Employers

Approximately 8,870 people are directly employed in the geothermal industry, according to the research group Statista. Most geothermal employment opportunities are in the western United States, where geothermal reservoirs are located. In 2023, the largest share of geothermal electricity produced in the United States was from the following states, by order of top producing to lowest producing: California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, and New Mexico, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. About 93 percent of the current U.S. geothermal generating capacity was in California and Nevada in 2023. Since magma is located everywhere under the earth’s surface, better technology and more powerful tools may enable geothermal-related projects to be found throughout the United States. Geothermal production managers work for geothermal power generation facilities.

Starting Out

Geothermal production managers start out as geothermal production workers. Many start as apprentices, receiving on-the-job training while still in school. Ask your schools career services office for help finding apprenticeship and entry-level job opportunities. Another good approach is to contact companies directly; search their Web sites for the career section and look for employment openings. Also search for helpful job-search resources on professional associations Web sites or publications.

Geothermal production managers advance by taking positions in increasingly larger power facilities in which they manage greater numbers of people and handle more complex projects. They may return to school to earn an advanced degree in business management or industrial engineering. They may also get certified in specialized skills and knowledge to advance their careers.

Learn more about geothermal energy by reading industry-related articles on sites such as the U.S. Department of Energys Geothermal Technologies Office, https://www.energy.gov/eere/geothermal/listings/geothermal-energy-news.

Stay up to date on industry news and find job openings through social media such as Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. Follow industry influencers and company employees to learn more about trending topics.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/geothermal-jobs
• https://www.idealist.org
• https://www.careerbuilder.com
• https://www.indeed.com
• https://www.glassdoor.com

Become a member Geothermal Rising and other organizations to access training and networking resources, industry publications, and employment opportunities.

Attend geothermal energy events and conferences to network with others and learn more about potential job opportunities. Find event listings at Geothermal Risings Web site, https://www.geothermal.org/events.