Data Center Technicians: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of data center technicians about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for data center technicians to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of data center technicians expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for data center technicians.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Data Center Technicians?
Do data center technicians need a degree? What kind of experience do data center technicians typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for data center technicians to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Data Center Technicians
Jobs Postings for Data Center Technicians By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 62,571 (46%)
- No Education Listed: 49,706 (37%)
- Master's degree: 13,808 (10%)
- High School or GED: 6,121 (5%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,363 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of data center technicians. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 37% of job listings no education level was listed and in 10% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Data Center Technicians
Jobs Postings for Data Center Technicians By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 4,541 (6%)
- 2-3 Years: 19,854 (25%)
- 4-6 Years: 32,604 (40%)
- 7-9 Years: 14,409 (18%)
- 10+ Years: 9,191 (11%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for data center technicians. In 40% of job postings for Data Center Technicians, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 25% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for data center technicians.
What Kind of Degree Do Data Center Technicians Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for data center technicians, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective data center technicians, and in 2023 a total of 249,529 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective data center technicians.
Top Degree Programs for Data Center Technicians
Top 5 Degree Programs for Data Center Technicians (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 29,839 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 29,839 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Management Information Systems, General. | 10,110 |
| Data Science, General. | 4,387 |
| Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration. | 3,494 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 3,190 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,835 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,611 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 2,301 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 2,000 |
| Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician. | 1,927 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,762 |
| Cloud Computing. | 730 |
| Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster. | 682 |
| Management Information Systems and Services, Other. | 318 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, Other. | 72 |
| Data Science, Other. | 29 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 4 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Data Center Technicians
<p>Leverage technology to align with business goals with Franklin’s 100% online M.S. in Information Systems, which can be completed in as few as 16 months.</p>
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn a master of science in information systems online in as few as 16 months at Franklin. The AI Leadership specialization prepares professionals to govern AI use, redesign workflows and lead responsible adoption without becoming engineers or coders.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn an online master's in information systems with a specialization in analytics for decision making. Build skills in statistics, data visualization and AI-augmented data mining in as few as 16 months.</p>
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn a master of science in information systems online at Franklin. Build a broad business and technology foundation, then add MBA-level depth in communication, strategy and leadership.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn a master’s in information systems security management at Franklin. Specialize in risk assessment, governance and security strategy to lead today’s complex cybersecurity decisions in as few as 16 months.</p>
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn Franklin's 16-month online M.S. in Information Systems with a Health Information Systems specialization, designed for professionals preparing to work in clinical systems, health information governance and healthcare IT leadership.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Build broad IT expertise and shape your own path with Franklin's flexible IT masters degree. Combine a 24-credit core with 12 credits of approved graduate coursework you choose with advisor guidance.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn an online M.S. in Information Technology with AI Leadership for Professionals and build skills in AI governance, AI strategy, responsible AI leadership, and agentic AI.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn an online Master’s in Information Technology with Artificial Intelligence at Franklin. Build hands-on skills in machine learning, Python, analytics, and responsible AI.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn a Master's in Information Technology with Cybersecurity Engineering online. Build hands-on network defense skills and prepare for the CEH exam.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Lead cybersecurity from the policy side. Franklin’s online M.S. in Information Technology with Cybersecurity Governance builds skills in GRC, cybersecurity policy, privacy, compliance and enterprise risk management.</p>
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in IT Leadership 100% online in as few as 16 months.</p>
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Learning Technology 100% online in as few as 16 months.</p>
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Move from building features to owning the product. Franklin's M.S. in Information Technology with Tech Product Management builds skills in product strategy, systems analysis, and cross-functional leadership.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Ready to lead, not just build? Franklin's online Master's in Information Technology with IT Management builds skills in executive communication, business environment analysis, and organizational leadership you can apply across IT and technology leadership roles.</p>
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Build your business knowledge while you gain practical understanding of database management, information security and IT-project management with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Information Technology.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Data Center Technicians Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by data center technicians to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for data center technicians, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Data Center Technicians
Based on 119,011 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Data Center Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 60,343 | 51% |
| Extract Transform Load (ETL) | 37,069 | 31% |
| Data Engineering | 36,953 | 31% |
| Computer Science | 36,029 | 30% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 35,355 | 30% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Data Center Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 40,350 | 34% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 33,255 | 28% |
| Management | 32,234 | 27% |
| Problem Solving | 26,039 | 22% |
| Operations | 21,022 | 18% |
Based on 119,011 job postings related to data center technicians, sql (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 51% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for extract transform load (etl), data engineering, computer science, python (programming language) and data warehousing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for data center technicians, followed by troubleshooting (problem solving), management, problem solving, operations and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 60,343 | 51% |
| Extract Transform Load (ETL) | 37,069 | 31% |
| Data Engineering | 36,953 | 31% |
| Computer Science | 36,029 | 30% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 35,355 | 30% |
| Data Warehousing | 25,747 | 22% |
| Amazon Web Services | 25,620 | 22% |
| Database Administration | 24,353 | 20% |
| Agile Methodology | 22,959 | 19% |
| Data Modeling | 22,543 | 19% |
| Microsoft Azure | 20,150 | 17% |
| Automation | 18,960 | 16% |
| Data Analysis | 18,745 | 16% |
| Data Pipelines | 17,353 | 15% |
| Scripting | 16,429 | 14% |
| Scalability | 15,450 | 13% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 14,305 | 12% |
| Data Quality | 14,285 | 12% |
| Performance Tuning | 14,165 | 12% |
| Apache Spark | 13,826 | 12% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 40,350 | 34% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 33,255 | 28% |
| Management | 32,234 | 27% |
| Problem Solving | 26,039 | 22% |
| Operations | 21,022 | 18% |
| Writing | 14,456 | 12% |
| Leadership | 13,961 | 12% |
| Information Technology | 13,494 | 11% |
| Planning | 13,016 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 11,925 | 10% |
| Research | 10,431 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 10,428 | 9% |
| Innovation | 9,733 | 8% |
| Self-Motivation | 9,598 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 8,758 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,762 | 7% |
| Mentorship | 7,604 | 6% |
| Mathematics | 7,296 | 6% |
| Analytical Skills | 7,147 | 6% |
| Sales | 6,975 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about data center technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for data center technicians.
What do data center technicians do?
How much do data center technicians make?
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