Occupation Summary

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

O*NET 49-9081.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$54,785.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 101.93%.
Education Level:
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Inspect or repair fiberglass turbine blades.
  2. Troubleshoot or repair mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical malfunctions related to variable pitch systems, variable speed control systems, converter systems, or related components.
  3. Climb wind turbine towers to inspect, maintain, or repair equipment.
  4. Diagnose problems involving wind turbine generators or control systems.
  5. Perform routine maintenance on wind turbine equipment, underground transmission systems, wind fields substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems.
  6. Start or restart wind turbine generator systems to ensure proper operations.
  7. Test electrical components of wind systems with devices, such as voltage testers, multimeters, oscilloscopes, infrared testers, or fiber optic equipment.
  8. Test structures, controls, or mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical systems, according to test plans or in coordination with engineers.
  9. Assist in assembly of individual wind generators or construction of wind farms.
  10. Collect turbine data for testing or research and analysis.
  11. Maintain tool and spare parts inventories required for repair, installation, or replacement services.
  12. Operate manufacturing equipment to fabricate wind turbines.
  13. Train end-users, distributors, installers, or other technicians in wind commissioning, testing, or other technical procedures.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Wind Turbine Service Technicians employed Annual Growth Rate
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 31.8 4.45
Commercial machinery repair and maintenance 23.7 9.32
Utility system construction 16.7 7.18


Labor Market Information


2022 Statewide average hourly wage $26.34
2022 National average hourly wage $28.79
2020 National employment 6,900
2020 Texas employment 1,552
Texas projected employment by 2030 3,134
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 397




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
90.80%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
83.00%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
79.40%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
74.60%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
73.80%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
66.80%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
66.40%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
65.00%
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
65.00%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
61.80%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
80.00%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
80.00%
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
80.00%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
70.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
65.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
65.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
65.00%
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
65.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
75.00%
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
75.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
72.40%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
72.40%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
72.40%
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
65.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65.00%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
65.00%


  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    -- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
    -- Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Acoustic ear muffs or defenders: Protective ear muffs;

Adjustable widemouth pliers: Adjustable widemouth pliers;

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrenches;

Ammeters: Amp clamp meters;

Anemometers: Recording anemometers;

Applicator brushes: Oil brushes;

Battery testers: High-rate load testers;

Bench vises: Workshop bench vises;

Calibrated resistance measuring equipment: Ground resistance testers;

Calipers: Digital calipers;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Digital cameras: Digital still cameras;

Dynamometers: Digital dynamometers;

Electronic measuring probes: Inductive probes;

Facial shields: Protective face shields;

Fall protection lanyard: Safety lanyards;

Fire escape equipment: Safety line evacuation kits;

Fire retardant apparel: Flame retardant coveralls;

Flatbed trailers: Utility trailers;

Forklift or elevator accessories or supplies: Crane attachments;

Forklifts: Field forklifts;

Gas generators: Portable gas-powered generators;

Global positioning system GPS receiver: Handheld global positioning system GPS units;

Hacksaw: Hacksaws;

Hard hats: Hard hats;

High voltage cable detection: Hotsticks;

Hydrometers: Digital hydrometers;

Infrared imagers: Infrared thermography cameras;

Lasers: Fiber optic visual fault locators;

Levels: Optical levels;

Light trucks or sport utility vehicles: Utility trucks;

Longnose pliers: Long nose pliers;

Lubricating oil testing kit: Lubricant oil sampling kits;

Measuring wheels for distance: Distance measuring wheels;

Megohmmeters: Megohmmeters;

Microcontrollers: Programmable logic controllers PLC;

Micrometers: Digital micrometers;

Multimeters: Digital multimeters;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Ohmmeters: Volt-ohm meters VOM;

Open end wrenches: Crescent wrenches;

Oscilloscopes: Digital oscilloscopes;

Paint brushes: Acid brushes;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Phasemeters: Phase rotation meters;

Pocket calculator: Handheld calculators;

Power drills: Cordless drills;

Power meters: Alternating current AC power analyzers;

Precision file: Precision files;

Protective gloves: Insulated gloves;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Hand punches;

Ratchets: Ratchet sets;

Safety glasses: Safety glasses;

Safety harnesses or belts: Fall arrest systems;

Screwdrivers: Straight screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers;

Shackle: Shackles;

Signal generators: Function generators;

Sledge hammer: Sledgehammers;

Slings: Rigging equipment;

Specialty wrenches: Breaker bars;

Stripping tools: Wire strippers;

Tape measures: Measuring tapes;

Theodolites: Survey transits;

Threading taps: Tap sets;

Torque tools: Hydraulic torque machines;

Torque wrenches: Manual torque wrenches; Torque multipliers;

Tower cranes: Tower cranes;

Two way radios: Mobile radios;

Vibration testers: Vibration analysis equipment;

Voltage or current meters: Voltage testers; Volt meters;

Wattmeters: Conventional watt meters; Electronic watt meters;

Welding or soldering kit: Soldering tools;

Winches: Electric winches;

Wire cutters: Insulated wire cutters;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Computerized diagnostic software;

Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: IBM Maximo Asset Management; SAP software;

Facilities management software: Computerized maintenance management system CMMS;

Industrial control software: Industrial control systems software; Programmable logic controller PLC software; Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software; Vestas Wind Systems A/S Vestas Remote Panel;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Project management software: Microsoft Project;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Wind Turbine Service Technicians include:
  • 51-8013.03 Biomass Plant Technicians
  • 49-2095.00 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
  • 49-9099.01 Geothermal Technicians
  • 51-8013.04 Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
  • 51-8012.00 Power Distributors and Dispatchers
  • 51-8013.00 Power Plant Operators
  • 47-2231.00 Solar Photovoltaic Installers
  • 47-2152.04 Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
  • 51-8021.00 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
  • 11-9199.09 Wind Energy Operations Managers


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about educational opportunities and career paths, visit: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
  • Wind Turbine Service Technicians

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.