The outlook for career opportunities as a wind turbine service technician continues to be bright, according to statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of wind turbine service technicians is projected to grow 96 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. Because wind electricity generation is expected to grow rapidly over the next several decades, additional technicians will be needed to install and maintain new turbines. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, total wind energy capacity is projected to be 113.45 Gigawatts (GW) across 36 states, up from 52.31 GW in 2013. By 2050. total wind energy capacity is expected to grow to 494.25 GW across 48 states.
Texas leads the nation in wind power with more than 21,450 megawatts; since 2014. Wind power in Texas generated more electricity than both of the state’s nuclear power plants. (Source: https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX)
Quick Facts: Wind Turbine Technicians
| 2017 Median Pay | $53,880 per year; $25.91 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Post-secondary non-degree award |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | None |
| On-the-job Training | Long-term on-the-job training |
| Number of Jobs, 2016 | 5,800 |
| Job Outlook, 2016-26 | 96% (Much faster than average) |
Source: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm
Follow this link to information from the U.S. Department of Energy to see the projected growth of the wind industry through 2050.
https://www.energy.gov/maps/map-projected-growth-wind-industry-now-until-2050
Wind Power Technician Training
Offered over seven months, the Wind Power Technician Program at MIAT College of Technology campuses in Houston and in the Detroit metro area provides hands-on training, practical experience, and industry support. MIAT introduced this program at our Canton campus in 2008 and in Houston in 2010. We have been experiencing steady growth in student enrollment in this program over the past two years, with approximately 10 percent of our students in Houston and in Canton enrolled in the Wind Energy Technician Program this year. Typical class sizes range from 15 to 30 students, depending on the time of year when students enroll. Many or our students who complete our seven-month certificate program choose to continue with us for another eight months to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Energy Technology by studying online and on campus.
David Moriconi, Lead Instructor for the Wind Energy Technician Program in Houston, and other MIAT instructors at both campuses with years of experience working directly in the wind industry lead interactive classes and practical skills training. Wind energy businesses are engaged in the development of our curriculum, provide guest speakers for our students, donate equipment for instructional purposes, and employ our graduates — many of whom are U.S. veterans.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of our Wind Power Technician Program are equipped for an entry-level career in the wind energy industry. MIAT alumni find jobs in the Texas panhandle and in the Great Plains States, as well as in other popular wind energy states such as California and Colorado, in service, manufacturing, construction, commissioning and sales. Our graduates can expect to secure a position with any of these and many other potential job titles:
- Wind Service Technician
- Wind Turbine Construction Technician
- Composites Technician
- Control Room Operator
- Generator/Winder
- Wind Turbine Sales Representative
Come Visit Us
Jennifer Paugh, MIAT College of Technology Canton President, and I welcome campus tours for anyone interested in our Wind Power Technician Program. Our staff members are available by phone, via email, or in person to address inquiries from employers, veterans, high school counselors, parents and prospective students about our curriculum, tuition, financial aid, housing assistance, and career services.
To learn more about MIAT’s Wind Power Technician Program, please visit
https://miat.edu/programs/energy/wind-power-technician-program/
Thank you now and always for your support of MIAT College of Technology, our students, graduates, faculty, and staff. On behalf of all members of the MIAT College of Technology board of directors, I wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday celebration. Our campuses will be closed Thursday, November 22, and Friday, November 23. Classes will resume as normal on Monday, November 26.