Skilled trades now offer direct path to six-figure pay without college debt thanks to emerging tech industry

ASHBURN, Va. — Young Americans could be earning six-figure salaries without taking on college debt as the artificial intelligence boom fuels demand for skilled electricians, according to a veteran tradesman who says he has never struggled to find work in his 26-year career.

Andrew Miller, who raised six children while working in the trades, said the rapid expansion of data centers is creating lucrative opportunities for young workers seeking financial independence without a traditional four-year college degree.

"You don't have the debt that you incur in college," Miller told Fox News Digital inside one of Northern Virginia's largest data centers.

He also explained the one of the reasons why Northern Virginia is one of the wealthiest enclaves in the U.S. is "directly linked to data centers and data center development." Miller claimed areas that reject the data center boom — like California — are seeing wealth leave the state.

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Miller said thanks to the explosion in the industry, electricians can earn six-figure salaries after completing their training, noting: "That is life changing to a 22, 23 year old individual."

"They cannot produce enough electricians fast enough," he said. "I have never been without work in all my career even through recessions."

While Miller acknowledged that the federal government's presence in Northern Virginia has historically helped sustain employment, he said the rapid expansion of data centers is expected to create even greater demand.

"Now with data centers expanding it's going to just increase the demand for our trade," he said.

Northern Virginia has earned the nickname "Data Center Alley" for its massive concentration of data centers, with Loudoun County at the heart of the nation's rapidly expanding AI infrastructure.

As of March 2026, more than 230 data centers had been built or were under construction in the county, with another 116 projects in the pipeline.

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Bill McGraw of electrical contractor J.E. Richards said apprenticeship programs offer an alternative to traditional college degrees, allowing participants to receive classroom instruction while gaining paid, hands-on experience.

McGraw said apprentices accepted into a program through International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26 can start at approximately $27 to $28 an hour, even without previous experience.

At the journeyman level, McGraw cited wages of approximately $62 an hour, equivalent to nearly $129,000 annually based on a 40-hour workweek year-round, before overtime.

Don Slaiman said Local 26's hiring hall has grown from fewer than 9,000 workers to more than 17,500 amid Northern Virginia's data center boom.

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The demand extends beyond construction, with electricians needed for ongoing maintenance, equipment upgrades and infrastructure improvements.

"There's always continuous work there," McGraw said.

The economic benefits also reach surrounding communities. Miller said a single data center construction project can employ as many as 2,000 craft workers, generating business for local restaurants, housing providers and other services.

"Those craft workers are gonna need a place to eat, sleep. They're gonna live in the community," Miller said.

With artificial intelligence accelerating demand for new facilities, Slaiman said the growing industry offers workers a path to financial stability and opportunities to support their families.

"We're going to need more data centers and we're going to build them and we are going to give great careers to folks," Slaiman said, adding that those jobs can help workers "raise a family and live the American dream."