Wind Turbine Service Technicians: Career Overview
Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.
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The Daily Work of Wind Turbine Service Technicians Take On?
Typical responsibilities of wind turbine service technicians span:
- Troubleshoot or repair mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical malfunctions related to variable pitch systems, variable speed control systems, converter systems, or related components.
- Perform routine maintenance on wind turbine equipment, underground transmission systems, wind fields substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems.
- Diagnose problems involving wind turbine generators or control systems.
- Test electrical components of wind systems with devices, such as voltage testers, multimeters, oscilloscopes, infrared testers, or fiber optic equipment.
- Start or restart wind turbine generator systems to ensure proper operations.
- Climb wind turbine towers to inspect, maintain, or repair equipment.
- Maintain tool and spare parts inventories required for repair, installation, or replacement services.
- Test structures, controls, or mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical systems, according to test plans or in coordination with engineers.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective wind turbine service technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Wind Turbine Service Technicians Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Commissioning Tech (Commissioning Technician)
- Energy Technician
- Field Service Technician
- Offshore Wind Turbine Technician
- Onsite Technician (Onsite Tech)
- Renewable Energy Specialist
- Renewable Energy Technician
- Service Technician
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 424,924 wind turbine service technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Wind Turbine Service Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $74,051 |
| Hourly median | $35.60 |
| 10th percentile | $42,584 |
| 25th percentile | $58,318 |
| 75th percentile | $89,785 |
| 90th percentile | $105,519 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Wind Turbine Service Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $85,570 |
| New Jersey | $81,920 |
| New York | $76,970 |
| Ohio | $76,960 |
| California | $75,330 |
| North Dakota | $75,110 |
| Wyoming | $74,640 |
| Kansas | $73,220 |
| Washington | $71,150 |
| South Carolina | $70,400 |
| Missouri | $68,160 |
| Indiana | $67,070 |
| Arizona | $66,710 |
| Oregon | $66,030 |
| North Carolina | $65,650 |
| Colorado | $64,630 |
| New Mexico | $64,390 |
| Alaska | $64,220 |
| Minnesota | $62,940 |
| Iowa | $62,040 |
| Texas | $61,790 |
| Michigan | $60,920 |
| Oklahoma | $59,620 |
| Maine | $58,990 |
| South Dakota | $57,780 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for wind turbine service technicians differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $79,068 | 3.6% | 0.30 |
| Far Western US | $71,907 | 8.1% | 0.72 |
| Great Lakes | $67,603 | 3.2% | 0.45 |
| Southeast | $66,837 | 1.5% | 0.31 |
| Plains States | $65,989 | 22.3% | 4.89 |
| Rocky Mountains | $65,881 | 6.2% | 2.81 |
| Southwest | $61,943 | 54.9% | 4.61 |
| New England | $58,990 | 0.3% | 0.66 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $105,370 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $66,220 | 220 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $63,060 | 250 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $62,400 | 700 |
| Greeley, CO | CO | $62,050 | 90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $61,920 | 70 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $61,900 | |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $61,800 | 1,600 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of wind turbine service technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 4,830 | $64,630 |
| Construction | 2,330 | $63,060 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,880 | $61,790 |
| Manufacturing | 540 | $64,330 |
| Wholesale Trade | 310 | $66,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 130 | $66,290 |
Below are examples of industries where wind turbine service technicians work:
Software Wind Turbine Service Technicians Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of wind turbine service technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
- Exposed to High Places
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Entry-level wind turbine service technicians positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Hydroelectric Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Wind Energy Operations Managers (Primary-Short)
- Wind Energy Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Wind Energy Engineers (Supplemental)
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers (Supplemental)
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring wind turbine service technicians often complete programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
3 programs across 2 majors
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-9081.00 (Wind Turbine Service Technicians).
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