As data centers test Wisconsin’s electrical grid, job opportunities flourish 60 feet in the air
Wisconsin’s expanding data center industry is increasing demand for electricity, creating a need for more power-line workers to upgrade and maintain the state’s grid. Northcentral Technical College in Wausau is training students for the physically demanding and well-paid trade as data centers open or are proposed across the state.
Wisconsin is facing a growing need for electrical line workers as data centers and artificial-intelligence infrastructure increase demand for power. Northcentral Technical College in Wausau trains about 14 students annually, while seven technical-college programs statewide enrolled 265 students in 2025. Line workers can earn median wages above $95,000, though the work involves significant physical demands, irregular hours and safety risks.
The state’s first hyperscale data center opened in Mount Pleasant, with additional facilities under construction in Beaver Dam and Port Washington and proposals under review in Kenosha and Wisconsin Rapids. Jim Meyer, business manager of IBEW Local 2150, said the employment outlook is strong, while instructor Marc Cegielski emphasized the difficult working conditions. Wisconsin is also receiving federal infrastructure funding that could help modernize its aging electric grid and accommodate rising energy demand.