Installs, cables and repairs the servers, storage and network gear inside data centers that power cloud services and AI. BLS does not publish separate figures for computer user support specialists; it counts them within computer user support specialist (SOC 15-1232), whose median pay is $61,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Some college, no degree.
- SOC 15-1232
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Data Center Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,860a year, or $29.74/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $41KTop 10% $101K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 39,700750,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025750.6K
- Projected 2035724.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 750.6K Projected 2035 724.4K - Typical education
- Some collegeneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school0.3%
- Certificate32.3%
- Some college1.9%
- Associate's13.7%
- Bachelor's47.3%
- Professional degree4.1%
Highest education held by computer user support specialists Segment Value High school 0.3% Certificate 32.3% Some college 1.9% Associate's 13.7% Bachelor's 47.3% Professional degree 4.1%
Also advertised as: Data Center Operations Technician, Critical Facilities Technician, Server Technician, Data Center Hardware Technician, Data Center Engineer.
Pay
How much do Computer User Support Specialists make?
Every data center technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,860
Middle half earn $49,000 to $79,040
- 10th
- $40,980
- 25th
- $49,000
- 75th
- $79,040
- 90th
- $100,540
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,980 |
| 25th | $49,000 |
| Median | $61,860 |
| 75th | $79,040 |
| 90th | $100,540 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,860
- Median hourly wage
- $29.74/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $67,330
- People employed
- 717,190
Versus all US occupations
At $61,860, Computer User Support Specialists earn 21% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,880 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 47% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,980, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 35% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $80,950, and still leads at $73,657 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Computer User Support Specialists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $80,950 | $73,657 | 3,140 |
| 2California | $79,570 | $71,866 | 74,490 |
| 3Washington | $75,220 | $70,291 | 21,860 |
| 4Massachusetts | $75,070 | $70,983 | 17,570 |
| 5New York | $72,560 | $67,234 | 39,100 |
| 6Colorado | $71,900 | $69,771 | 16,740 |
| 7Connecticut | $70,210 | $67,764 | 9,300 |
| 8Wyoming | $65,100 | $70,233 | 790 |
| 9Virginia | $65,040 | $64,330 | 20,910 |
| 10Maryland | $64,750 | $61,691 | 12,200 |
Job outlook
Is Data Center Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | −3.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Computer User Support Specialists to change -3.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 26,200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 39,700 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 750,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Data Center Technician
A high school diploma is often enough to start, though some employers prefer an associate degree in IT or electronics or military technical experience. Comfort with hardware, basic networking and following safety procedures matter more than formal education.
CompTIA's A+, Network+ and Server+ certifications are common entry credentials, and BICSI offers cabling installer certifications recognized across the industry. Many large cloud and colocation operators run apprenticeship and technician training programs. Technicians often advance to data center engineer, network engineer or facilities management roles.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Some college, no degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as computer user support specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree47.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate32.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree13.7%
- First Professional Degree4.1%
- Some College Courses1.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 47.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 32.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 13.7% |
| First Professional Degree | 4.1% |
| Some College Courses | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Data Center Technician do?
Data center technicians keep the physical side of the internet running. Inside the large buildings that host cloud services and AI computing, they rack and install servers, run and label fiber and copper cabling, replace failed drives, memory and power supplies, and diagnose hardware faults. They follow detailed procedures so work on one machine never disrupts the thousands around it.
They also monitor temperature, power and alarms, perform walk-through inspections, and coordinate with remote engineers who manage the software side. Some technicians specialize in critical facilities, maintaining the cooling systems, generators and uninterruptible power supplies that keep the building running through outages.
Day-to-day tasks
- Rack and install servers, storage and network equipment
- Run, terminate and label fiber and copper cables
- Replace failed drives, memory and power supplies
- Diagnose hardware faults with diagnostic tools
- Monitor temperature, power and alarm systems
- Follow change procedures and document work
- Support remote engineers with hands-on tasks
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Data center technicians work on site at cloud, colocation and enterprise data centers, often on large campuses outside cities. The floor is loud and cold, and the job involves standing, lifting servers and working in tight spaces. Because facilities run around the clock, shift work including nights, weekends and holidays is common. Remote work is not possible.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.5
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
- Monitoring3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Instructing3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Data Center Technician?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RCI) built on O*NET's Computer User Support Specialist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Data Center Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional6.0
- Realistic4.7
- Investigative4.1
- Social3.3
- Enterprising2.4
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Data Center Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
$99,130median a year
Most earn $63K to $155K
−4.1%Bachelor's - Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with computer user support specialists highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
- Data Center Technician$61,860
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
| Data Center Technician | $61,860 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Data Center Technician appears on
Questions
Data Center Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Computer User Support Specialists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for computer user support specialists. It counts them within computer user support specialist, whose median pay is $61,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $49,000 and $79,040, and the top 10% earn $100,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Data Center Technician?
Not necessarily. BLS lists "some college, no degree" as the typical entry-level education for Computer User Support Specialists. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Data Center Technician a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 26,200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 39,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Data Center Technician do?
Data center technicians keep the physical side of the internet running. A typical task: rack and install servers, storage and network equipment. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Computer User Support Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Computer User Support Specialists are District of Columbia ($80,950), California ($79,570), Washington ($75,220) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Data Center Technician?
O*NET scores Computer User Support Specialists highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.