Columbus compensation
Data center salaries in Columbus 2026
In the Columbus, OH metro, the median electrician earned $31.11 an hour and the median HVAC mechanic $30.98 in May 2025, according to BLS. Posted pay for data center technicians in our October 2026 reading ran $35 to $58 an hour, national. On October 25, 2026, the five hyperscalers listed 143 open data center roles located in Ohio.
Pay in Columbus
In the Columbus, OH metro, the median electrician earned $31.11 an hour and the median HVAC mechanic $30.98 in May 2025, according to BLS. Posted pay for data center technicians in our October 2026 reading ran $35 to $58 an hour, national. On October 25, 2026, the five hyperscalers listed 143 open data center roles located in Ohio.
Median electrician pay 2% above and median HVAC mechanic pay 6% above the U.S. median (BLS, May 2025)
Employers
Amazon (AWS) lists the most hyperscaler data center roles in Ohio: 103 of 143 on October 25, 2026. Meta 23, Google 11, Microsoft 6. Colocation operators, facilities management firms, commissioning firms and contractors hire for the same sites.
Last reviewed · First published
Figures come from our monthly datasets and change when those pages refresh. BLS wage data updates once a year.
Wages
Local wages
Hourly wages in the Columbus, OH metro for the trades and engineers who build and run data centers. BLS does not publish a data center technician occupation.
| Occupation | 25th | Median | 75th | Median vs U.S. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians 47-2111 | $24.19 | $31.11 | $38.45 | 2% above | 7,210 |
| HVAC mechanics 49-9021 | $23.57 | $30.98 | $38.88 | 6% above | 3,000 |
| Electrical engineers 17-2071 | $40.15 | $49.22 | $60.98 | 15% below | 1,100 |
| Mechanical engineers 17-2141 | $38.09 | $48.43 | $51.42 | 3% below | 2,630 |
| Substation and relay electricians 49-2095 | $36.16 | $50.55 | $56.06 | 2% above | 190 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, hourly. Occupations with fewer than 100 people employed in the metro are left out. Method and every metro on the pay premium study.
Postings
Posted pay
The median low and high ends of the pay ranges stated in data center job postings we read this month. Too few postings state pay to show these by city, so these figures are national.
| Role | Posted range | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioning technician | $38 to $60/hr | 5 |
| Commissioning engineer | $101K to $159K | 16 |
| Commissioning manager or lead | $141K to $214K | 12 |
| Commissioning agent (CxA) | $84K to $140K | 5 |
| Data center technician | $35 to $58/hr | 5 |
| Chief engineer | $110K to $166K | 5 |
Source: Our October 2026 reading of posted pay, national, shown where at least five postings state pay. Postings by role on the commissioning pay ranges and operations pay ranges pages.
Role guides: Critical Facilities Engineer, Commissioning Agent (CxA), Data Center Technician, MEP Coordinator, Data Center Construction Project Manager.
Local factors
Columbus pay factors
- Our Columbus tracker lists 15 projects: 5 under construction, 3 approved and 4 stalled or cancelled.
- 1 of the 5 projects under construction states a capacity, 1,000 MW in total.
- Wright-Patterson AFB, over 38,000 employees, military, civilian and contractor.
FAQ
Questions
- What does a data center technician make in Columbus?
- Posted pay for data center technicians ran $35 to $58 an hour in our October 2026 reading, the median low and high ends of 5 national postings that stated hourly pay. For the Columbus, OH metro, BLS reports the median HVAC mechanic at $30.98 an hour with the 75th percentile at $38.88, and the median electrician at $31.11 with the 75th percentile at $38.45 (May 2025). Shift differential and overtime are paid on top and vary by employer.
- Who is hiring data center staff in Columbus?
- Amazon (AWS) lists the most hyperscaler data center roles in Ohio: 103 of 143 on October 25, 2026. Meta 23, Google 11, Microsoft 6. Colocation operators, facilities management firms, commissioning firms and contractors hire for the same sites.
- How many data centers are being built in Columbus?
- Our tracker lists 15 Columbus projects: 5 under construction, 3 approved and 4 stalled or cancelled, as of November 4, 2026.
Other markets
Other markets
The same figures for other markets.
Pay for your Columbus site
A market map benchmarks the range against the people within reach of your location.