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Wind turbine technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,120median pay per year, or $30.83 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,230lowest 10% earn less
  2. $58,84025th percentile
  3. $64,120median
  4. $78,01075th percentile
  5. $92,460top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for wind turbine service technicians was $64,120 a year[1]. Employment is projected to grow 29.5% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+29.5%[2]
Openings per year
1,500[5]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[6]

How much do wind turbine technicians make?

The median wage for wind turbine service technicians was $64,120 a year, or $30.83 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $68,980 a year, or $33.16 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,230 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $92,460[3]. The middle half fell between $58,840 and $78,010[3]. Hourly, the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles were $23.67, $28.29, $37.51 and $44.45[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes no starting salary[9].

These wages cover part-time and full-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 9,980 people held these jobs in May 2025[11]. In 2025, 14.7% of wind turbine service technicians were self-employed[12].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest median annual wage at $81,330, followed by Kansas at $78,240 and California at $77,910[13]. Mississippi was last among the 25 states with published data, at $50,040[13].

Among metro areas, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO led at $74,740, then Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX at $64,050 and Sioux Falls, SD-MN at $62,650[14].

Texas had the most jobs by far, at 3,890[15]. Iowa had 900, Minnesota 450, Colorado 410 and California 400[15]. The Houston metro area had 1,120 jobs, the most of any metro area[16].

Show median pay in 25 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$81,330390
Kansas$78,240330
California$77,910400
Indiana$76,680140
Washington$75,880210
Iowa$74,880900
Colorado$74,740410
Ohio$73,880120
South Dakota$73,820180
North Dakota$66,700310
North Carolina$66,380120
Arizona$66,33080
Missouri$65,23080
Minnesota$65,000450
Wyoming$62,83090
Michigan$62,80070
Montana$62,36040
Texas$61,9503,890
Oregon$61,820150
Pennsylvania$60,83050
Idaho$60,81040
Oklahoma$59,290340
Maine$59,22050
New Mexico$57,230330
Mississippi$50,04030

How to become a wind turbine technician

School coursework covers maintenance of electrical, hydraulic, braking, mechanical and programmable logic control systems, plus tower climbing, rescue, safety, first aid and CPR[20]. Some schools have wind turbines on site for students to service[20].

Professional certification is not mandatory, but it lets workers show their knowledge. Subjects include electrical safety, tower climbing and self-rescue, and employers often point workers to the ones they need[21].

In an O*NET survey of 36 workers, 34% said a post-secondary certificate is required, 29% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 22% said some college courses and 15% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree[22].

What wind turbine technicians do

Wind turbine technicians inspect, diagnose, adjust and repair wind turbines[23]. Typical tasks include:

O*NET sample titles include wind technician, renewable energy technician and service technician[25]. Useful skills include mechanical skills, problem solving, attention to detail, comfort at heights, stamina and strength[26][27][28][29][30][31].

Where they work

About 42% of wind turbine technicians worked in wind electric power generation in 2025[32]. They generally work outside at wind farms in the countryside or offshore, and the temperatures can be extreme[33]. Reaching the nacelle means climbing ladders on towers over 200 feet tall, wearing a fall-protection harness[33]. Blade repairs involve rappelling down a rope[33]. Work on mechanical systems happens in the tight space of the nacelle[34]. Sometimes they team up with another windtech or a specialist such as an electrician[35].

Full-time work is typical, and technicians may be on call in the evening or on weekends[36]. Travel to rural or offshore wind farms is possible, and offshore work may mean several days or weeks away from home[37].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to grow 29.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 11,800 to 15,300 jobs[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[38]. That is a much faster pace than average, compared with 3.5% for all occupations.

BLS projects about 1,500 openings a year[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who change occupations or leave work, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[39].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who are comfortable with heights and confined spaces and who are willing to complete postsecondary training and then learn on the job[6][26][33][34]. Median pay is above the all-occupations median, and projected growth is well above average[1][4][2][38]. The work is outdoors and physical, and it may involve travel[29][30][33][37].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a wind turbine technician make an hour?
The median wage was $30.83 an hour in May 2025[1]. The mean was $33.16 an hour[7].
What education do you need to be a wind turbine technician?
A postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry education, often from a technical school or community college[6][17][18].
Is wind turbine technician a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 29.5% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][38].
What is the highest paying state for wind turbine technicians?
New York had the highest median annual wage at $81,330[13].
Do wind turbine technicians need certification?
Professional certification is not mandatory[21].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Wind Turbine Service Technicians in the US was $64,120 per year and $30.83 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Wind Turbine Service Technicians is projected to grow 29.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 11,800 to 15,300 jobs (a change of +3,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Wind Turbine Service Technicians: 10th percentile $49,230, 25th percentile $58,840, 75th percentile $78,010, 90th percentile $92,460. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,500 openings for Wind Turbine Service Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Wind Turbine Service Technicians: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Wind Turbine Service Technicians was $68,980 per year and $33.16 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Wind Turbine Service Technicians: 10th percentile $23.67, 25th percentile $28.29, 75th percentile $37.51, 90th percentile $44.45. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 9,980 people were employed as Wind Turbine Service Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 14.7% of Wind Turbine Service Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Wind Turbine Service Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Wind Turbine Service Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $74,740; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $64,050; Sioux Falls, SD-MN $62,650; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $61,930; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $57,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Wind Turbine Service Technicians jobs: Texas 3,890; Iowa 900; Minnesota 450; Colorado 410; California 400. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Wind Turbine Service Technicians jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,120 (median $64,050); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 400 (median $57,890); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 160 (median $74,740); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 130 (median $61,930); Sioux Falls, SD-MN 100 (median $62,650); Bismarck, ND 70 (median $66,700). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 49-9081.00 survey of workers (36 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 34%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 29%, Some College Courses 22%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Wind Turbine Service Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Wind Turbine Service Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 49-9081.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Field Service Technician, Renewable Energy Technician, Service Technician, Troubleshooting Technician, Wind Farm Support Specialist, Wind Technician, Wind Turbine Operator, Wind Turbine Service Technician. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of wind turbine technicians in 2025: Wind electric power generation 42%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  39. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Wind Turbine Service Technicians: 3.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  40. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.