Aug 6, 2026

AI’s Next Millionaires: Why Plumbers and Electricians Are on Track for $100K Paydays

For years now, if you’re a member of Gen Z, you’ve been told that the safest path to a high-wage career was to seek a four-year degree and then a white-collar job. Yet, as artificial intelligence continues to transform the American economy, one of the world’s biggest tech CEOs says the next wave of career opportunities may be a lot more blue-collar.

Find Out: 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes that the AI boom won’t just benefit programmers and engineers for tech companies like his own, it will also create a massive demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, steelworkers and other skilled tradespeople who will absolutely be needed to build the data centers powering AI. These now in-demand blue-collar jobs could pay well into six figures without requiring a college degree, per Fortune.

AI Still Needs Workers To Build It

It may be AI software that grabs the headlines, but the technology depends upon a decidedly massive physical infrastructure.

For example, Nvidia announced a $100 billion investment in OpenAI to help fund new AI data centers, while the consulting firm McKinsey has projected that global capital spending on data centers could reach $7 trillion by 2030. Of note, these kinds of facilities require enormous amounts of electrical work, cooling systems, plumbing, steel and construction before they ever process a single AI prompt.

“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 said in a 2025 interview.

Why These Jobs Could Pay $100k

That kind of demand isn’t theoretical.

According to Fortune, a single 250,000-square-foot AI data center can require up to 1,500 construction workers during its construction, with many earning more than $100,000 annually, especially when overtime is included. Once operational, a typical AI data facility supports about 50 permanent workers, while also generating additional jobs throughout the surrounding economy.

McKinsey has estimated that America will likely need an additional 130,000 electricians, 240,000 construction laborers and 150,000 construction supervisors between now and 2030 to keep up with AI data center demand, per Fortune.

For Huang, the takeaway here is rather simple. “Everybody should be able to make a great living,” he said in a conversation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “You don’t need to have a PhD in computer science to do so.”

There’s An Opportunity To Take Advantage of a Labor Shortage

According to Fortune, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has warned that data center demand is so high that America could run short of the electricians needed to build them, while Ford CEO Jim Farley has argued that the country lacks enough skilled workers to support its manufacturing and infrastructure ambitions. That labor shortage makes these blue-collar positions all the more valuable, increasing their chances of a six-figure salary.

The Bottom Line

The AI revolution isn’t just creating jobs for software developers; the sudden increase in data centers is creating a demand for the people who build them, who develop the infrastructure behind the technology. As companies invest billions into these new data centers, skilled trades like electrical work, plumbing and construction could become some of the most lucrative careers of the decade.

For Gen Z workers weighing college against trade school, the next six-figure opportunity may not be behind a desk. It could be on the job helping to build the physical future of AI.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by

Travis Woods

T. Woods joined Gen in 2023, armed with a decade-plus of culture reportage to his name. Currently, his focus at MoneyLion is American politics, the economy, financial planning and money management.

Edited by

Angela Corry

Angela is a seasoned personal finance editor with deep expertise in economic trends, government programs and financial markets. As managing editor, she leads a team of high-performing writers and editors, shaping smart, accessible coverage that helps readers make confident money decisions. Previously, Angela held senior editorial roles at TheCelebrityCafe.com and Inquisitr.com, where she managed large distributed teams and built data-driven content strategies across a variety of news genres. When she’s not editing, Angela runs a homemade jam side business, experimenting with seasonal flavors and selling small-batch preserves at local markets and craft fairs.