Wind Energy Industry Workers

The Association of Energy Engineers conducted a survey of its members in 2019. Salaries ranged from $25,000 or less to $200,000 or more. Approximately 25.6 percent of respondents earned between $75,000 and $100,000, while 31.0 percent had salaries between $100,000 and $150,000.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reports that wind turbine service technicians earned median annual salaries of $52,910 in May 2019. Earnings ranged from less than $39,820 to $80,150 or more. 

The DOL does not provide salary information for other wind energy industry workers. It does provide salary ranges for engineers, other specialized technicians, and environmental scientists in all industries. In general, the median annual wage for architecture and engineering occupations in 2019 ($81,440) was much higher than for all occupations ($39,810).

The DOL reports that engineers earned the following mean annual earnings by specialty in May 2019:

• electrical engineers ($63,020)
• civil engineers ($87,060)
• industrial engineers ($88,020)
• mechanical engineers ($88,430)
• materials engineers ($93,360)

Among these five specialties, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,380, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $155,880.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians earned salaries that ranged from less than $39,190 to $96,690 or more in May 2019, with $65,260 as the median salary. Salaries for civil, environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering technicians ranged from about $32,610 to $88,640 or more.

Environmental scientists earned median annual salaries of $71,360 in May 2019. Ten percent of workers earned less than $42,810, and 10 percent earned $124,760 or more. Wildlife biologists earned salaries that ranged from less than $38,880 to $101,780 or more, with a median salary of $63,270.

Construction workers had the following salary ranges by specialty in May 2019: construction laborers and helpers, $24,420 to $64,100+; construction managers, $56,140 to $164,790+; crane operators, $32,250 to $91,840+; electricians, $33,410 to $96,580+; and welders, $29,470 to $64,240+.

Support workers in the wind energy industry earn a wide range of salaries—from starting salaries of $20,000 for receptionists, secretaries, and other office and clerical support workers, to $200,000 or more for experienced lawyers and top executives.

Benefits for full-time workers include vacation and sick time, health (and sometimes dental) insurance, and pension or 401(k) plans. Self-employed workers must provide their own benefits.