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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 Annual Pay
$61,770
Range: $47,360 - $90,300
Training Time
6 months to 2 years
AI Resilience
🟢AI-Resilient
Education
Post-secondary certificate

📋Key Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Climb wind turbine towers to inspect, maintain, or repair equipment.
  • Maintain tool and spare parts inventories required for repair, installation, or replacement services.
  • Test structures, controls, or mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical systems, according to test plans or in coordination with engineers.

💡Inside This Career

The wind turbine technician maintains renewable energy equipment—servicing turbines, diagnosing electrical and mechanical problems, and keeping the wind farms that clean energy depends on operational. A typical day centers on turbine service. Perhaps 65% of time goes to maintenance and repair: troubleshooting control systems, replacing components, performing scheduled maintenance, testing electrical systems. Another 25% involves climbing and inspection—ascending towers, visually inspecting equipment, checking blade conditions. The remaining time addresses documentation and travel between sites.

People who thrive as wind technicians combine electrical and mechanical skills with physical capability and the comfort with heights that tower work requires. Successful technicians develop proficiency with complex turbine systems while building the diagnostic abilities that remote troubleshooting demands. They must work independently, often in isolated locations. Those who struggle often cannot handle heights or confined spaces or find the remote locations challenging. Others fail because they cannot master the electrical and mechanical complexity that modern turbines require.

Wind energy represents a growing renewable sector, with technicians maintaining the turbines that power increasing portions of the grid. The field offers strong employment prospects as wind capacity expands. Wind technicians appear in discussions of green careers, skilled trades, and the workers who maintain renewable infrastructure.

Practitioners cite the contribution to clean energy and the variety as primary rewards. The environmental contribution is meaningful. The work is technically challenging. The outdoor settings are valued. The demand is strong and growing. The compensation is good for technical work. The travel provides variety. Common frustrations include the conditions and the physical demands. Many find that heights and confined spaces are genuinely challenging. Weather affects work schedules. Remote locations require travel. The on-call expectations for emergency repairs exist. The physical demands are significant.

This career requires technical training in wind technology or related fields. Strong electrical and mechanical skills, height comfort, and physical capability are essential. The role suits those who want growing technical careers in renewable energy. It is poorly suited to those afraid of heights, uncomfortable with remote locations, or preferring office environments. Compensation is good for wind energy technical work.

📈Career Progression

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$47,360
$42,624 - $52,096
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$52,770
$47,493 - $58,047
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$61,770
$55,593 - $67,947
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$74,940
$67,446 - $82,434
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$90,300
$81,270 - $99,330

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Post-secondary certificate
  • Experience: One to two years
  • On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
0.5-2 years (typically 1)
Estimated Education Cost
$3,000 - $20,000
Community college:$3,990
Trade school:$10,000
Source: college board (2024)

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Assessment

Growing Quickly + Limited Exposure: Strong employment growth combined with limited AI applicability

🟢AI-Resilient
Task Exposure
Low

How much of this job involves tasks AI can currently perform

Automation Risk
Low

Likelihood that AI replaces workers vs. assists them

Job Growth
Growing Quickly
+50% over 10 years

(BLS 2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate

How much this role relies on distinctly human capabilities

Sources: AIOE Dataset (Felten et al. 2021), BLS Projections 2024-2034, EPOCH FrameworkUpdated: 2026-01-02

💻Technology Skills

SCADA systemsDiagnostic softwareMicrosoft OfficeCMMS systemsClimbing/safety documentationData logging tools

Key Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
Oral Comprehension
Finger Dexterity
Near Vision
Deductive Reasoning
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Manual Dexterity
Written Comprehension
Oral Expression
Inductive Reasoning

🏷️Also Known As

Commissioning Tech (Commissioning Technician)Energy TechnicianField Service TechnicianOffshore Wind Turbine TechnicianRenewable Energy SpecialistRenewable Energy TechnicianService TechnicianSmall Wind Energy InstallerTroubleshooting TechnicianTurbine Technician+5 more

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in installation-repair

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2025-12-27O*NET Code: 49-9081.00

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