| Wind Turbine Technician Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $65,670 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $31.57 |
| Education | 1-2 Years |
| Job Outlook | 94.8% |
Wind Turbine Technicians work in the wind power energy industry providing assistance in the assembling, construction and maintenance of wind generators or wind farms.
They are a part of the growing alternative energy industry focused on using new ways to create and use energy.
Wind Turbine Technicians play a variety of roles in the wind power sector.
They can work specifically with the construction or maintenance of wind turbines.
Wind Turbine Technicians should be skilled at spotting any malfunctioning or immobile wind turbines.
Any stalled equipment that is not working correctly is not a good sign for an energy company because that prevents customers from receiving their energy.
A Wind Turbine Technician will have to immediately spot malfunctioning turbines and quickly figure out a diagnosis to perform repairs.
Doing this in a short amount of time is essential in order for customers to not feel the negative effects of malfunctioning wind turbines.
Wind Turbine Technicians play a vital role in the renewable energy industry.
Their functions strengthen the industry that they work in and help provide reliable energy sources to the public.
Table of Contents
Education Requirements to Become a Wind Turbine Technician
In order to become a Wind Turbine Technician , candidates must seek certification or an Associate’s Degree in the field from an accredited institution.
Community colleges offer programs in this field and have specific requirements in order to be accepted into a program.
Potential students must have a high school diploma or GED and pass math and writing entrance exams in order to begin the program.
Students can submit high school transcripts or submit placement scores as an alternative to taking any school specific entrance exams as long as all entry requirements are met.
Students will learn a variety of skills and information in order to become a Wind Turbine Technician.
They will learn the basics on the energy industry they are about to become a part of as well as the mechanical equipment they will work with on a regular basis.
They will also learn about safety protocol and the hydraulic and electrical systems they will use to perform their duties.
Candidates in a program to become a Wind Turbine Technician will learn all their skills and knowledge in a variety of environments such as the typical classroom setting, on location in a work environment with local partner companies and in lab settings.
Wind Turbine Technician Job Description
Wind Turbine Technicians play a variety of roles in the wind power energy industry.
They can perform their job either indoors or outdoors with heavy equipment helping with the installation of it as well as making sure wind farms and generators are working properly.
Some Wind Turbine Technicians can also work for companies that manufacture and make wind turbine equipment.
Important duties a Wind Turbine Technician is responsible for includes the following:
- Assist in the construction of wind farms or wind generators
- Troubleshoot any potential mechanical, hydraulic or electrical problems with equipment
- Make repairs to any malfunctioning equipment
- Provide routine maintenance and inspections on wind turbine equipment
Wind Turbine Technicians that provide maintenance work are constantly making sure the wind turbines are working correctly and are constantly moving to create energy for consumers.
They are efficient in troubleshooting problems with the turbines and have to be able to immediately fix any problems with stalled equipment.
Wind Turbine Technician Salary and Career Path
The job outlook for Wind Turbine Technicians is strong due to the fact that consumers are looking for new energy sources.
In fact, wind energy is the fastest growing energy source available as it is becoming more and more popular with the public.
Job openings are expected follow with this fast growth in renewable energy source.
Potential Wind Turbine Technicians can look forward to benefitting from this fast growth in wind power.
Some reports suggest that the median income for Wind Turbine Technicians is approximately $75,000 per year.
A Wind Turbine Technician just getting into the field can expect a starting salary of $55,000 annually.
Experienced Wind Turbine Technicians with several years of experience should expect to earn up $95,000 to $100,000 per year.
Looking into becoming a Wind Turbine Technician might be a good choice for someone who works well with their hands and is excited about renewable energy.
Who wouldn’t be excited about Wind Power with its healthy wages and job outlook?
The below information is based on the 2021 BLS national averages.
National Average Salary
$58,580Average Salary by State
| State | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $65,670 |
| Colorado | $69,380 |
| Florida | $52,760 |
| Idaho | $54,920 |
| Illinois | $68,530 |
| Iowa | $61,530 |
| Kansas | $54,980 |
| Minnesota | $67,920 |
| Nebraska | $54,650 |
| New Mexico | $67,990 |
| New York | $67,010 |
| North Carolina | $63,280 |
| North Dakota | $54,020 |
| Oklahoma | $53,310 |
| Oregon | $62,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $99,570 |
| South Dakota | $53,280 |
| Texas | $55,190 |
| Washington | $63,610 |
| Wisconsin | $56,260 |
The top earning state in the field is Pennsylvania, where the average salary is $99,570.
These are the top 5 earning states in the field:
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a wind turbine technician do?
The main goal of a wind turbine technician is to prevent the wind turbines from malfunctioning or completely stopping.
The technicians are specially trained individuals who work, in most cases, on wind farms; those can be located anywhere around the world, however, the majority of wind farms can be found in rural areas.
Wind turbine technicians can specialize in one area or travel around a bigger area.
The main responsibilities of a specialist usually include inspecting wind turbines to ensure that those are in good working order; noting the problems and scheduling the turbine for repair; ensuring that the storage facility has enough proper parts to make any kind of repair; ordering the parts that are out of stock, and so on.
In order to inspect the turbine, the technician would be required to climb the construction.
How much do wind turbine technicians make?
On average, a wind turbine technician can make a little more than $54.000 per year in the United States.
In case you decide to follow this career path, you can expect to earn anywhere between $38.000 and $83.500 annually.
The salary would certainly depend on a variety of factors – your education and experience level, the employer, the location and so on.
The wind turbine technicians that work in West Virginia, Colorado, and North Dakota, for example, have the highest average salaries.
An entry-level wind turbine technician can earn $18 per hour, while a specialist with plenty of experience will make $40 and more.
How much does it cost to become a wind turbine technician?
The use of wind turbines is a fairly new practice; that’s why there aren’t a lot of places that offer wind energy training programs.
The wind turbine technician program at Lethbridge College, for example, will cost you around $6.500 (bear in mind that you would have to pay an additional thousand for books and supplies).
Those candidates who possess experience as an electrician ill have better job prospects; electrician training can cost you anywhere between $1.000 and $11.000 for a certificate or an associate’s degree.
In case you are afraid of height, you should choose another career path.
What is the demand for wind turbine technicians?
Between 2016 and 2026, the wind turbine technician job market is expected to grow by 94.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That is a lot faster than the national average for all occupations in the United States.
Businesses and governments will become more interested in the usage of alternative sources of energy.
The candidates that have plenty of experience as electricians will have better job prospects.
Bear in mind that the industry is mainly concentrated in Texas, Illinois, and Iowa.
How long does it take to become a wind turbine technician?
It will take you 1-2 years to earn an electrician’s certificate or associate’s degree.
The wind turbine technician training programs in the majority of universities will take you only a year to complete.
This is a relatively dangerous job that might require a lot of traveling.
Even though it won’t take you too long to become a certified wind turbine technician, you should think twice before choosing this career path.
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