Occupation · SOC 49-9081
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
$62,580
$49,110–$88,090
Projected growth
+50.7%
Faster than average
Annual openings
680
per year
Employed (US)
11,220
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
376 mapped
Core skills
TroubleshootingRepairingOperations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionQuality Control AnalysisMonitoring
Knowledge areas
MechanicalComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityEngineering and Technology
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific softwareFacilities management softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareIndustrial control softwareData base user interface and query software
Representative tasks
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.Collect turbine data for testing or research and analysis.Train end-users, distributors, installers, or other technicians in wind commissioning, testing, or other technical procedures.Inspect or repair fiberglass turbine blades.Assist in assembly of individual wind generators or construction of wind farms.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Wind turbine safety protocols — recognize and apply under direct supervisor guidance during initial tower climb assessments at an active wind farm.Basic hand tools and personal protective equipment — select and use correctly under technician supervision during routine maintenance tasks on turbine nacelles.Voltage testers and multimeters — identify correct usage and perform basic electrical measurements under close oversight on ground-level wind turbine components.Routine maintenance checklists — follow step-by-step procedures to inspect mechanical and hydraulic systems under direct technician guidance at a wind field site.Wind turbine tower climbing protocols — execute personal fall-arrest equipment checks and ascent procedures under supervision at a commercial wind facility.Spare parts and tool inventories — assist in counting, labeling, and organizing components in a site maintenance warehouse under lead technician direction.Technical service manuals and wiring diagrams — read and interpret basic diagrams to identify component locations under supervisor direction on assigned turbine units.Wind turbine startup sequences — observe and assist in executing restart procedures following maintenance under direct technician supervision at a utility-scale wind site.Maintenance records and work orders — document completed inspection tasks using enterprise resource planning software under guidance from an experienced technician.Basic mechanical components — identify gearbox, rotor blades, and pitch system parts by name and function during introductory hands-on training at a wind energy facility.
developing
Variable pitch and variable speed control systems — troubleshoot common faults using diagnostic checklists and industrial control software with reduced oversight at a wind farm.Electrical test equipment including oscilloscopes and infrared testers — apply independently to diagnose wiring and component faults in converter systems during scheduled maintenance cycles.Routine preventive maintenance tasks — perform oil changes, filter replacements, and bolt torque checks on wind turbine drivetrains according to manufacturer intervals at assigned sites.Underground transmission system components — inspect, test, and document condition findings using facilities management software during periodic field maintenance rounds.Wind turbine generator control systems — diagnose recurring operational faults and apply corrective actions using site-specific service bulletins with minimal supervisor involvement.Tower climb inspections — conduct solo ascents to visually assess blade, hub, and nacelle conditions and log findings in a database interface at an operational wind facility.Hydraulic system malfunctions — identify root causes and execute standard repair procedures on pitch actuators and braking systems during scheduled downtime at a utility wind site.Fiber optic sensing and control systems — perform routine functional tests and connection checks using specialized fiber optic equipment during substations maintenance visits.Spare parts inventory accuracy — maintain real-time stock levels in ERP software and generate replenishment requests to sustain uninterrupted repair readiness at a multi-turbine site.Safety and quality control checks — apply post-maintenance verification steps to confirm system integrity before turbine restart in accordance with site test plans.
proficient
Complex mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical malfunctions — diagnose and repair autonomously across variable pitch, converter, and speed control systems under operational conditions at a utility-scale wind farm.Non-routine generator and control system faults — apply systems analysis and deductive reasoning to isolate root causes and implement lasting corrective actions without engineering escalation.Full-scope electrical diagnostics — deploy voltage testers, multimeters, oscilloscopes, and infrared testers in coordinated test sequences to validate turbine system health against engineering test plans.Wind field substation equipment — independently inspect, test, and restore electrical and mechanical substation components to specification during planned and emergency maintenance windows.Turbine restart and commissioning — lead startup sequences after major repairs, verify control system responses, and confirm operational parameters meet performance thresholds at live wind sites.Technical documentation and reporting — produce detailed maintenance reports, failure analyses, and trend data using spreadsheet and database tools to inform site reliability decisions.Predictive maintenance indicators — interpret vibration data, thermal imaging outputs, and SCADA monitoring alerts to schedule proactive interventions before failures occur on assigned turbine fleets.Cross-system troubleshooting — integrate knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and software domains to resolve multi-system faults affecting turbine availability within contractual uptime commitments.Safety and regulatory compliance — enforce site-specific lockout/tagout procedures and public safety standards independently during all maintenance and repair activities at commercial wind facilities.Mentorship of junior technicians — guide emerging and developing technicians through diagnostic procedures and tower climb protocols during live work assignments at a wind energy site.
advanced
Site-wide maintenance strategy — design and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs across entire wind turbine fleets using ERP and facilities management platforms to optimize asset availability.Technical standards and best practices — develop and update site maintenance procedures, work instructions, and test plans in coordination with engineers to reflect evolving turbine technology.Organizational training programs — build and lead structured apprenticeship and on-the-job training curricula that advance technician competency from emerging to proficient levels across a regional service territory.Complex failure investigations — lead multi-disciplinary root cause analyses of systemic turbine failures and present findings and corrective action plans to engineering and operations leadership.Contractor and vendor management — evaluate and oversee third-party service providers performing specialized repairs or upgrades to wind turbine systems against contractual performance and safety standards.Capital planning and parts lifecycle management — advise operations management on spare parts stocking strategies, component replacement schedules, and procurement priorities to minimize turbine downtime costs.Cross-functional project coordination — direct multi-technician teams during major overhauls or turbine upgrades, managing scope, schedule, and safety compliance using project management software.Regulatory and environmental compliance leadership — ensure all field maintenance activities satisfy applicable safety, environmental, and utility interconnection regulations across a multi-site wind energy portfolio.Performance benchmarking and continuous improvement — analyze fleet-level SCADA and maintenance data to identify systemic efficiency gaps and lead initiatives that raise turbine availability and reduce mean time to repair.Knowledge transfer and industry engagement — represent the organization in technical working groups or industry forums, contributing field expertise to advance wind turbine maintenance standards and technician career pathways.
Also known as
36 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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