Looking for the top cities for data center jobs and AI infrastructure careers in 2025? You're not alone. As artificial intelligence adoption skyrockets, it's transforming what data centers are — from simple storage hubs into complex AI-powered processing engines.
This explosive growth is fueling demand for hyperscale facilities capable of supporting AI workloads, cloud computing, and massive amounts of data traffic. Companies are racing to build and staff digital hubs across the country, making certain cities prime destinations for tech professionals, engineers, and project managers.
This guide maps out where data center jobs are concentrated in 2025, helping job seekers and employers understand the geographic hotspots driving this industry. Whether you're planning your next career move or deciding where to expand operations, these are the cities you need to know about.
Top 10 Cities for Data Center & AI Infrastructure Jobs
1. Northern Virginia ("Data Center Alley")
Why It's Hot:
- Northern Virginia is home to more than 300 data centers, making it the most concentrated data center market in the world (UtilityDive).
- It boasts 3,945 megawatts (MW) of commissioned power — more than five times that of Dallas (Brightlio).
- Roughly 70% of global internet traffic passes through this region (Nova Region).
- Energy costs are among the lowest in the nation at $0.06–$0.08 per kWh (Dgtl Infra).
Key Roles in Demand: MEP engineers, commissioning agents, data center technicians, security architects.
Top Companies Hiring: AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Equinix, Digital Realty.
2. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Why It's Hot:
- Dallas-Fort Worth grew its data center capacity from 710 MW in 2020 to 1,650 MW in 2024 (Brightlio).
- The market is expanding fast, with over 600 MW under construction and 87% already preleased (CBRE).
- DFW’s central U.S. location supports national and international network connectivity (DataCenters.com)
- It also offers affordable land, low taxes, and a strong power grid.
Key Roles in Demand: Construction project managers, fiber network engineers, AI infrastructure specialists.
Top Companies Hiring: Meta, CyrusOne, Stack Infrastructure, QTS Data Centers, Databank
3. Phoenix, Arizona
Why It's Hot:
- Phoenix hosts over 100 data centers and delivers 1,380 MW of capacity (Brightlio).
- Phoenix ranks as the fourth-largest data center market in North America, with a total inventory of 602.8 MW—a 67% year-over-year increase (AZ Big Media).
- Its dry climate and low seismic activity make it a resilient location.
- Electricity rates for data centers in Phoenix are among the lowest in the U.S., ranging from $0.060 to $0.069 per kWh (Stream Data Centers).
Key Roles in Demand: Electrical engineers, operations managers, commissioning engineers.
Top Companies Hiring: Intel, NTT Global Data Centers, Digital Realty, Microsoft, Meta
4. Atlanta, Georgia
Why It's Hot:
- The city's data center inventory increased by 222% last year, reaching a total of 1,000.4 MW (CRE).
- Atlanta is planning 600+ MW in new capacity by 2026 (CBRE).
- It has a growing pool of tech talent fueled by local universities and industry growth.
- The region benefits from increasing investments in green energy infrastructure.
- Large-load customers in Georgia benefit from low electricity rates, paying approximately 3 to 5 cents per kWh (AJC).
Key Roles in Demand: Data center operations managers, AI reliability engineers, cybersecurity analysts.
Top Companies Hiring: Google, Switch, Microsoft, QTS Data Centers, DataBank, T5 Data Centers
5. Denver, Colorado
Why It's Hot:
- Denver hosts 44 data centers, indicating a well-established data center market (Data Center Map).
- Between 2015–2024, Denver recorded $343.8 million in data center sales across 15 transactions (Mile High CRE).
- Its central location and strong fiber network provide operational advantages.
- Cooler climate conditions help reduce energy costs for cooling infrastructure.
Key Roles in Demand: Facilities engineers, cloud security specialists, IT support technicians.
Top Companies Hiring: H5 Data Centers, QTS Data Centers, CoreSite, Flexential, AWS.
6. Hillsboro, Oregon (Portland Metro)
Why It's Hot:
- Hillsboro ranks as the fifth-largest data center market in the U.S., with a total capacity of 1,602 MW (The Business Journals).
- The vacancy rate dropped to a record-low 0.07% in H1 2024, down from 2.5% in H2 2023, indicating a shortage of large available space blocks (CBRE).
- Known for its access to clean, renewable energy and sustainability initiatives.
- It has minimal risk of natural disasters compared to other markets.
Key Roles in Demand: Data center technicians, sustainability engineers, software integration specialists.
Top Companies Hiring: Intel, Amazon, QTS Realty Trust, Flexential, NTT Global Data Centers Americas
7. Chicago, Illinois
Why It's Hot:
- Chicago's data center inventory reached 818 MW in 2024, placing it among the top five U.S. markets (The Business Journals).
- Chicago is a major colocation market with strong fiber and cloud connectivity.
- Illinois offers aggressive tax incentives to attract and retain data center investment.
- Major tech companies, including Microsoft and CyrusOne, are investing heavily in the region, with Microsoft acquiring 350 acres in Cherry Valley for new data centers (CBRE).
Key Roles in Demand: Network architects, colocation engineers, infrastructure project managers.
Top Companies Hiring: Equinix, Digital Realty, CyrusOne.
8. Columbus, Ohio
Why It's Hot:
- Central Ohio hosts 104 data centers, making it the state's leading region for data center development (Bricker Graydon).
- Over $3 billion in data center investments from tech giants like Google, AWS, and Meta (Brightlio).
- It’s emerging as the Midwest’s fastest-growing data center market. (MarketWatch).
Key Roles in Demand: Facility technicians, data operations engineers, cloud system engineers.
9. Austin, Texas
Why It's Hot:
- Austin ranks among the fastest-growing data center markets in the U.S., with under-construction capacity exceeding 463 MW in H1 2024 (TRG Datacenters).
- Apple and Nvidia have made major AI-focused infrastructure investments here (Tech News World).
- If all planned projects are completed, the region could become the second-largest data center market in the U.S., trailing only Northern Virginia (Axios).
- The market is driven by demand from AI and cloud providers, with nearly 80% of under-construction capacity preleased (CBRE).
Key Roles in Demand: AI hardware engineers, facilities managers, robotic maintenance techs.
10. Reno, Nevada
Why It's Hot:
- Reno hosts approximately 16 data centers, with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and Apple (Brightlio).
- Nevada's data center inventory totals 362 MW, with only 1% vacancy, and 3,308 MW planned for future development (NVBEX).
- Reno's high elevation and cooler climate reduce cooling costs, making it an attractive location for data centers (Brightlio).
- The region offers favorable tax incentives and proximity to West Coast markets, enhancing its appeal for data center development (NVBEX).
Key Roles in Demand: Electrical infrastructure engineers, commissioning agents, mechanical engineers.
Top Companies Hiring: Switch, Apple, Google, Microsoft, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, Novva
What Skills Are in Demand for Data Center and AI Infrastructure Jobs?
The rise of AI and hyperscale infrastructure is reshaping what today’s employers look for in top technical talent. Whether you're building out new capacity or scaling operations, these are the roles and skills most in demand across leading data center markets:
- Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) expertise – foundational for site design, HVAC systems, and energy-efficient layouts.
- Cybersecurity and network defense – critical as data privacy regulations tighten and attack surfaces grow.
- Cloud infrastructure and virtualization – needed for optimizing workloads and managing scalable, cloud-native environments.
- AI model deployment and server maintenance – powering high-density compute environments and ensuring uptime.
- Commissioning and project management experience – essential for turning large-scale infrastructure builds into operational realities.
Explore our Data Center and AI recruiting services to find the best tech and infrastructure talent for your projects. To learn more about current hiring trends, check out this Monday Market Share interview with recruiting expert, Bo Scott.
Why Data Center and AI Infrastructure Jobs Are Booming
According to Uptime Institute, global data center demand is expected to double by 2030, and the U.S. is leading the charge. Meanwhile, AI companies are investing billions in new server farms and digital hubs, driving an urgent need for skilled technical professionals. If you're considering a career move or expanding your infrastructure team, focusing on these hotspots could be a game-changer.
Final Thoughts...
As AI and cloud technology reshape the economy, demand for skilled data center and infrastructure talent will only intensify. Whether you're an engineer looking for your next big opportunity or an employer seeking specialized staffing solutions, understanding where growth is happening gives you a critical advantage.
Ready to power your data center or AI projects with top talent? Contact Blue Signal today to connect with infrastructure experts who can scale your success.
Partner with us for your next hire.
Set up a free consultation with a recruiting manager. Tell us about your hiring need.
By submitting this form, you consent to receive communications from Blue Signal via phone, email, and conversational SMS. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for assistance. Visit Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
