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Details Report for:
17-2199.10 - Wind Energy Engineers

Design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems and prepare and develop site specifications.

This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.

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Tasks  |  Education  |  Wages & Employment  |  Additional Information

Tasks   Save Table (XLS/CSV)

  • Design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems.
  • Analyze operation of wind farms or wind farm components to determine reliability, performance, and compliance with specifications.
  • Create models to optimize the layout of wind farm access roads, crane pads, crane paths, collection systems, substations, switchyards, or transmission lines.
  • Create or maintain wind farm layouts, schematics, or other visual documentation for wind farms.
  • Develop active control algorithms, electronics, software, electromechanical, or electrohydraulic systems for wind turbines.
  • Develop specifications for wind technology components, such as gearboxes, blades, generators, frequency converters, and pad transformers.
  • Direct balance of plant (BOP) construction, generator installation, testing, commissioning, or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) to ensure compliance with specifications.
  • Monitor wind farm construction to ensure compliance with regulatory standards or environmental requirements.
  • Perform root cause analysis on wind turbine tower component failures.
  • Provide engineering technical support to designers of prototype wind turbines.
  • Test wind turbine components, using mechanical or electronic testing equipment.
  • Test wind turbine equipment to determine effects of stress or fatigue.
  • Investigate experimental wind turbines or wind turbine technologies for properties such as aerodynamics, production, noise, and load.
  • Oversee the work activities of wind farm consultants or subcontractors.
  • Recommend process or infrastructure changes to improve wind turbine performance, reduce operational costs, or comply with regulations.
  • Write reports to document wind farm collector system test results.

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Education

Education data collected from Engineers, All Other.


Percentage of Respondents
Education Level Attained
82   Bachelor's degree or higher
15   Some college
  High school or less

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics external site survey of employees aged 25-44.

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Wages & Employment Trends

National

Median wages data collected from Engineers, All Other.
Employment data collected from Engineers, All Other.
Industry data collected from Engineers, All Other.

Median wages (2008) $42.58 hourly, $88,570 annual
Employment (2008) 183,000 employees
Projected growth (2008-2018) Average (7% to 13%) Average (7% to 13%)
Projected job openings (2008-2018) 50,200
Top industries (2008)
Manufacturing (32% employed in this sector)

State & National

          CareerOneStop

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data external site and 2008-2018 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2008-2018). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

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Sources of Additional Information

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

  • Engineers external site. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition.

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