Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Wind Turbine Service Technicians (SOC 49-9081) earn a median $64,120 a year ($30.83 an hour) in the United States, with 9,980 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What wind turbine service technicians do
Wind turbine service technicians inspect, diagnose, adjust or repair wind turbines, and maintain wind turbine equipment, including fixing electrical, mechanical and hydraulic faults. They climb wind turbine towers to inspect, maintain or repair equipment. They troubleshoot or repair malfunctions related to variable pitch systems, variable speed control systems, converter systems and related components, and diagnose problems involving the turbine generators and control systems. Electrical components of wind systems are tested with voltage testers, multimeters, oscilloscopes, infrared testers or fiber optic equipment. Technicians start or restart turbine generator systems to ensure proper operation, and test structures, controls and mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems according to test plans or in coordination with engineers. Routine maintenance also covers underground transmission systems, wind field substations and fiber optic sensing and control systems, and the technicians maintain the tool and spare parts inventories needed for repair, installation or replacement. Titles include offshore wind turbine technician, small wind energy installer and renewable energy technician.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Commissioning Tech (Commissioning Technician), Energy Technician, Field Service Technician, Offshore Wind Turbine Technician, Renewable Energy Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.67 | $28.29 | $30.83 | $37.51 | $44.45 | $33.16 | 9,980 |
| Annual | $49,230 | $58,840 | $64,120 | $78,010 | $92,460 | $68,980 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where wind turbine service technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $27.54 | $35.33 | $39.10 | $45.45 | $46.72 | $39.05 | 390 | 0.04 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $57,280 | $73,490 | $81,330 | $94,530 | $97,190 | $81,230 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $20.63 | $29.76 | $37.62 | $38.55 | $45.42 | $35.48 | 330 | 0.23 | 3.63 |
| Annual | $42,920 | $61,900 | $78,240 | $80,190 | $94,470 | $73,800 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.84 | $31.24 | $37.46 | $48.50 | $54.94 | $41.40 | 400 | 0.02 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $59,980 | $64,980 | $77,910 | $100,880 | $114,270 | $86,120 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $27.15 | $30.30 | $36.87 | $37.85 | $39.55 | $35.19 | 140 | 0.04 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $56,470 | $63,030 | $76,680 | $78,720 | $82,250 | $73,190 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.20 | $29.90 | $36.48 | $38.14 | $41.26 | $35.53 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $60,730 | $62,180 | $75,880 | $79,330 | $85,810 | $73,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $23.48 | $27.80 | $29.79 | $35.07 | $37.64 | $30.92 | 3,890 | 0.28 | 4.30 |
| Annual | $48,830 | $57,810 | $61,950 | $72,950 | $78,280 | $64,310 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $27.71 | $28.29 | $36.00 | $38.53 | $48.28 | $35.13 | 900 | 0.58 | 8.97 |
| Annual | $57,630 | $58,840 | $74,880 | $80,140 | $100,410 | $73,070 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $28.37 | $29.02 | $31.25 | $38.52 | $45.14 | $34.70 | 450 | 0.15 | 2.37 |
| Annual | $59,010 | $60,360 | $65,000 | $80,120 | $93,890 | $72,170 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $27.58 | $30.20 | $35.94 | $37.53 | $47.91 | $34.77 | 410 | 0.14 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $57,370 | $62,810 | $74,740 | $78,050 | $99,650 | $72,310 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.84 | $31.24 | $37.46 | $48.50 | $54.94 | $41.40 | 400 | 0.02 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $59,980 | $64,980 | $77,910 | $100,880 | $114,270 | $86,120 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $28.75 | $31.91 | $37.48 | $40.42 | $64.98 | $40.99 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $59,800 | $66,380 | $77,950 | $84,080 | $135,150 | $85,260 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $30.20 | $33.10 | $35.94 | $38.71 | $48.03 | $35.67 | 160 | 0.10 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $62,810 | $68,840 | $74,740 | $80,520 | $99,890 | $74,200 | ||||
| Bismarck, ND | Hourly | $24.69 | $27.68 | $32.07 | $38.00 | $49.14 | $34.59 | 70 | 1.05 | 16.31 |
| Annual | $51,360 | $57,580 | $66,700 | $79,050 | $102,220 | $71,950 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $23.67 | $27.37 | $30.79 | $34.03 | $36.35 | $31.36 | 1,120 | 0.34 | 5.30 |
| Annual | $49,230 | $56,930 | $64,050 | $70,780 | $75,610 | $65,230 | ||||
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | Hourly | $22.28 | $22.28 | $30.12 | $36.12 | $36.73 | $29.16 | 100 | 0.55 | 8.51 |
| Annual | $46,350 | $46,350 | $62,650 | $75,130 | $76,400 | $60,650 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $23.67 | $27.37 | $30.79 | $34.03 | $36.35 | $31.36 | 1,120 | 0.34 | 5.30 |
| Annual | $49,230 | $56,930 | $64,050 | $70,780 | $75,610 | $65,230 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.13 | $23.48 | $27.83 | $31.40 | $37.53 | $28.86 | 400 | 0.10 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $46,030 | $48,830 | $57,890 | $65,300 | $78,070 | $60,030 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $30.20 | $33.10 | $35.94 | $38.71 | $48.03 | $35.67 | 160 | 0.10 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $62,810 | $68,840 | $74,740 | $80,520 | $99,890 | $74,200 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $23.82 | $24.61 | $29.77 | $30.84 | $38.08 | $29.86 | 130 | 0.10 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $49,540 | $51,190 | $61,930 | $64,150 | $79,210 | $62,100 | ||||
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | Hourly | $22.28 | $22.28 | $30.12 | $36.12 | $36.73 | $29.16 | 100 | 0.55 | 8.51 |
| Annual | $46,350 | $46,350 | $62,650 | $75,130 | $76,400 | $60,650 | ||||
Top industries employing wind turbine service technicians
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution employ 49.7% of wind turbine service technicians nationally (4,960 jobs) at a median $65,300 a year ($31.40 an hour), followed by Utility System Construction (17.5%) and Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (14.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution NAICS 221100 | 4,960 | 49.7% | $65,300 | $31.40 |
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 1,750 | 17.5% | $63,080 | $30.33 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 1,440 | 14.4% | $70,670 | $33.98 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing NAICS 333600 | 290 | 2.9% | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 120 | 1.2% | $66,030 | $31.75 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (9,980). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $56,260 for wind turbine service technicians in May 2021 and $64,120 in May 2025, with employment of 10,100 and 9,980.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $56,260 | $27.05 | 10,100 |
| May 2022 | $57,320 | $27.56 | 9,830 |
| May 2023 | $61,770 | $29.70 | 9,800 |
| May 2024 | $62,580 | $30.09 | 11,220 |
| May 2025 | $64,120 | $30.83 | 9,980 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
25 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $39.10 | $81,330 | $57,280 | $97,190 | 390 | 0.04 | 0.62 |
| 2 | Kansas profile | $37.62 | $78,240 | $42,920 | $94,470 | 330 | 0.23 | 3.63 |
| 3 | California profile | $37.46 | $77,910 | $59,980 | $114,270 | 400 | 0.02 | 0.34 |
| 4 | Indiana profile | $36.87 | $76,680 | $56,470 | $82,250 | 140 | 0.04 | 0.66 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $36.48 | $75,880 | $60,730 | $85,810 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.90 |
| 6 | Iowa profile | $36.00 | $74,880 | $57,630 | $100,410 | 900 | 0.58 | 8.97 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $35.94 | $74,740 | $57,370 | $99,650 | 410 | 0.14 | 2.24 |
| 8 | Ohio profile | $35.52 | $73,880 | $47,880 | $95,050 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
| 9 | South Dakota profile | $35.49 | $73,820 | $46,350 | $79,300 | 180 | 0.40 | 6.18 |
| 10 | North Dakota profile | $32.07 | $66,700 | $51,360 | $105,330 | 310 | 0.72 | 11.28 |
| 11 | North Carolina profile | $31.91 | $66,380 | $60,730 | $98,410 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.38 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $31.89 | $66,330 | $51,240 | $92,700 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| 13 | Missouri profile | $31.36 | $65,230 | $56,410 | $86,390 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $31.25 | $65,000 | $59,010 | $93,890 | 450 | 0.15 | 2.37 |
| 15 | Wyoming profile | $30.21 | $62,830 | $60,150 | $96,820 | 90 | 0.32 | 4.98 |
| 16 | Michigan profile | $30.19 | $62,800 | $51,260 | $92,460 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.24 |
| 17 | Montana profile | $29.98 | $62,360 | $61,160 | $93,430 | 40 | 0.08 | 1.31 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $29.79 | $61,950 | $48,830 | $78,280 | 3,890 | 0.28 | 4.30 |
| 19 | Oregon profile | $29.72 | $61,820 | $42,630 | $87,510 | 150 | 0.08 | 1.20 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.25 | $60,830 | $48,030 | $87,950 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| 21 | Idaho profile | $29.24 | $60,810 | $56,890 | $82,160 | 40 | 0.05 | 0.69 |
| 22 | Oklahoma profile | $28.51 | $59,290 | $45,270 | $74,080 | 340 | 0.20 | 3.10 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $28.47 | $59,220 | $53,290 | $78,980 | 50 | 0.08 | 1.27 |
| 24 | New Mexico profile | $27.51 | $57,230 | $48,760 | $79,400 | 330 | 0.38 | 5.94 |
| 25 | Mississippi profile | $24.06 | $50,040 | $47,130 | $62,590 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.46 |
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9081 Wind Turbine Service Technicians.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9081, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9081.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.