How do I get a job at a data center?

Landing a job at a data center depends on the specific role that you are seeking. Data centers employ individuals to fill the roles of both technicians and engineers. Data center technicians most often hold a bachelor's degree in one of several relevant fields. Just over 40% of technicians have a bachelor's degree in business, information technology, or computer science.

How long does it take to become a data center technician?

It takes approximately five to six years to become a data center technician. This job requires both an education component as well as relevant experience. Data center technicians most often hold a bachelor's degree in one of several relevant fields. Just over 40% of technicians have a bachelor's degree in information technology or computer science.

How much do data center techs make?

Data center techs make an average of $55,000 per year. While this is the average, factors such as industry and experience both affect individual salaries. Data center technicians working in specific fields of the industry can earn quite different salaries. Techs working in the healthcare field or for a hospital can expect to earn an average of $48,000 per year. The field of banking and finance will pay technicians an average of $71,000 annually.

What is a data center technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Rich Manprisio MPM, PMP

A data center technician is an individual who maintains and manages the operations of a data center. They are responsible for installing, configuring, and troubleshooting hardware, software, and networking equipment. They monitor the performance of servers, storage systems, and network devices to ensure optimal functionality. Data center technicians are also tasked with performing routine maintenance activities. Strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work well under pressure are essential for success in this role.

What general advice would you give to a data center technician?

Rich Manprisio MPM, PMP

Assistant Professor & IT Program Coordinator, Governors State University

Soft skills are necessary always but in regard to technical skills I see AI having a more prevalent role in IT. Graduates will need to look for ways both to leverage AI to help deal with cybersecurity related issues in addition on how AI can aid in complete infrastructure tasks

ScoreData Center TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,560

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 8.74%

Black or African American 9.05%

Hispanic or Latino 12.73%

Unknown 5.10%

White 64.08%

Gender

female 26.90%

male 73.10%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a data center technician?

Pros

Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology
High demand for skilled technicians, providing job security
Good pay and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement and professional development
Exposure to a variety of hardware and software systems

Cons

Work can be physically demanding and require long hours
Work can be stressful due to the critical nature of data center operations
Need to stay up-to-date with constantly changing technology and industry trends
May have to work nights, weekends, or holidays due to 24/7 operation of data centers
Tight deadlines and high-pressure situations can lead to burnout

Key steps to become a data center technician

Explore data center technician education requirements

Most common data center technician degrees

Bachelor's

40.6 %

Associate

33.5 %

High School Diploma

10.0 %

Start to develop specific data center technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	11.55%
Customer Service	10.14%
CLIA	8.93%
OSHA	8.45%
Standard Operating Procedure	7.63%

Complete relevant data center technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New data center technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a data center technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real data center technician resumes.

Gain additional data center technician certifications

Data center technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific data center technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for data center technicians include Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Network 5 Certification.

More About Certifications

Research data center technician duties and responsibilities

Manage job schedules via Autosys, Tivoli, & Zeke.
Utilize remedy ticketing system to track and manage trouble tickets and changes.
Manage the daily operation of the NOC which includes provisioning servers, ticket handling and resolution and internal escalations.
Manage data center power, space and infrastructure planning for mainframe, distribute, storage and network equipment technologies.

Prepare your data center technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your data center technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a data center technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable data center technician resume templates

Build a professional data center technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your data center technician resume.

Apply for data center technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a data center technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do data center technicians rate their job?

4.5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Data center technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

I really love technical job which is hands on.

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

Nothing much but skill and work. Knowledge can take you places.

Cons

Site emissons. Whenever you think about it. I think that's just a fear or problem. Generally speaking. I think the salary should be more than precise as, to it.

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019

Pros

Ability to grow learn and develop

Cons

Data techs not willing to learn and grow within the company

What is a data center technician and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a data center technician?

What are the pros and cons of being a data center technician?

Data center technician career paths

Key steps to become a data center technician

Explore data center technician education requirements

Most common data center technician degrees

Start to develop specific data center technician skills

Complete relevant data center technician training and internships

Gain additional data center technician certifications

Research data center technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your data center technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable data center technician resume templates

Apply for data center technician jobs

How did you land your first data center technician job

Average data center technician salary

How do data center technicians rate their job?

Data center technician reviews

Data center technician FAQs

How do I get a job at a data center?

How long does it take to become a data center technician?

How much do data center techs make?

Search for data center technician jobs