TRADES Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Wind Turbine Service Technicians is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, projected to grow +49.9% through 2034. Median pay sits at $64,120 nationally, a strong return for the training investment.

About Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.


Median Wage
$64,120
Employed Nationally
10K
Openings / Year
2,300
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Also known as:

Commissioning Tech (Commissioning Technician) Energy Technician Field Service Technician Offshore Wind Turbine Technician Renewable Energy Specialist

How Much Do Wind Turbine Service Technicians Make?

Wind Turbine Service Technicians earn $64,120 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,840 and $78,010. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$64,120
National Median (Annual)

Near the national median for college graduates.

$59K–$78K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

What Do Wind Turbine Service Technicians Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Wind Turbine Service Technicians roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • 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.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Operations Monitoring Equipment Maintenance Troubleshooting Repairing Critical Thinking

Who Thrives Here

R
Realistic

Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

Where Do Wind Turbine Service Technicians Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
High

High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.

What Is the Job Outlook for Wind Turbine Service Technicians?

The BLS projects +49.9% employment change for Wind Turbine Service Technicians through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 2,300 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +49.9%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Much faster than average.

2,300
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

10K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Wind Turbine Service Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $64,120 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 Texas 5,010 $61,790 -3.6%
2 Iowa 700 $62,040 -3.2%
3 Minnesota 570 $62,940 -1.8%
4 Colorado 560 $64,630 +0.8%
5 Kansas 490 $73,220 +14.2%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Wind Turbine Service Technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Postsecondary nondegree award
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

Top Colleges for Aspiring Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA 86 $1,164 $30,364
2 Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN 86 $6,631 $40,869
3 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 85 $17,303 $68,758
4 De Anza College Cupertino, CA 85 $6,642 $56,596
5 New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA 85 $8,361 $44,814
6 Alpena Community College Alpena, MI 84 $3,320 $36,442

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Wind Turbine Service Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians Pros & Cons

The data on Wind Turbine Service Technicians shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.

PROS
  • Competitive salary $64,120 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
  • Exceptional job growth The BLS projects +49.9% employment growth through 2034, one of the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand for qualified candidates should remain elevated for a decade.
  • Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
  • Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Wind Turbine Service Technicians mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Wind Turbine Service Technicians professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Wind Turbine Service Technicians is $64,120, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,840 and $78,010. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Wind Turbine Service Technicians a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $64,120 median, with +49.9% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Wind Turbine Service Technicians?
Most Wind Turbine Service Technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians are common starting points.
How fast is the Wind Turbine Service Technicians field growing?
Very fast. The BLS projects +49.9% growth for Wind Turbine Service Technicians through 2034, well above the roughly 5% national average and among the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand is being driven by structural forces, not cyclical ones. About 2,300 job openings per year are expected as the field expands and existing workers move on. From a current base of 10K workers, sustained growth creates real hiring volume, though fast-growing fields also attract more new graduates competing for entry-level roles.
What skills do Wind Turbine Service Technicians professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Wind Turbine Service Technicians roles: Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, and Critical Thinking. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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