Summary Report for:
49-9081.00 - Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.
The occupation code you requested, 49-9099.02 (Wind Turbine Service Technicians), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 49-9081.00 (Wind Turbine Service Technicians) instead.
Sample of reported job titles: Field Service Technician; Lead Technician; Maintenance Technician; Operations, Maintenance and Service Wind Turbine Technician (OMS Wind Turbine Technician); Senior Wind Turbine Technician; Technician; Wind Farm Support Specialist; Wind Technician; Wind Turbine Service Technician; Wind Turbine Technician
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
- Diagnose problems involving wind turbine generators or control systems.
- Climb wind turbine towers to inspect, maintain, or repair equipment.
- 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.
- Troubleshoot or repair mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical malfunctions related to variable pitch systems, variable speed control systems, converter systems, or related components.
- Maintain tool and spare parts inventories required for repair, installation, or replacement services.
- Perform routine maintenance on wind turbine equipment, underground transmission systems, wind fields substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems.
- 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.
- Inspect or repair fiberglass turbine blades.
- Train end-users, distributors, installers, or other technicians in wind commissioning, testing, or other technical procedures.
- Operate manufacturing equipment to fabricate wind turbines.
- Assist in assembly of individual wind generators or construction of wind farms.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Ammeters — Amp clamp meters
- Anemometers — Recording anemometers
- Applicator brushes — Oil brushes
- Battery testers — High-rate load testers
- Bench vises — Workshop bench vises
- Calibrated resistance measuring equipment — Ground resistance testers
- Calipers — Digital calipers
- Claw hammer — Claw hammers
- Digital cameras — Digital still cameras
- Dynamometers — Digital dynamometers
- Ear muffs — Protective ear muffs
- Electronic measuring probes — Inductive probes
- Facial shields — Protective face shields
- Fall protection lanyard — Safety lanyards
- Fire escape equipment — Safety line evacuation kits
- Fire retardant apparel — Flame retardant coveralls
- Flatbed trailers — Utility trailers
- Forklift or elevator accessories or supplies — Crane attachments
- Forklifts — Field forklifts
- Gas generators — Portable gas-powered generators
- Global positioning system GPS receiver — Handheld global positioning system GPS units
- Hacksaw — Hacksaws
- Hard hats
- High voltage cable detection — Hotsticks
- Hydrometers — Digital hydrometers
- Infrared imagers — Infrared thermography cameras
- Lasers — Fiber optic visual fault locators
- Levels — Optical levels
- Light trucks or sport utility vehicles — Utility trucks
- Longnose pliers — Long nose pliers
- Lubricating oil testing kit — Lubricant oil sampling kits
- Measuring wheels for distance — Distance measuring wheels
- Microcontrollers — Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Micrometers — Digital micrometers
- Multimeters — Digital multimeters
- Notebook computers — Laptop computers
- Ohmmeters — Volt-ohm meters VOM
- Open end wrenches — Crescent wrenches
- Oscilloscopes — Digital oscilloscopes
- Paint brushes — Acid brushes
- Personal computers
- Phasemeters — Phase rotation meters
- Pocket calculator — Handheld calculators
- Power drills — Cordless drills
- Power meters — Alternating current AC power analyzers
- Precision file — Precision files
- Protective gloves — Insulated gloves
- Punches or nail sets or drifts — Hand punches
- Ratchets — Ratchet sets
- Safety glasses
- Safety harnesses or belts — Fall arrest systems
- Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers
- Shackle — Shackles
- Signal generators — Function generators
- Sledge hammer — Sledgehammers
- Slings — Rigging equipment
- Specialty wrenches — Breaker bars
- Stripping tools — Wire strippers
- Tape measures — Measuring tapes
- Theodolites — Survey transits
- Threading taps — Tap sets
- Torque tools — Hydraulic torque machines
- Torque wrenches — Manual torque wrenches; Torque multipliers
- Tower cranes
- Two way radios — Mobile radios
- Vibration testers — Vibration analysis equipment
- Voltage or current meters — Volt meters; Voltage testers
- Wattmeters — Conventional watt meters; Electronic watt meters
- Welding or soldering kit — Soldering tools
- Winches — Electric winches
- Wire cutters — Insulated wire cutters
Technology used in this occupation:
- Analytical or scientific software — Computerized diagnostic software
- Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
- Facilities management software — Computerized maintenance management system CMMS software
- Industrial control software — Industrial control systems software; Programmable logic controller PLC software; Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software; Vestas Wind Systems A/S Vestas Remote Panel
- Internet browser software — Web browser software
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office software
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Project management software — Microsoft Project
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
- Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Physics — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Building and Construction — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Repairing — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Equipment Maintenance — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Gross Body Equilibrium — The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
- Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Depth Perception — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
- Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
- Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
- Visual Color Discrimination — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
Detailed Work Activities
- Maintain work equipment or machinery.
- Fabricate parts or components.
- Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
- Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.
- Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Repair green energy equipment or systems.
- Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
- Climb equipment or structures to access work areas.
- Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
- Measure equipment outputs.
- Train customers in the use of products.
- Train others in operational procedures.
- Assemble structural components.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 96% responded “Every day.”
- Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection — 74% responded “Every day.”
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 87% responded “Every day.”
- Exposed to High Places — 68% responded “Every day.”
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 80% responded “Every day.”
- Contact With Others — 60% responded “Constant contact with others.”
- Work With Work Group or Team — 56% responded “Extremely important.”
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions — 62% responded “Every day.”
- Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 60% responded “Every day.”
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 51% responded “Very high responsibility.”
- Electronic Mail — 60% responded “Every day.”
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 52% responded “Every day.”
- Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions — 51% responded “Every day.”
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 41% responded “Some freedom.”
- Physical Proximity — 47% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 59% responded “More than 40 hours.”
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 54% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 39% responded “Important results.”
- Telephone — 47% responded “Every day.”
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 46% responded “Very important.”
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — 50% responded “Every day.”
- Frequency of Decision Making — 48% responded “Every day.”
- Outdoors, Under Cover — 41% responded “Every day.”
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 38% responded “Every day.”
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 47% responded “Very important.”
- Exposed to Contaminants — 34% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
- Consequence of Error — 53% responded “Extremely serious.”
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 37% responded “Limited freedom.”
- Spend Time Standing — 65% responded “More than half the time.”
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 31% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 30% responded “Very high responsibility.”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 31% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
- Time Pressure — 40% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 44% responded “Very important.”
- Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles — 31% responded “About half the time.”
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting — 36% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings — 28% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
- Letters and Memos — 32% responded “Once a year or more but not every month.”
- Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 36% responded “More than half the time.”
|Title||Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed|
|Education||Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.|
|Related Experience||Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.|
|Job Training||Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.|
|Job Zone Examples||These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include food service managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, occupational therapy assistants, and medical assistants.|
|SVP Range||(6.0 to < 7.0)|
Percentage of Respondents
|Education Level Required|
|38||High school diploma or equivalent|
This occupation may require a background in the following science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational disciplines:
Interest code: RC
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
- Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Wages & Employment Trends
|Median wages (2015)||$24.55 hourly, $51,050 annual|
|Employment (2014)||4,000 employees|
|Projected growth (2014-2024)||Much faster than average (14% or higher)|
|Projected job openings (2014-2024)||5,500|
|Top industries (2014)|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data and 2014-2024 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Job Openings on the Web
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Wind turbine technicians . Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition.