Wind Energy Project Managers

Employers

There are about 120,000 people employed in the wind energy industry, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Wind energy project managers work for large construction companies, energy companies, or land owners. They may work as employees or as independent contractors. Different areas of the United States are windier than others, which is why wind-related projects tend to be most concentrated in the Midwest, Southwest, and Northeast regions. The top five U.S. states by total installed wind capacity are Texas (30,904 MW), Iowa (10,799 MW), Oklahoma (8,173 MW), Kansas (6,512 MW), and California (5,871 MW). 

Starting Out

Many wind energy project managers get their first jobs in the field as a result of contacts made through internships or part-time positions. They also learn about job openings via trade associations, industry publications, career fairs, networking events, or the services of their colleges’ career services offices. They find job listings by searching Web sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and SimplyHired, to name only a few. Useful information about careers in the renewable-energy industry can also be found at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Jobs Web page, https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-jobs-and-planning.