Jensen Huang Predicts Plumbers and Electricians Will Earn Six-Figure Salaries in 2026 Due to AI Boom

• Why Are Trades Like Plumbing and Electrical Work Becoming So Lucrative?
• How Big Is the AI Infrastructure Boom?
• Who’s Winning and Losing in the AI Labor Shift?
• What’s Nvidia’s Role—and China Challenge?
• Will This Boom Last?
• FAQs

In a bold forecast, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicts that skilled trades like plumbing and electrical work will soon command unprecedented salaries, with some professionals earning six figures by 2026. The AI infrastructure boom is driving massive demand for these roles, reshaping the labor market. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s chip dominance continues, but geopolitical tensions loom. Here’s a deep dive into the trends, data, and controversies shaping this transformation.

Why Are Trades Like Plumbing and Electrical Work Becoming So Lucrative?

Jensen Huang isn’t just talking about tech jobs—he’s spotlighting blue-collar roles. The global AI infrastructure expansion requires physical construction: data centers need wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems. "Plumbers, electricians, and construction workers will soon earn six-figure salaries," Huang stated in a recent discussion. Wages in these fields have already doubled in some regions, and no computer science degree is required. The BTCC team notes this aligns with Palantir CEO Alex Karp’s recent remarks about vocational training becoming more valuable than ever.

How Big Is the AI Infrastructure Boom?

We’re talking trillions. The scramble to build data centers and supporting infrastructure is one of history’s largest industrial booms. Tech firms have committed over $500 billion in data center leases for the coming years, per TradingView data. CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator confirms surging demand for carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. "This isn’t speculative—it’s happening now," he said. Nvidia, meanwhile, expects $200 billion in data center chip revenue by 2025, per analysts.

Who’s Winning and Losing in the AI Labor Shift?

It’s a split market. While trades thrive, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns of a "white-collar massacre" in entry-level software jobs. "Junior dev tasks—and even some senior roles—will largely be handled by AI," he warned at Davos. Up to 50% of these positions could vanish, leaving many struggling to adapt. The irony? The same AI boom killing desk jobs is creating manual labor gold rushes.

What’s Nvidia’s Role—and China Challenge?

Nvidia’s chips power this revolution, but geopolitics complicates things. Though banned from exporting top-tier AI chips to China, the company plans to sell older H200 models there starting in 2026 (for commercial use only). Alibaba and ByteDance are reportedly eyeing 200,000+ units each—a potential windfall. But with Dario Amodei comparing such sales to "selling nukes to North Korea," tensions are high. Huang’s upcoming China trip could be pivotal.

Will This Boom Last?

History suggests infrastructure waves have long tails. The 1990s dot-com boom built physical fiber networks that lasted decades. This AI buildout might follow suit, especially with smaller firms now joining cloud giants in leasing data centers. One wild card: automation. If robots eventually install pipes and wires today’s wage surges might peak. But for now, grab your wrench—it’s a tradesperson’s market.

FAQs

How much could plumbers earn by 2026?

Jensen Huang predicts six-figure salaries for skilled tradespeople due to AI-driven infrastructure demand, with wages already doubling in some markets.

Is Nvidia still profiting from China sales?

Despite restrictions, Nvidia may sell older H200 chips to Chinese firms like Alibaba commercially starting in 2026—potentially billions in revenue.

Are software jobs really at risk?

Yes. Anthropic’s CEO warns up to 50% of entry-level programming roles could disappear as AI handles coding tasks.