Summary Report for:
49-9099.01 - Geothermal Technicians
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
- Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
- Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
- Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
- Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other.
Employment data collected from Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other.
| Median wages (2008) | $16.46 hourly, $34,240 annual |
| Employment (2006) | 168,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | 
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 24,000 additional employees |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data
and 2006-2016 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2006-2016). "Projected need" represents job openings due to growth and net replacement.