In this article I review Big Tech Data Center Technician jobs at the following companies:
- Apple
- AWS
- Meta
- Microsoft
- Oracle
My review focuses on the job requirements to see if they are stringent or relaxed, and the salary range each company pays for the role. On my website my focus recently has been on Google since I work there. However, I know some people may not want to work for Google. Their preferred employer could be Microsoft or Meta or AWS. So let the review begin!
Big Tech Data Center Technican Job: Apple
I’m reviewing the Big Tech Data Center Technician jobs by alphabetical order which is why Apple is first, but I think it’s fitting to start with this company first because there’s very little to discuss. At the time of this article’s publication I couldn’t find any open DCT job openings on the Careers at Apple website. However, searching on Google I did find a short list of job requirements on a past opening:
Looking over the limited information available to me the job requirements are pretty standard. Apple wants a candidate with related IT experience, can physically do the job, have experience working with all types of operating systems, understands how to apply updates to hardare and software to resolve issues, and knows different types of network protocols and concepts.
Unforuntately, the link to the job is dead so I can’t even review the salary range for that DCT role. However, I was able to pull some general salary information from Glassdoor:
- Base salary: $49k to $85k
- Bonus: $5k to $9k
- Equity (Stocks): $7k to $13k
The base salary range is a little bit on the low side when compared to other Big Tech companies. I would hope Apple would pay their entry-level DCTs at least $55k a year for a base salary.
Big Tech Data Center Technican Job: AWS
Unlike Apple, AWS has plenty of open DCT roles! And when I review the company’s job requirements for the role they’re relaxed. Especially when it comes to years of experience. So it appears AWS is trying to hire more entry-level DCTs, which is good because that gives more people the opportunity to work in the company and in the role.
Another reason pointing to the relaxed job requirements because the job requirements don’t focus on IT certifications. Having those are nice, but it appears AWS wants hands-on experience. That experience will help the DCT perform hardware and network diagnostics along with doing the physical parts of the job like install computer hardware and networking devices.
Like many data centers AWS has a 24/7 staff, so many of their open DCT jobs require on-call rotations. In addition, some roles detail the required shift for the role.
AWS doesn’t consistently provide a salary range on their job postings. What I found is a range of $42k to $102k. I wanted to get more information so I checked Glassdoor:
- Base salary: $40k to $63k
- Bonus: Only for specific levels
- Equity (Stocks): Only for specific levels
Yeah, I see the reason why for the relaxed job requirements. The role doesn’t pay well. I checked Indeed and the salary was slightly higher there. Finally, the company appears to only offer bonuses or equity to certain levels. That’s the information I found on Reddit.
Big Tech Data Center Technican Job: Meta
Meta is different than the other Big Tech employers because they call their role Site Operations Technician. That’s not unusual because that my title when I worked at the Twitter data center in Atlanta, GA.
Meta is also different than the other companies in that it hires contractors for a majority of the hardware installation and repair. I know that because I work with many ex-Meta contractors who now work at Google. They tried to get hired on at Meta full-time, but those jobs were few. Plus, the open job were more senior level. Thus, the job requirements were pretty stringent.
For those who can get a full-time Site Operations Technician job the pay is high for that reason:
- Base salary: $108k to $154k
- Bonus: Depends on level
- Equity (Stocks): Depends on level
Meta is in line with other Big Tech companies when it comes to salary and total compensation, which is good to see.
Big Tech Data Center Technican Job: Microsoft
Microsoft is different than the other Big Tech employers because they have extensive requirements for their Data Center Technician roles. For one, the company focuses heavily on IT certifications. Microsoft would like their candidates to have certifications from not only their company (like the MCP), but also CompTIA and networking vendors (like Cisco or Juniper).
In addition to the certifications, Microsoft has a long list of job requirements as they want their DCTs to handle various tasks from computer hardware replacement to structured cable handling (like running fiber). In that long list of requirements is several years of professional experience. The open roles appear to be either mid-career or senior level. Which is fitting because the salary range for the job is the following:
- Base salary: $32 to $54 per hour
- Bonus: Depends on eligibility
- Equity (Stocks): Depends on eligibility
Microsoft, like Meta, is in line with other Big Tech companies when it comes to salary and total compensation.
Big Tech Data Center Technican Job: Oracle
I added Oracle as an afterthought. I knew the company had data centers across the world, but I didn’t expect much from the company. Well, I was wrong! Oracle has plenty of jobs in America in both entry-level and senior roles. Thus, the job requirements are lax for the former, but not too stringent for the latter.
Now, the company doesn’t have as many data center locations like the other Big Tech companies in this article, but their locations are in major cities.
- Base salary: $56k to $112k
- Bonus: Some info I found states yes, others state no
- Equity (Stocks): The company offers Restricted Stock Units (RSU) and Employee Stock Purchasing Program (ESPP)
I’m a little disappointed I cannot find information about Oracle’s total compensation for its employees. Thus, I’m hestitant to recommend them for anyone seeking a Data Center Technician job. Especially when other Big Tech companies provide bonuses and equity to their employees.
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