Wind Turbine Technicians

Summary

What Wind Turbine Technicians Do About this section

Wind turbine technicians often monitor turbines from the ground.

Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, maintain and repair wind turbines.

Duties

Wind turbine service technicians typically do the following:

• Assist engineers and ironworkers in installing new wind turbines 
• 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

Windtechs maintain and fix the components of wind turbines, large mechanical structures that convert wind energy into electricity. The three major components of each turbine are a tower; a nacelle, which contains the equipment that generates electricity; and three blades attached to the nacelle. Most of a windtech’s work focuses on maintaining the nacelle.

Windtechs typically maintain turbines by inspecting components and lubricating parts. Maintenance schedules are largely determined by the hours a turbine operates but also may vary by manufacturer. For turbines that operate year round, windtechs may do routine maintenance one to three times a year.

Turbines have electronic monitoring equipment, usually located in the nacelle, that provides an alert when a problem is detected. Although windtechs may access monitoring equipment both onsite and off, they must travel to the worksite to make repairs to turbine components.

Windtechs use a safety harness when climbing the tower, which may be 200 feet or higher, to reach the nacelle. They use a variety of handtools and power tools to make adjustments or repairs, and they use computers to diagnose electrical malfunctions.

Work Environment About this section

Wind turbine technicians often work outdoors.

Wind turbine technicians held about 11,400 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of wind turbine technicians were as follows:

Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, generally work outdoors, including in extreme temperatures, on rural or offshore wind farms. They must be physically able to work at great heights. For example, workers must climb ladders to reach the nacelle—which is mounted on towers that are more than 200 feet tall—while wearing a fall-protection harness and carrying tools. When repairing blades, windtechs rappel, or descend by sliding down a rope, from the nacelle to the section of the blade that needs servicing.

When maintaining mechanical systems, windtechs work in the confined space of the nacelle.

Windtechs sometimes work with another windtech or with other specialists, such as electricians, when doing major service or repairs.

Work Schedules

Most windtechs work full time, and they also may be on call in the evening or on weekends.

Windtechs may travel to wind farms in rural areas or on offshore wind farms. Working on offshore farms may require being away from home for several days or weeks at a time.

How to Become a Wind Turbine Technician About this section

Wind turbine technicians receive on-the-job training from experienced workers.

Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, typically need a postsecondary nondegree award to enter the occupation. They also typically receive on-the-job training from their employer.

Education

Windtechs typically attend technical schools or community colleges, where they may complete a postsecondary certificate in wind energy technology or choose to earn an associate’s degree.

Many technical schools have onsite wind turbines that students service as part of their studies. In addition to hands-on learning, windtech coursework includes maintenance instruction for electrical and hydraulic systems, braking and mechanical systems, and programmable logic control systems. Students also receive instruction in tower climbing, along with training for rescues, safety, first aid, and CPR.

Training

Once hired, windtechs typically receive employer- or manufacturer-provided on-the-job training that is related to the specific wind turbines they will maintain and repair.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although not mandatory, professional certification allows workers to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and competence. Certification subjects for windtechs include workplace electrical safety, tower climbing, and self-rescue. Employers often direct workers to the certifications they need.

Important Qualities

Ability to work at heights. Windtechs must be comfortable working at heights to maintain or repair turbines. Tower ladders are usually at least 200 feet high.

Communication skills. Windtechs must exchange information with windtechs or specialists, such as electricians, in order to work 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 a turbine’s various technical systems.

Physical stamina. Windtechs must be able to climb turbine towers, often with tools and equipment.

Physical strength. Windtechs must lift heavy equipment, parts, and tools, some of which weigh 50 pounds or more.

Problem-solving skills. Windtechs must diagnose and repair turbine problems. When a malfunction or other issue arises, technicians must determine the cause and make the necessary repairs.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for wind turbine technicians was $61,770 in May 2023. 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 $47,360, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $90,300.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for wind turbine technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, work full time, and they also may be on call in the evening or on weekends.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 60 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 2,100 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

Increased demand for electricity and efforts to reduce carbon emissions are expected to result in more wind turbines being built. This, in turn, should create jobs for wind turbine service technicians to install and maintain these turbines.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Wind turbine service technicians

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about educational opportunities and career paths, visit

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

For more information about education and training opportunities, visit

WindExchange

O*NET

Wind Turbine Service Technicians