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Wind Energy Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

Engineer infront of windmill
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$117,750
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.10%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
162,100

What Do They Do?

A wind energy engineer could...

 
Wind farm in the ocean
Be part of a team that installs a wind energy farm in the ocean.
Wind map
Analyze annual wind speed and direction data to determine the best location for a wind farm.
Wind tunnel
Test a new wind-turbine blade design in an air tunnel.
Electrical component
Work with vendors to design and fabricate custom electrical components.
 
Wind farm in the ocean Wind map Wind tunnel Electrical component

Overview Listen to this section

Every day the Earth provides us with many sources of renewable energy to power our lifestyles. Wind energy is an example of a renewable energy because wind is a naturally replenished source. But how can energy be extracted efficiently from the wind? Sounds like a job for a wind energy engineer! The wind energy engineer works on modeling, designing, and building wind turbines and wind farms. These engineers are passionate about wind, renewable energy, and the environment, and they enjoy applying their math and science skills.
Watch this video of Auburn Cooperman, an aeronautical researcher who works on designing wind turbine blades. She gets to test her models out in a wind tunnel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYSlfE53SFs

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Wind Energy Engineer?


  1. Critical Thinking: ?
  2. Reading Comprehension: ?
  3. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  4. Mathematics: ?
  5. Writing: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Wind Energy Engineer might do:
  • Create or maintain wind farm layouts, schematics, or other visual documentation for wind farms.
  • Recommend process or infrastructure changes to improve wind turbine performance, reduce operational costs, or comply with regulations.
  • Create models to optimize the layout of wind farm access roads, crane pads, crane paths, collection systems, substations, switchyards, or transmission lines.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Wind Energy Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Wind Energy Engineer jobs (2.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Wind Energy Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A bachelor's degree in engineering, such as electrical, aeronautical, aerospace, mechanical, or civil, is required for a position as a wind energy engineer. Individuals who wish to conduct research at a governmental laboratory, university, or for a corporation are encouraged to seek an advanced degree. Most employers prefer to hire candidates with previous experience.

Companies That Hire Wind Energy Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Kathryn Johnson is a professor at the Colorado School of Mines. She is working on making wind turbines more energy efficient and reliable. Read this interview with her to learn more about her life.
There are lots of times in research when you feel like you’re stuck up against a brick wall, just not making progress no matter what you try. Usually, it just takes more time and effort to solve the problem and move forward.  
Kathryn Johnson, Ph.D.
In this short interview, Tom Zambrano discusses many topics, including how architects might work with engineers to build wind turbines on the tops of buildings!
It's expensive to bring more power into cities from big power plants and wind farms. If there's enough of a breeze to fly a kite, there's enough breeze to generate power. So why let all that wind energy flowing through urban areas go to waste? 
Tom Zambrano, Renewable Energy Scientist

Nature of the Work

Wind energy engineers are responsible for designing, building, and monitoring wind turbines and wind turbine farms. These engineers get to combine their math, science, and engineering skills with their interest in the environment. Wind energy engineers work to create alternative energy solutions to the problems of how we humans are going to power our lives in the future. They are employed by government laboratories, universities, and private corporations.

Wind energy engineers are involved in all diverse phases of extracting energy from the wind. They can model the potential of extracting energy from a possible farm site. In this case, they work with meteorologists to make sure that they understand the long-term weather patterns in the area. They design special materials for turbine blades that have special stress and fatigue characteristics. They apply the principles of aerodynamics to design efficient turbine blades and perform analysis. Because wind energy engineers design blades, employers look for candidates who are experts in computer aided design (or CAD). They work on constructing wind energy farms and on installing wind turbines. They design the electrical systems that are necessary for the wind turbines to operate at peak performance. The job is not done when the wind farm is installed. Wind energy engineers are constantly monitoring the operation of the wind farm by acquiring and analyzing data collected from the wind turbines. These engineers are also responsible for developing programs to improve the wind turbines' performance and reduce the cost of long-term operations. Since wind energy engineers can work on a wide variety of projects, they come from diverse engineering backgrounds. Wind energy engineers can be trained as aeronautics engineers, material scientists, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, and electrical engineers.

Work Environment

Most wind energy engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others may spend time outdoors at construction sites, where they monitor or direct operations, or solve on-site problems. When working on site they may have to deal with harsh conditions. Engineers responsible for monitoring wind turbines must be physically able to climb towers exceeding 100 meters and must be comfortable at these heights. Some engineers must travel extensively to visit plant or work sites as well as clients both in the U.S. and abroad.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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