Wind Turbine Technicians
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Wind turbine service technicians install, maintain, and repair wind turbines.
Work Environment: Wind turbine service technicians generally work outdoors, in confined spaces, and often at great heights. Although the majority of windtechs work full time, they may also be on call to handle emergencies during evenings and weekends.
How to Become One: Most wind turbine service technicians learn their trade by attending a technical school. They also receive on-the-job training.
Salary: The median annual wage for wind turbine technicians is $56,260.
Job Outlook: Employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 44 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of wind turbine technicians with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a wind turbine service technician with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Wind Turbine Technician Jobs
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Maintenance Technician - 1st shift
- Copeland - Industrial
- Cudahy, WI
The Maintenance Technician supports maintenance needs of the plant building, equipment, and grounds. **Duties** * Plan and perform operations to rig, move, install, and erect heavy duty machinery ...
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Maintenance Technician
- Anonymous Employer
- Franklin, IN
**ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES **¨NBSP; * Observes production machinery and troubleshoots mechanical and electrical issues to locate causes and repair them. * Dismantles machinery and ...
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Maintenance Technician - Night Shift
- Amcor Rigid Packaging Kenosha/Franklin/Napolean
- Kenosha, WI
Maintenance Technician coworkers are responsible for preventive maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting of all plant machinery and equipment. The various machinery and equipment includes: Sidel ...
What Wind Turbine Technicians Do[About this section] [To Top]
Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, install, maintain, and repair wind turbines.
Duties of Wind Turbine Technicians
Wind turbine service technicians typically do the following:
- Inspect the exterior and physical integrity of wind turbine towers
- Climb wind turbine towers to inspect or repair wind turbine equipment
- Perform routine maintenance on wind turbines
- Test and troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic components and systems
- Replace worn or malfunctioning components
- Collect turbine data for testing or research and analysis
- Service underground transmission systems, wind field substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems
Wind turbines are large mechanical devices that convert wind energy into electricity. The turbine is made up of three major components: a tower, three blades, and a nacelle, which is composed of an outer case, generator, gearbox, and brakes. Wind turbine service technicians install and repair the components of these structures.
Although some windtechs are involved in building new wind turbines, most of their work is in maintaining them, particularly the nacelles, which contain the equipment that generates electricity.
Maintenance schedules are largely determined by a turbine's hours in operation, but can also vary by manufacturer. Turbines are monitored electronically from a central office, 24 hours a day. When a problem is detected, windtechs travel to the worksite and make the repairs. Typical maintenance includes inspecting components and lubricating parts. For turbines that operate year round, routine maintenance may occur one to three times a year.
Windtechs use safety harnesses and a variety of hand and power tools to do their work. They also use computers to diagnose electrical malfunctions. Most turbine monitoring equipment is located in the nacelle, which can be accessed both onsite and off.
Work Environment for Wind Turbine Technicians[About this section] [To Top]
Wind turbine technicians hold about 11,100 jobs. The largest employers of wind turbine technicians are as follows:
| Electric power generation | 32% |
| Repair and maintenance | 25% |
| Utility system construction | 21% |
| Self-employed workers | 7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3% |
Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, generally work outdoors, often at great heights and with a partner. For example, when repairing blades, windtechs rappel—or descend by sliding down a rope—from the nacelle to the section of the blade that needs servicing. To reach the mechanical equipment, workers must climb ladders—sometimes more than 260 feet tall—while wearing a fall protection harness and carrying tools. When maintaining mechanical systems, windtechs work in the confined space of the nacelle.
For major service or repairs, additional windtechs and other specialists, such as electricians, may be needed to complete the job quickly.
Wind Turbine Technician Work Schedules
Although the majority of windtechs work full time, they may also be on call to handle emergencies during evenings and weekends.
When a wind turbine is not functioning, technicians must find the problem and make the necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
Windtechs often travel to rural areas, where many wind farms are located.
How to Become a Wind Turbine Technician[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Wind Turbine Technicians near you!
Most wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, learn their trade by attending a technical school. They are also trained by their employer after hiring.
Education for Wind Turbine Technicians
Most windtechs learn their trade by attending technical schools or community colleges, where they typically complete certificates in wind energy technology, although some workers choose to earn an associate's degree.
Many technical schools have onsite wind turbines that students can work on as part of their studies. In addition to lab coursework, other areas of focus that reflect the various skill sets needed to do the job include the following:
- Rescue, safety, first aid, and CPR training
- Electrical maintenance
- Hydraulic maintenance
- Braking systems
- Mechanical systems, including blade inspection and maintenance
- Computers and programmable logic control systems
Wind Turbine Technician Training
In addition to their coursework, windtechs typically receive more than 12 months of on-the-job training related to the specific wind turbines they will maintain and service. Part of this training is manufacturer training. Other training may include an internship with a wind turbine servicing contractor.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Wind Turbine Technicians
Although not mandatory, professional certification can demonstrate a basic level of knowledge and competence. Some employers prefer to hire workers who are already certified in subjects such as workplace electrical safety, tower climbing, and self-rescue. There are many organizations who offer certifications in each of these subjects, and some certificate and degree programs include these certifications.
Important Qualities for Wind Turbine Technicians
Communication skills. Windtechs rely on proper communication with their coworkers in order to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Detail oriented. Windtechs must maintain records of all of the services they perform. Turbine maintenance requires precise measurements, a strict order of operations, and numerous safety procedures.
Mechanical skills. Windtechs must understand and be able to maintain and repair all mechanical, hydraulic, braking, and electrical systems of a turbine.
Physical stamina. Windtechs must be able to climb to the tops of turbines, often with tools and equipment. Some tower ladders may be 260 feet high or taller.
Physical strength. Windtechs must lift heavy equipment, parts, and tools, some of which weigh in excess of 50 pounds.
Troubleshooting skills. Windtechs must diagnose and repair problems. When a turbine performs abnormally, technicians must determine the cause and make the necessary repairs.
Wind Turbine Technician Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for wind turbine technicians is $56,260. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,810.
The median annual wages for wind turbine technicians in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $77,810 |
| Electric power generation | $60,730 |
| Repair and maintenance | $51,110 |
| Utility system construction | $50,630 |
The majority of wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, work full time, and they may also be on call to handle emergencies during evenings and weekends.
When a wind turbine is not functioning, technicians must find the problem and make the necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
Windtechs often travel to rural areas, where many wind farms are located.
Job Outlook for Wind Turbine Technicians[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 1,900 openings for wind turbine technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Wind Turbine Technicians
Development of taller towers with larger blades has reduced the cost of wind power generation, making it more competitive with coal, natural gas, and other forms of power generation. As additional wind turbines are erected, more windtechs will be needed to install and maintain turbines. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth is expected to result in only about 4,900 new jobs over the projections decade.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Wind turbine service technicians | 11,100 | 16,100 | 44 | 4,900 |
More Wind Turbine Technician Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about educational opportunities and career paths, visit
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.