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Sector

Careers in Cloud Computing & Data Centers

Cloud computing and data centers provide computing infrastructure at scale โ€” the physical and virtual backbone of digital business. Remote-friendly with moderate credential requirements.

477K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$87K
Median salary
Across all roles
Cloud Computing & Data Centers jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Cloud Computing & Data Centers employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ10K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA6K
3.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX5K
4.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV5K
5.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN4K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA278.5
2.Boulder, CO199.3
3.San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA172
4.Durham-Chapel Hill, NC168.7
5.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV165.6
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Cloud Computing & Data Centers

Cloud computing and data centers power the digital world โ€” there's satisfaction in building infrastructure that scales globally, technical challenge, and work that enables modern computing. Many find meaning in foundational technology.

The challenge can come from 24/7 operations and rapid change. Data centers run constantly; uptime is critical. Technology evolves quickly; skills require continuous updating. Competition for talent is intense. Large facilities are often in remote locations.

The field varies by role and provider. Hyperscale providers differ from enterprise data centers, colocation, or edge computing. Infrastructure engineering differs from operations, security, or sales.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are substantial: cutting-edge technology, strong compensation, essential infrastructure, and scale of impact. If you're interested in cloud infrastructure, want data center careers, and enjoy technical operations, cloud computing offers excellent opportunities.

How people break in

Operations roles accessible with technical aptitude. Engineering requires relevant skills. Certifications (AWS, Azure) valued. Technical depth drives advancement.

Work environment tends toward
Rapid growthPlatform certifications24/7 operationsTechnical depthMajor providers dominant
Industries it connects to
Salary vs. national average
+23%
$87K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all cloud computing & data centers roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$94K
2. Boulder$80K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$77K
4. Trenton-Princeton$71K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$71K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$73K in mid-market metros to ~$107K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $107K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $90K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $83K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $94K adj.
Boulder ยท $80K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $77K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 21.1M
Los Angeles ยท 13.7M
Chicago ยท 10.3M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Cloud Computing & Data Centers.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Technology & Information data
16%
People tend to stay in Technology & Information. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 6%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
88%
Small
<50
9%
Mid
50โ€“249
3%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Remote-friendly
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Technology & Information data
~6%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 6%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Cloud Computing & Data Centers

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Technology
13%
$92K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
12%
$84K median
Explore โ†’
Engineering
10%
$99K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
10%
$67K median
Explore โ†’
Arts & Media
8%
$102K median
Explore โ†’
Sales
7%
$82K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Cloud Computing & Data Centers. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Cloud Computing & Data Centers

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.