Wind Turbine Technician Salary 2026

Wind turbine technicians (windtechs) earn $61,770 per year on average ($29.70/hr) per BLS OES May 2024 (occupation 49-9081, Wind Turbine Service Technicians). This is a distinct BLS occupation from inside electricians (47-2111). Top 10% earners exceed $88,000. Offshore wind technicians on Vineyard Wind, South Fork Wind, and Revolution Wind earn $85,000-$120,000 with offshore premium and rotational schedules.

BLS projects wind turbine service technician employment will grow 60% from 2023-2033, making it one of the two fastest-growing occupations in the United States (alongside solar photovoltaic installers). Drivers include continued utility-scale onshore wind expansion in the Plains states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, North Dakota) and the rapid build-out of offshore wind on the US East Coast (Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind).

Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, California, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, and New Mexico have the highest employment of wind turbine technicians (BLS OES May 2024). Texas leads with over 4,500 windtechs employed, predominantly in the Panhandle and West Texas wind corridor. Offshore wind employment is concentrated in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Virginia, with rapid growth expected through 2030.

Windtech is a separate BLS occupation (49-9081) and is not regulated under state electrician licensing in most jurisdictions. Most windtech employers (Vestas, GE Renewable Energy, Siemens Gamesa, Orsted, Avangrid) require: high school diploma, completion of an OSHA-approved wind technical program (Texas State Technical College, Mesalands Community College NM, Iowa Lakes Community College, others), Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Basic Safety Training certification, ability to climb 80-100 metre towers, and willingness to work outdoors in extreme weather.

Offshore wind technicians typically earn $85,000-$120,000 per year, well above the onshore median of $61,770. Offshore work requires GWO Basic Safety Training plus Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) and crew transfer vessel competence. Schedules typically run 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off rotational with full per-diem during offshore deployment. The Vineyard Wind, South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind projects have driven significant US offshore wind technician hiring through 2025-2026.