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 AnalysisMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisSpeakingOperation and ControlJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningActive LearningTime ManagementLearning StrategiesInstructingEquipment SelectionCoordinationWritingSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Personnel ResourcesService OrientationManagement of Material ResourcesNegotiationMathematicsSciencePersuasionInstallationTechnology DesignProgrammingOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial Resources
Knowledge areas
MechanicalComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityEngineering and TechnologyEducation and TrainingAdministration and ManagementMathematicsBuilding and ConstructionPhysicsAdministrativeCustomer and Personal ServiceTelecommunicationsTransportationProduction and ProcessingDesignPersonnel and Human ResourcesEconomics and AccountingLaw and GovernmentGeographyMedicine and DentistryPsychologyChemistryCommunications and MediaSales and MarketingForeign LanguageTherapy and CounselingHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionBiologySociology and AnthropologyPhilosophy and TheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Computerized diagnostic softwareComputerized maintenance management system CMMSIBM Maximo Asset ManagementIndustrial control systems softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordProgrammable logic controller PLC softwareSAP softwareStructured query language SQLSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareVestas Wind Systems A/S Vestas Remote PanelWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsTraining and Teaching OthersProcessing InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDocumenting/Recording InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeWorking with ComputersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsAnalyzing Data or InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleAssisting and Caring for OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesThinking CreativelyResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing Others
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
31 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Commissioning Tech (Commissioning Technician)Energy TechnicianField Service TechnicianOffshore Wind Turbine TechnicianOnsite Technician (Onsite Tech)Renewable Energy SpecialistRenewable Energy TechnicianService TechnicianSmall Wind Energy InstallerTroubleshooterTroubleshooting TechnicianTurbine TechnicianWind Commissioning TechnicianWind Energy MechanicWind Energy Systems InstallerWind Energy TechnicianWind Farm Support SpecialistWind Generating Electric Power InstallerWind Plant TechnicianWind Power TechnicianWind TechnicianWind Turbine Blade Composite Technician (Wind Turbine Blade Composite Tech)Wind Turbine Blade Repair TechnicianWind Turbine InstallerWind Turbine MechanicWind Turbine OperatorWind Turbine Service TechnicianWind Turbine TechnicianWind Turbine Troubleshooting TechnicianWindmill TechnicianWindsmith