SOC 17-2199.10

    Wind Energy Engineers

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

    Median pay
    $122,930
    Growth
    +3.7%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    8,800
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Engineers, all other"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $66,810
    Median
    $122,930
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $189,950
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    154,070 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Wind energy engineers design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems and develop site specifications. The career offers a median annual pay of $122,930, based on data for a broader engineering category.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What wind energy engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

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

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Wind energy engineers focus on designing the electrical and structural systems that gather power from wind turbines. On a daily basis, these professionals spend their time working with computers to analyze data, process technical information, and solve complex problems. They are responsible for getting information about potential wind sites and making decisions regarding project layouts and specifications. Communicating their findings is a major part of the job, which includes documenting technical details, interpreting data for colleagues, and providing consultation to project stakeholders.

    Succeeding in this role requires strong skills in critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, and active listening. Engineers must use operations and systems analysis to evaluate how wind farms will perform under different conditions. Their core knowledge must span engineering, technology, physics, and design, alongside a solid understanding of building, construction, and electronics. Because this career aligns with realistic interests, it suits individuals who enjoy practical, hands-on problem solving and working with real-world systems and equipment.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree. Because this occupation requires considerable preparation, most employers also look for candidates who have several years of related work experience alongside their college degree.

    Students preparing for this career can choose from several relevant college majors. Common fields of study include general engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, engineering physics, and electrical, electronics, and communications engineering. Other related paths include general engineering-related fields, rehabilitation and therapeutic professions, or other specialized engineering programs.

    While preparing for the job market, candidates can pursue professional credentials to stand out. For example, the Global Association of Risk Professionals offers the Energy Risk Professional certification. Additionally, licensing requirements vary by location, as some states list a professional license for this type of engineering work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for wind energy engineers was $122,930. This salary figure represents the broader group classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as "Engineers, all other." Within this same broad category, the lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $66,810, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $189,950.

    There are 154,070 people employed in this broader engineering group. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.7 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 8,800 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    82 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    59 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    20 / 100
    Social (S)
    7 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    35 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    52 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    95
    Getting Information
    81
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    77
    Processing Information
    75
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    73
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    73
    Analyzing Data or Information
    72
    Documenting/Recording Information
    71
    Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
    70
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    69
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Mathematics
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Speaking
    • Systems Analysis
    • Writing
    • Operations Analysis

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Design
    • Physics
    • English Language
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Administration and Management
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Building and Construction
    • Mechanical

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Written Comprehension
    • Number Facility
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Expression
    • Near Vision

    Also called

    Engineer · Project Engineer · SCADA Engineer (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) · Turbine Engineer · Turbine Measurements Engineer · Utility Engineer · Wind Energy Consultant · Wind Energy Engineer · Wind Farm Designer · Wind Farm Electrical Systems Designer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to wind energy engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Wind Energy Engineers$122,930 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,074
      4 yrs after
      $250,168
      Median debt
      $19,500
    2. 2University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $154,713
      4 yrs after
      $200,543
      Median debt
      $13,548
    3. 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT logo
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

      Cambridge, MA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,863
      4 yrs after
      $161,118
      Median debt
      $15,000
    4. 4Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $110,607
      4 yrs after
      $147,241
      Median debt
      $12,750
    5. 5The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus logo
      The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus

      Austin, TX · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $111,942
      4 yrs after
      $146,003
      Median debt
      $18,118
    6. 6University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA logo
      University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA

      Charlottesville, VA · Systems Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $96,168
      4 yrs after
      $144,830
      Median debt
      $12,000
    7. 7Columbia University in the City of New York logo
      Columbia University in the City of New York

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $143,332
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $139,068
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What wind energy engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 32.

    • Applied Engineering
    • Architectural Engineering
    • Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering
    • Biochemical Engineering
    • Biological/Biosystems Engineering
    • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
    • Construction Engineering
    • Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Electromechanical Engineering
    • Energy Systems Engineering, General
    • Energy Systems Engineering, Other
    • Engineering Chemistry

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    49 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about wind energy engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    People in this field are known by many names, including wind farm designer, wind energy consultant, turbine engineer, and project engineer. They may also be called utility engineers, wind farm electrical systems designers, or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) engineers.

    What certifications are available for wind energy engineers?

    Engineers in this field can earn the Energy Risk Professional credential. This certification is offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

    What other careers are similar to wind energy engineering?

    This occupation is closely related to other engineering roles, such as solar energy systems engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and aerospace engineers. Other similar careers include wind energy development managers and general energy engineers.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.