour billions into data centersto power everything from AI chatbots to the trillions of photos and emails stored in the cloud. We talk to the workers who keep the internet running about the 6-figure salaries they can command—and why some are picking this path instead of pursuing a traditional four-year degree. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gF-xrm3P
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Albert Fong
Product Marketing Leader & Advisor
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The Tech Job Paying Six Figures, No College Degree Required wsj.comThe tech job of the (near) future? With AI on a hype-driven ego trip set to take over jobs and the world, it turns out you still need humans to keep the proverbial lights on...for now anyway. In this case, it's the colossal data centers. And the technicians for these places are in demand.Must like artificial light or cope with it. Like warehouses that popped up faster than jack rabbits during the pandemic, the demand for data centers is as frothy as people with actual AI experience that go beyond "Hey ChatGPT!". As automated as AI processes are supposed to be, they still need humans.The data center economy is already here. As of Q1 this year, roughly 5,400 data centers are in operation in the U.S. with the majority located in Northern Virginia, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Silicon Valley, Portland, New York & New Jersey, Seattle and Los Angeles. And AI demand expected to increase so will demand for additional data centers, which is expected to grow 10 percent a year until 2030.They're the MacGyver of the data center. Training to be a data center technician typically requires 1-2 years of training through an associate degree or certification program. Obviously, what the job pays depends on location and experience so the promise of a six-figure pay may be a little over exuberant. The role itself is what you'd expect - to keep the data center humming along by troubleshooting issues, setting up and configuring servers, and monitoring performance. Of course, you'll have more than a stick of gum, rubber band and paper clip to deal with it all.Something to watch is what other roles gain more attention as AI evolves. The power grid comes to mind with some in the tech industry already looking into utilizing nuclear power. If it happens, there will be a lot more Homer Simpsons on the job https://lnkd.in/et5Q9FYY #datacenters #technicians #artificialintelligence #jobs #technology #education
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Christopher Kimm (he/him)
SVP Global Customer Care & Experience
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It was great to participate in this Wall Street Journal story that highlights some of the great career opportunities at Equinix and across our industry for people who may not have college degrees. Equinix, of course, employs people with every level of education and experience across all the roles of a Fortune 500 company, but in our more than 260 data centers around the world are critical Operations staff who support our customers in our core business. Degrees, certifications and prior technology experience is desirable, but we also hire and train people without that experience and teach them on the job. And we are hiring to support our continued growth. Find more info about Equinix jobs at: careers.equinix.com
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Andrew Stockglausner
CEO at MVP Studios & Military Veteran ProductsChairman - Pachyderm Global Critical Infrastructure Services
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The Tech Job Paying Six Figures, No College Degree Required wsj.comHere's a great article on the job potential for the datacenter industry. We're always looking to hire veterans for these types of positions! No experience required, we will train.https://lnkd.in/e2PQRJJH
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Matt Sharples
Owner/CEO at TriCom Technical Services
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The Tech Job Paying Six Figures, No College Degree Required wsj.comFor those who can afford college without going into massive debt - Go! For others, getting into IT is one of many pathways to a better future (as well as the skilled trades). i.c.stars |* Kansas City can help with that!
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Ruth Meyers
Client Partner | Strategic Account Manager | Trusted Executive Advisor | Drives Digital Transformation Rev in Technology l SaaS Software, Consulting Services, Generative AI/ML, Data Analytics, Robotics
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The Tech Job Paying Six Figures, No College Degree Required wsj.comI knew many data center technicians early in my career. They were hardworking and had huge responsibilities. As jobs continue to evolve with technology, it's no surprise that the data center technician role is getting recognized again.For those with a tech background and looking for a new role, this is definitely a career path to consider for your next move.
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Mark Erickson
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The Tech Job Paying Six Figures, No College Degree Required wsj.comThese are the #newcollar jobs we've been talking about at #ibm for some time. A great opportunity to get into tech at a ground level and grow a career. I've worked with many folks who came up through this and similar routes at #apple #microsoft #meta and others. They're creative, tenacious and hard working.
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