Iron Mountain MA-1

Worcester's economy combines biotech and life sciences (UMass Chan Medical School, Mass General Brigham facilities, AbbVie's Worcester biologics plant), education (Clark, WPI, Holy Cross, Assumption), and a growing tech and clean-energy presence. Data centers serve those biotech and research tenants — one tracked facility but 369 NAICS 518 jobs (reported) with an exceptional $243,669 industry average pay reflecting biotech-tenant scale.

The trades pool is small. Electricians at $75,510 and HVAC technicians at $73,800 sit unusually close, with both anchored by Massachusetts prevailing wage rules and IBEW strength. The 2,760 maintenance and repair workforce earns $55,160. IT managers at $193,890 reflect biotech and research pay.

For a trades worker, Worcester is a biotech-adjacent market with the wage profile of metropolitan Boston at a fraction of the cost. Best fit for HVAC technicians (biotech cleanroom skills transfer cleanly) and electricians for IBEW work. The data center component is small but biotech infrastructure work is steady.