DataX Connect has launched the data capture phase of the 2026 edition of its Data Centre Salary Survey – the definitive salary benchmark for data centre construction and operations professionals in Europe and the United States.
Now in its third year, the 2026 survey marks a significant expansion in scope where, for the first time, the research will deliver granular regional breakdowns across European markets and the United States – enabling organisations to benchmark pay, benefits, and working conditions at a country and regional level, not just continent-wide.
The survey is open to data centre and AI infrastructure professionals at all levels across the sector and takes approximately seven minutes to complete and responses can remain fully anonymous.
Last year, key findings included:
- Raises don’t equal retention: More than 1 in 3 (37.6%) got a pay rise but still plan to leave.
- Fast track careers: A third (34.6%) of under-35s are already in senior roles.
- Women are earning less on every rung of the ladder: Across every seniority level, women are earning less than men. The gap is smallest in senior roles (5%), and is widest in mid-level roles.
Answering the Questions That Matter Most
The 2026 survey has been developed in direct response to the three strategic questions DataX Connect hears most consistently from HR, talent, and operations leaders across the data centre sector:
“Where can we find the talent we need?”
This year’s survey introduces new questions on respondents’ career backgrounds – specifically, where professionals worked before entering the data centre sector, helping organisations identify adjacent industries and roles that represent untapped candidate pipelines.
Combined with detailed geographic data on where respondents are currently based and working, the results will provide an unmatched picture of where data centre talent actually lives.
“How do you attract new candidates?”
The survey captures a comprehensive picture of the compensation and conditions currently on offer across the market: base salaries by role, seniority and geography; bonus and incentive structures; benefits packages; working patterns including remote and hybrid arrangements; and contract versus permanent split. This approach provides hiring organisations with the data they need to build compelling, competitive offers for candidates.
“How can we retain our staff?”
Beyond attraction, the 2026 survey explores what makes data centre professionals stay or leave. Respondents will share what factors matter most to their long-term commitment to a role, from salary progression and career development pathways to company culture and flexibility.
Why Regional Data is Vital
The data centre sector is expanding rapidly across new European markets – from established hubs in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands to growing clusters in Spain, Portugal, the Nordics and beyond. Yet salary and benefits data has historically been available only at a European aggregate level, masking significant regional variation.
The 2026 survey is designed to change that. With sufficient regional response volumes, DataX Connect will publish country and regional breakdowns that allow organisations to compare pay and talent availability market by market – essential intelligence for companies making location decisions, expanding into new geographies, or competing for talent across borders.
Participate in the Survey
The DataX Connect Data Centre Salary Survey is conducted annually and covers the full spectrum of data centre construction and operations roles, and the 2025 survey received more than 1500 responses from professionals across + 20 countries. To-date, it has been used by leading operators, hyperscalers, and contractors to inform hiring strategy, compensation review, and workforce planning.
The results of the new survey will be published in September, and data centre professionals globally are invited to complete the 2026 survey here.
