The rapid global expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is reshaping the construction labor market, delivering unprecedented financial gains to workers building the massive data centers behind today’s AI revolution.

Across the United States, skilled laborers transitioning into data-center construction are recording pay increases of 25% to 30%, with some earning significantly more as technology giants accelerate the development of high-capacity facilities.

One such beneficiary is DeMond Chambliss, who left his small drywall business in Columbus, Ohio, to take up a supervisory role managing 200 workers on a data-center project. His annual earnings now exceed $100,000. “I pinch myself going to work every day,” the 51-year-old told reporters, reflecting the broader transformation taking place within the sector.

High salaries are not isolated cases. In Oregon, electrical safety specialist Marc Benner earns $225,000 per year, while Northern Virginia electrician Andrew Mason manages crews across six data centers and takes home more than $200,000 annually.

Beyond base compensation, companies are further enhancing packages to attract and retain talent. Many sites now offer heated break tents, free meals, daily bonuses, and even remote project-management opportunities. At least one project pays workers $100 per day in additional incentives.

The spike in earnings and benefits is fueled by intensifying competition among major technology companies—including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft—as they build hundreds of new data centers to support the surging demand for AI services.

This construction race is set against the backdrop of a nationwide shortage of skilled labor. The Associated Builders and Contractors trade group estimates the industry is currently short of approximately 439,000 qualified workers, a gap that continues to push wages higher as demand accelerates.

As AI systems grow more powerful and data consumption rises globally, the construction sector appears poised for continued growth—offering substantial financial opportunities for workers prepared to meet the expanding needs of the digital economy.

Source: Techcrunch