Things are looking up for anyone forging a career path in the data center field. There will probably be as much data center capacity opened over the next five years as has been built in the previous quarter of a century. That means plenty of positions will become available in hardware installation, maintenance, software management, power, cooling, management, cybersecurity, physical security, and more.

The forecast for data center careers might look encouraging, but other areas of the economy are suffering. According to Indeed’s 2026 Jobs & Hiring Trends Report, unemployment is likely to rise in 2026, and job openings will not grow much, if at all.

Clearly, those choosing a data center career are destined to fare better than many other areas of the workplace. But where exactly are the opportunities? Foote Partners’ latest IT skills and certification report finds that all aspects of data management are highly valued, including data migration, data security, and data analytics. The pay premium for such skills is the highest among all categories covered and amounts to an average of about 16%.

Those certified in these fields are in demand and will find job opportunities aplenty. According to Foote Partners, certifications such as Artificial Intelligence Engineer, Cloudera Certified Professional: Data Engineer, and Certified Business Continuity Manager all come with a high pay premium.

“The data center industry continues to be a dynamic and rewarding career path, with a growing demand for skilled professionals,” said Bill Kleyman, author of AFCOM’s State of the Data Center Industry 2025 report.

That report lists some of the most sought-after data center skills:

• Multi-skilled data center operators
• Data center engineers
• Security specialists
• Data center managers
• System administrators/IT generalists
• Connectivity and telecommunications professionals
• DevOps/site reliability engineers

“While demand for skilled personnel remains high, the industry continues to grapple with talent shortages,” said Kleyman. “In response, leaders are re-training and upskilling the existing workforce and offering higher salaries.”

Cooling Specialists Will Be in High Demand

With rack density continuing to rise sharply, data center cooling skills have become a hot commodity. The AFCOM survey found that 51% of data centers are committed to improving airflow, 46% want to adopt liquid cooling (only 19% have done so currently), 38% are adding more sensors to manage cooling systems more efficiently, and 29% have already implemented rear door heat exchangers (RDHx), with another 26% planning to do so in 2026. In addition, 34% believe their current cooling solutions are inadequate. 21% are actively seeking new cooling systems.

Data center cooling specialists are needed across all areas of cooling: air-based, Direct-to-Chip (DtC), RDHx, to address areas such as integration complexity, optimizing energy usage for cooling, and controlling costs. With the pressure increasing to lower PUE, cooling specialists will be called upon to raise the efficiency of their systems.

Major vendors such as Vertiv, Schneider Electric, Eaton, and others will have plenty of openings for those keen to learn cooling fundamentals and liquid cooling innovation. Some think that those companies will be able to take care of the cooling needs of all data centers whether existing, brand new, or planned for the coming years. However, they are flat out ramping up their manufacturing capabilities for cooling equipment and beefing up their supply chains. They will be hard pressed to keep up with equipment demand. Yes, they will land some big service contracts for cooling systems. But they don’t have the manpower to serve the cooling needs of all data centers.

Expect cooling specialists, therefore, to become prized possessions inside the latest wave of AI data centers. Those that can combine skills in cooling and power with a good knowledge of data center operations, i.e., span the IT/facility divide, are well positioned for a satisfying and long-lasting career in the industry.

It is likely, too, that those who understand the fundamentals of air cooling will be equally valued. If they grasp the basics of airflow management, can design, install, and maintain containment systems, know how to place floor tiles correctly, seal openings, apply grommets and blanking panels accurately, and maximize cooling air, they can help their facilities operate far more efficiently and save significantly on cooling energy.