Skipping College for a Blue-Collar Job: How the AI Boom Boosted One Electrician's Career
Cody Cole, a 25-year-old electrical field superintendent in Arizona, chose to enter the trades after high school instead of attending college. Starting at $15 an hour in 2019, he now earns over $40 an hour as a superintendent with 45 direct reports. His employer, Corbins, funded a four-year apprenticeship through the Western Electrical Contractors Association (WECA), which included classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Cole graduated as salutatorian in 2024. He attributes much of his career growth and job security to the AI-driven boom in data center construction, which has created high demand for skilled tradespeople. His income allows his wife to be a stay-at-home mom for their three children. Cole mentors younger workers and sees endless opportunities in the field, not just for electricians but also for roles in accounting, financing, and planning related to data center projects.
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