Are you considering working in the wind industry? The job market for wind turbine technicians remains strong in 2023, and as the industry grows and wind technology improves, a wind turbine tech is likely to have more room for growth and promotion.
Still, it’s an unusual occupation, and the wind energy business is unfamiliar to many people. It’s a physical job, and one that comes with some risks. This guide address questions you may have about the work, job security, dangers, salary, and other benefits that go along with being a wind turbine technician.
While wind techs are in great demand in the US and worldwide, the career isn’t for everyone. Like many occupations, it can be a legacy role – not surprisingly, the children of wind techs are more likely to understand the demands of the job, and may be more likely to consider the field for themselves.
Still interested in pursuing a wind tech job? It’s a great choice for many people! Here are in-depth answers to some frequently-asked questions, and below you’ll find an even deeper dive into broader issues like lifestyle considerations, the actual nature of the work, and how it is likely to change in the near future.
Podcast: inside the post-COVID wind turbine technician job market
Wind Turbine Technician Jobs FAQ
Weather Guard Lightning Tech does not employ wind turbine techs, however, we regularly communicate directly with technicians in the field who are installing our lightning protection products or preparing to go on a job site where lightning damage is a concern.
We also frequently host guests on The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast who discuss training for and working in the field. Notable interviews include Bjorn Hedges talking about wind power jobs and job safety and Michel Goulet of Petzel discussing safety gear and training for wind turbine technicians and others who work at heights.
Wind Tech Job Requirements
Even as robots and drones are utilized more in the field, for the foreseeable future, a wind technician’s job will remain more physically demanding than many jobs.
In spite of increasing use robots and drones, wind technicians will always be required to have:
- The physical capability to lift heavy items, crawl, work at height or in confined spaces
- Good communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to make decisions and work independently
- The ability to gather and interpret data, including learning to control robots and drones
- Willingness to work outdoors, in all types of weather, and in remote areas, potentially off-shore
Wind Tech Lifestyle & Other Considerations
If a physically active, technical job and working regularly, but not always, outdoors sounds good to you, you might want to consider a career as a wind technician. Another important factor to consider is that travel is usually – but again, not always – part of the job. According to one wind tech, that means the job takes “a certain mindset,” because work may take you away from family for extended periods of time. Also, because most wind turbine operations are located in rural or remote areas, if you love big city life, working as a wind tech may not be a good fit.
Finally, because some of world’s biggest wind turbines are located in off-shore wind farming operations, many wind tech job sites include marine locations.
Where to Find Wind Technician Job Listings
When you’re starting a search for jobs in wind energy, the major career sites including LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and SimplyHired list jobs for all experience levels. At the time of this writing, we found positions offering up to $88,000/year with job titles that included:
- Wind Turbine Technician, or Wind Technician
- Wind Turbine Traveling Technician
- Wind Composite Blade Technician
- Main Component Repair Technician
- Wind Turbine Troubleshooting Technician
Wind Energy Technology Resources
The more you know about an industry, the better prepared you are to be hired into it. While face-to-face networking in the wind energy field may not be easy to do – unless you have friends or family members in the industry – there is a vibrant online community in wind energy. Most major employers and manufacturers in the industry have active social media feeds and many conduct informative webinars, often for free. Connecting through online networking groups is another option. The weekly Uptime Wind Energy Podcast and companion newsletter [with free subscriptions to both] provides insight from engineers and business professionals on news and wind power industry technology developments.
Additional Resources
- American Clean Power
- Global Wind Energy Council
- US Bureau of Labor and Statistics – Wind Technicians
- Energy.gov Career Map for Wind Technicians
- Workforce Training and Education: Wind Energy
- Safety: OSHA on Green Job Hazards
- Safety: ASSE paper on Wind Turbine Safety
- Safety: ASSP Standard for Wind Turbine Construction and Demolition
- Vestas Wind Systems statement on safety and sustainability
