Employers

There are about 120,000 people employed in the wind energy industry, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Wind energy operations managers work for wind farms, energy companies, utilities, and government agencies. Wind-related projects tend to be most concentrated in the Midwest, Southwest, and Northeast regions of the United States. 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). 

There are more than 500 wind-related manufacturing facilities in the United States. Much wind turbine manufacturing is located in the Midwest and Southeast. Large manufacturers include GE Wind Energy, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, and Vestas.

Starting Out

Many wind energy operations managers get started in the field through apprenticeships, cooperative work/study programs, or part-time positions. They may start in the field as wind energy technicians. They learn about job openings through career fairs, industry publications, trade associations, and networking events. They also get job-search help from their schools career services office and by looking for job listings on Web sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and SimplyHired, among others. Find helpful information about careers in the renewable-energy industry at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Jobs Web page, https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-jobs-and-planning.

Wind energy operations managers with years of experience may become wind farm directors, supervising the work of larger groups of workers and overseeing multiple wind farm locations. Those that are employed full time may leave to start their own wind energy consultancies. They also advance by getting certification or an advanced degree. Another way to grow in their career is by increasing their participation in professional associations, such as by becoming an active committee or board member, teaching workshops, and speaking at conferences. 

Get a part-time or summer job at a wind farm or wind energy company. Search for jobs on Web sites such as https://awea-jobs.careerwebsite.com/?navItemNumber=8205 and https://www.nspe.org/resources/career-center, as well as through online employment Web sites.

Learn about trends in the industry and potential employers by reading publications such as Windpower Monthly (https://www.windpowermonthly.com) and Renewable Energy World Magazine (https://www.renewableenergyworld.com).

Join the American Wind Energy Association and other professional associations to access training and networking resources, industry publications, and employment opportunities.

Use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media to stay up to date on industry developments and learn about job openings.