'I've Been On Call Since 1999,' Still, This Six-Figure Tech Job Doesn't Require A College Degree

For many, the path to a high-paying tech job is thought to be paved by a four-year college degree and advanced technical skills. However, the world of data centers is proving that's not always the case. Technicians who keep America's vast data centers running smoothly are in high demand and earning impressive salaries — without the need for a traditional college degree.

Don't Miss:

• Amid the ongoing EV revolution, previously overlooked low-income communitiesnow harbor a huge investment opportunity at just $500.
• Here’s the AI-powered startup that turns traders into influencers achieving 12% monthly growth – invest in it at only 10 cents per share.

"I've been on call since 1999," Nick Park, who manages several data centers for Uber Technologies, told The Wall Street Journal. He started as a data technician after dropping out of college and now makes around $175,000, with bonuses and stock doubling his compensation. Despite the pressures, Park embraces his role. "We do our job well, so [servers] typically don't go down, but when they do, it's pretty catastrophic."

With the growth of AI and cloud computing, the need for data centers is only increasing, and so is the demand for skilled technicians. "The data-center industry is growing gangbusters," says Chris Kimm, a senior vice president at data-center operator Equinix, where the starting pay averages $30 an hour and senior technicians earn six figures.

Trending:

• General Motors and other leaders revealed to be investing in this revolutionary lithium start-up — allowing easy entry by launching at just $9.50/share with a $1,000 minimum.

And although AI is revolutionizing many industries, data centers still require human intervention so these jobs won’t be replaced by AI or robots anytime soon. If a server goes down in a rack, someone needs to physically go see what went wrong.

It’s no wonder then that John Clark, a 20-year-old technician at a Microsoft data center in Virginia, says, "There's a lot of job security here." After his college plans fell through, he found a rewarding career in data centers, where his problem-solving skills were put to good use.

Damian Diaz, another data technician, began working at a Google data center in South Carolina after stints in various manual jobs, including building fences and working in an ice cream factory. Now, after four years at Google, Diaz earns $112,000 a year, plus bonuses and equity. The extra income is helping him bring his parents from Cuba to the U.S.

See Also:

• The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —How do you compare?

Grant Cardone, a well-known entrepreneur and real estate expert (who did finish college), believes you don’t need a college degree to get rich in America. In a recent interview, he mentioned that while it can have some benefits, it often leaves people with a lot of debt that holds them back instead of helping them get ahead.

He pointed out that big companies like Facebook and Google don't require a college degree for many positions, which helps show that some parts of the job market are starting to value practical skills and experience over formal education.

While hands-on skills and experience are getting more attention, a college degree can still be important, especially in areas like medicine, engineering, education, finance and law, where you need formal education. And for many, a university is a good starting point in terms of valuable connections that can help them later on.

Read Next:

• These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion –they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends
• If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividendswould you invest in it?