UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) as its own occupation, so this page uses Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (SOC 49-2095, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $103,020 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $81,860 to $118,870.
This is what we do all day: recruit data center professionals.
Closest proxy
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $65,730 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $81,860 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $103,020 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $118,870 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $129,920 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $100,760 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31.6 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $39.35 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $49.53 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $57.15 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $62.46 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $48.44 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages cover: OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. These are straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately. BLS pay-term definitions.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-2095 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay, United States. Download national data (ZIP).
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $103,020 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 2.02 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | 12,920 | 62.4% | $105,940 | $92,780 to $121,250 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | 237130 | 980 | 4.7% | $81,180 | $63,270 to $104,660 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | 980 | 4.7% | $81,180 | $63,270 to $104,660 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | 550 | 2.7% | $94,660 | $77,600 to $103,940 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | 510 | 2.5% | $65,340 | $57,600 to $78,000 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | 270 | 1.3% | $85,810 | $60,080 to $104,450 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 238210 | 250 | 1.2% | $86,360 | $74,880 to $104,450 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | 541380 | 210 | 1.0% | $99,680 | $68,860 to $103,940 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $105,160 | $81,530 to $124,370 | 170 | 0.41 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $102,470 | $81,760 to $122,830 | 410 | 0.75 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $81,180 | $81,120 to $108,490 | 240 | 0.61 |
| Columbus, OH | $105,150 | $75,200 to $116,590 | 190 | 1.32 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $114,480 | $107,740 to $130,050 | 170 | 0.28 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $120,930 | $108,280 to $171,680 | 70 | 0.44 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $129,590 | $101,880 to $140,500 | 90 | 0.58 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 86 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $145,530 | 40 | 0.66 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $141,580 | 90 | 0.29 |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $135,130 | 220 | 0.79 |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $133,300 | 90 | 0.41 |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,080 | 240 | 1.06 |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $129,590 | 90 | 0.58 |
| 7 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $128,540 | 60 | 1.42 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,820 | 40 | 0.39 |
| 9 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $124,700 | 80 | 1.31 |
| 10 | Tulsa, OK | $122,260 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $85,460 | 170 | 1.12 |
| 78 | Lubbock, TX | $83,200 | 30 | 1.47 |
| 79 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $81,670 | 50 | 0.65 |
| 80 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $81,180 | 240 | 0.61 |
| 81 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $80,430 | 30 | 1.52 |
| 82 | Reno, NV | $74,360 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 83 | Roanoke, VA | $66,480 | 60 | 2.68 |
| 84 | Akron, OH | $64,120 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 85 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $59,550 | 40 | 1.14 |
| 86 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $31,260 | 160 | 1.75 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $145,530 | $46,910 | 3.10 times | 40 | 0.66 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,080 | $48,400 | 2.71 times | 240 | 1.06 |
| Tulsa, OK | $122,260 | $46,670 | 2.62 times | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Jacksonville, FL | $120,840 | $48,830 | 2.47 times | 130 | 1.23 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $110,660 | $44,860 | 2.47 times | 30 | 2.5 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $128,540 | $52,510 | 2.45 times | 60 | 1.42 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $121,670 | $50,790 | 2.40 times | 60 | 0.88 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $109,370 | $45,810 | 2.39 times | 40 | 1.96 |
| Visalia, CA | $105,830 | $45,130 | 2.35 times | 30 | 1.33 |
| Wilmington, NC | $106,950 | $45,800 | 2.34 times | 60 | 2.43 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $109,010 | $46,700 | 2.33 times | 60 | 1.7 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $107,990 | $46,330 | 2.33 times | 40 | 1.29 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $108,240 | $46,570 | 2.32 times | 70 | 1.34 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $114,170 | $49,340 | 2.31 times | 100 | 0.66 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,820 | $55,240 | 2.30 times | 40 | 0.39 |
| Victoria, TX | $98,680 | $43,050 | 2.29 times | 60 | 11.12 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $103,100 | $45,220 | 2.28 times | 30 | 1.49 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $107,750 | $47,470 | 2.27 times | 40 | 0.91 |
| Syracuse, NY | $119,230 | $52,990 | 2.25 times | 160 | 3.95 |
| Longview, TX | $101,320 | $45,150 | 2.24 times | 30 | 2.01 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $106,400 | $47,570 | 2.24 times | 50 | 0.67 |
| Rochester, NY | $114,050 | $51,210 | 2.23 times | 80 | 1.23 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $102,310 | $46,380 | 2.21 times | 50 | 1.39 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $101,780 | $46,630 | 2.18 times | 90 | 0.49 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $100,000 | $46,140 | 2.17 times | 40 | 1.23 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 49-2095 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $100,940 |
| May 2025 | $103,020 |
| Difference | +$2,080 (+2.1%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
Levels above and below this title
These are different jobs, not experience bands within one occupation. The figures are not a promised raise.
| Title | Relationship | BLS occupation | Median | Against UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Facilities Technician (I to III) | Same job ladder | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Critical Environment Electrician | Same job ladder | 47-2111 Electricians | $63,190 | Lower by $39,830 |
| Chiller Plant Operator / Central Plant Technician | Same job ladder | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Night Shift Critical Facilities Technician | Same job ladder | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Critical Facilities Technician Level I | Same job ladder | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Critical Facilities Technician Level II | Same job ladder | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Critical Facilities Technician Level III | Same job ladder | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Shift Lead / Shift Engineer | Higher-scope title | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Chief Engineer, Data Center | Higher-scope title | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
| Maintenance Manager, Critical Facilities | Higher-scope title | 11-3013 Facilities Managers | $106,660 | Higher by $3,640 |
| Senior NOC Technician / NOC Shift Lead | Higher-scope title | 15-1231 Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | Lower by $26,800 |
| Assistant Chief Engineer, Data Center | Higher-scope title | 51-8021 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | Lower by $24,400 |
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For an operations offer, separate standby availability payments from wages for hours actually worked. BLS excludes on-call waiting pay and shift differentials. Ordinary straight-time wages for work performed are not excluded by the on-call rule.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call waiting or availability pay matters here | Left out | BLS excludes payment for time spent awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. BLS on-call pay definition. |
| Overtime pay | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Recruiter's read
Qualitative, not from BLS data.
UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) candidates are usually screened on uPS and battery maintenance, bypass and transfer under MOPs; NFPA 70E qualified person; battery impedance and load testing.
We usually find them through navy electrician's mate and electronics technician veterans; OEM service techs moving to a site role; industrial electricians. We contact working people directly rather than relying on job applications.
Questions
What is the median pay for UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based)?
The BLS median annual wage for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay nationally is $103,020 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $81,860 to $118,870, and 10% earned less than $65,730.
Is this the exact job title?
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 20,720 jobs nationally in Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based): BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based)?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
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- Methodology
What the published rows say about UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) pay in the United States
UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) maps to Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay, SOC 49-2095. For the United States, the May 2025 OEWS annual median is $103,020; the middle half runs from $81,860 to $118,870. This is a proxy, not a separate wage estimate for this exact job. BLS does not separate seniority titles that share this row. Set out the shift, switching authority and on-call duties before comparing offers. A site-based position and a traveling service job can share a wage row without offering the same working conditions.
The middle-half spread is $37,010: $21,160 from the 25th percentile to the median and $15,850 from the median to the 75th. The lower interval is wider. Use these points to compare an offer, not to price a junior or senior hire. Percentiles are not experience bands, and this distribution alone does not explain why individual workers earn different amounts.
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports a annual median of $96,170 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $6,850 below the United States's median.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports a annual median of $118,990 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $15,970 above the United States's median.
The highest exact national industry medians in the loaded SOC 49-2095 rows are Air Transportation at $129,330 and Scheduled Air Transportation at $129,330. These are May 2025 national occupation estimates, not local data center pay. The loaded data has no local industry-by-occupation breakdown, so it cannot rank industries within the United States.
The matched median moved from $100,940 in May 2024 to $103,020 in May 2025: $2,080 higher. Both rows use SOC 49-2095, area 99 and the same annual basis. This is not adjusted for inflation or annualized, and it does not attribute the change to a particular employer.
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. This is neither pure base salary nor total compensation. Agree travel, per diem and relocation terms separately. No verified UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based)-specific allowance is in this occupation row, so none is added to the figures.
Questions about UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) pay in the United States?
UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based) maps to SOC 49-2095, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay. The May 2025 annual median for the United States is $103,020. The proxy mapping is not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the figure cover the whole offer for UPS and Critical Power Technician (site-based)?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Travel and relocation terms still need their own discussion; this row supplies no separate allowance.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.