Wind Energy Engineers

The wind industry is among the fastest growing sectors of the renewable-energy industry. Its growth is due primarily to lower production costs. Improvements and developments in wind energy technology and equipment have reduced wind-generated electricity costs by about 80 percent in the past 20 years, nearly matching the cost of electricity generated by conventional sources such as coal or nuclear power.

According to the American Wind Energy Association, a record 6,309 MW of additional wind capacity came online during the first nine months of 2020, pushing the nation's total number of wind turbines beyond 60,000. As the new decade began, wind turbines could be found in 41 states, and in Puerto Rico and Guam. "U.S. wind power has more than tripled over the past decade, and today is the largest source of renewable electricity in the country," the AWEA explains.

The Department of Labor does not provide data for wind energy engineers. It does, however, have data for wind turbine service technicians, and much faster than average employment growth is expected for these professionals through 2029. Employment in this profession is projected to skyrocket by 61 percent. Wind energy engineers work closely with technicians and related professionals, so this growth is an indicator of what might be expected for engineers also within the next decade.

Job opportunities will be best where wind farms are located and in areas with good potential for wind farms and wind energy technologies, such as in the Great Plains, the Midwest, along coastal areas, and in overseas locations. Wind energy engineers with licensure, five or more years of experience, and strong technology skills will have the best job prospects.