Wind Farm Jobs

With wind parks expanding all across North America, wind farm jobs are now in high demand. To meet this demand, the wind industry has attracted both new and experienced workers by significantly raising average starting salaries.  As a result, some have been asking, “What types of wind farm jobs can be found out in the field?” To answer this question, the following Hubpage will look at the top 3 wind farm jobs as determined by leading industry insiders. After identifying which jobs rank as “Best of the Best,” this hub will then provide a list of states that offer the most promising employment opportunities in the industry. Please continue reading below to learn more about the top 3 careers that are available out in the field today.

Today’s wind turbines have many needs. Not only do they need to be serviced on a regular basis, but they also must be ready to capture as much wind energy as possible. To meet these needs, it is a wind technician’s job to service wind turbines according to an ongoing maintenance schedule. Being a key field specialist, wind technicians are responsible for completing day to day tasks including; fluid changes, filter swaps, bolt torquing, and system troubleshooting. To complete these tasks, wind technicians typically work in groups of 2 or 3 in order to efficiently repair and maintain each wind turbine within their contracted service area.

Salary and Benefits

Those who are willing to complete the tasks outlined above, can expect great pay and benefits. Some of the latest industry reports state that the typical wind technician salary averages close to $75,000 per year and this is without counting additional employee benefits like; health insurance, specialty training, work trucks, and employer provided equipment. Since wind technicians work within the safety of the tower and the nacelle, they are also protected from the outside environment when performing regular duties. This being so, wind technicians are known to enjoy low rates of work related injuries, significantly extending the number of years that a wind tech can choose to work out in the field.

Job Requirements

As wind farms continue to expand all across the United Sates, the future outlook for wind technician jobs is excellent. To get a job as an entry level wind technician, the industry requires that new employees have a wind technician certificate in addition to safety training in First Aid, CPR, and AED. To earn these certifications, entry level wind techs must have been trained by one of the industry approved training programs that can be found by visiting the links provided below. Please click on a link below to find an affordable training provider that can prepare you to enter this fast growing occupation today.

After detailing the wind turbine technician above, we now come to the wind farm construction laborer. Known for enduring long hours of intensive physical labor, construction workers in the wind industry have relatively few entry level requirements apart from general safety certifications in CPR, First Aid, and the OSHA 10 Hour Construction Series. In addition to these, it can help to have a basic understanding of climber safety systems even though employers are required to train employees in the climbing system they option to use out in the field. Salaries for wind farm construction workers range widely with respect to employee workload and responsibilities, but industry averages normally total close to $35,000 per year.

Job Requirements

Construction laborers are involved in many different phases of a wind farm’s development including; site preparation, foundation setting, tower assembly, and cable installations. During these phases, there are often several separate work crews onsite that are responsible for completing key steps of the build. In order for the project to ultimately be a success, these crews must all work synergistically in order to erect the tower and bring the wind turbine online. As can be seen, these types of wind turbine jobs can be quite demanding, especially when subject to tight schedules and contract deadlines. In all, companies in the wind industry regularly advertise openings in construction to quickly fill both temporary and long term field positions. It truly takes all kinds of different people to realize the dream of taking to the sky.

Once construction crews have erected a wind turbine as illustrated above, it is then subject to extensive quality control checks to assure that manufacturer specifications have been met. This being so, it is primarily the job of a wind turbine commissioner to test new systems and subsystems before they are deemed to be field ready. This process, which is known as commissioning, can also be thought of as a final troubleshooting inspection that “permits” a wind turbine to go online for production. Of all the different wind energy jobs in the industry, wind turbine commissioners are by far exposed to the most travel, working their way from project to project as necessary.

Job Requirements

For those interested in becoming a wind turbine commissioner, typical requirements include; specific knowledge about a particular model of wind turbine, willingness work on the road for weeks at a time, and a background in engineering. Requirements like these can be hard to fill, but for those who have gained experience as a wind technician or site engineer, making the transition into this occupation is usually much easier. Further, it is sometimes possible for someone with significant mechanical experience to enter the field as a commissioner after having completed a wind technician training program. Salaries for this occupation vary according to the amount of time spent on the road, but averages usually range from the high $70,000’s to the mid $80,000’s.

According to the latest in wind energy research, wind industry companies are hiring at record rates. As reported, wind farm jobs in states like; California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Texas are all in top demand. In addition to the locations listed above, there are plenty of other states that are actively increasing their wind power workforce in order to support current wind farm developments. Now is the time to start a new career in this thriving and fast paced industry as we are only at the beginning of what many are calling the “New Green Economy.” Please scroll up to find a wind farm job that matches your ambitions for a rewarding and profitable future.

Arizona: Snow Flake in Navajo County - Dry Lake II

California: Kern County - Alta Wind Energy Center

California: Shasta County - Hatchet Ridge

Colorado: Elbert & Lincoln Counties - Cedar Poin

Colorado: Burlington - Kit Carson Project

Idaho: Bonneville County - Goshen Project North

Illinois: Bureau and Lee Counties - Big Sky Top Crop II

Indiana: White and Benton Counties - Meadow Lake

Kansas: Barber County - Flat Ridge

Michigan: Missaukee County - Stoney Corners II

Minnesota: Freeborn County - Bent Tree

Minnesota: Jackson and Martin Counties - Elm Creek II

Minnesota: Nobles

Montana: Toole County - Glacier

Nebraska: Boone County - Laredo Ridge

New Mexico: Cibola County – Red Mesa Wind

New York: Herkimer County - Hardscrabble

North Dakota: Ward County - Prairie Winds

Oklahoma: Dewey County - Taloga

Oregon: Sherman County - Biglow Canyon

Oregon: Gilliam County - Leaning Juniper II

South Dakota: Brookings County - Buffalo Ridge II

Texas: Kenedy County - Penescal II

Texas: San Patricio County - Papalote Creek II

Texas: Webb County - Cedro Hill

Washington: Garfield County - Lower Snake River

Washington: Kittitas County - Kittitas Valley

Wyoming: Converse County - Top of the World Wind Farm

Utah: Beaver County - Milford Wind Corridor