As data centers expand at an unprecedented pace, the world’s demand for skilled trades is set to surge. Jensen Huang, chief executive officer of Nvidia, has drawn attention to a category of jobs often overlooked in discussions of high earnings: roles that do not require a college degree. “If you’re an electrician, you’re a plumber, a carpenter, we’re going to need hundreds of thousands of them to build all of these factories,” Huang told Channel 4 News in the United Kingdom. And for those willing to step into these roles, the potential pay could rival, or even exceed, many traditional white-collar careers.A booming sector for skilled trades According to Huang, the growth of data centers will create substantial opportunities for the skilled craft segment of the economy. With the construction of large facilities accelerating, these roles are no longer peripheral, they are central to the expansion of the tech infrastructure that underpins artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. A single 250,000-square-foot data center can employ up to 1,500 construction workers during the build-out, with around 50 full-time positions for maintenance once operational.Earning potential without a degree Huang emphasizes that many of these positions can be filled without pursuing formal higher education, with salaries crossing the $100,000 mark. This observation challenges conventional assumptions about the necessity of a college degree for lucrative work and signals a shift in how young professionals might approach career planning in a rapidly evolving economy.

A perspective shaped by science

The Nvidia CEO has previously reflected on his own educational choices, noting that if he were a student today, he might focus on physical sciences over software. “For the young, 20-year-old Jensen, that’s graduated now, he probably would have chosen…more of the physical sciences than the software sciences,” he said, underlining the value of foundational skills that translate into practical, high-demand roles.Lessons for aspiring professionals For those entering the workforce, Huang’s comments highlight a key insight: high-paying opportunities exist beyond conventional college pathways, particularly in sectors driven by infrastructure growth. Skilled trades, often undervalued in discussions of the modern economy, are poised for expansion, offering both financial stability and career longevity.The takeaway In a time when the focus is frequently on degrees, certifications, and advanced technology skills, Huang’s perspective serves as a reminder that practical expertise remains essential, and can be highly rewarding. As data centers multiply to meet the demands of AI and cloud computing — electricians, plumbers, and carpenters are likely to find themselves at the forefront of one of the most significant employment trends of the decade.