# Wind Energy Engineers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2199.10
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $122,930 (10th percentile $66,810, 90th percentile $189,950)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.7%
- Openings a year: 8,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Engineers, all other".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 82 |
| Investigative (I) | 59 |
| Artistic (A) | 20 |
| Social (S) | 7 |
| Enterprising (E) | 35 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 95/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 77/100)
- Processing Information (importance 75/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 73/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 73/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 72/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 71/100)
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (importance 70/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 69/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Engineering, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1401) (CIP 1401, 803 colleges)
- [Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5123) (CIP 5123, 591 colleges)
- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1410) (CIP 1410, 456 colleges)
- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1408) (CIP 1408, 326 colleges)
- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1515) (CIP 1515, 230 colleges)
- [Chemical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1407) (CIP 1407, 214 colleges)
- [Engineering, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1499) (CIP 1499, 149 colleges)
- [Engineering Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1412) (CIP 1412, 145 colleges)
- [Systems Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1427) (CIP 1427, 119 colleges)
- [Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1442) (CIP 1442, 108 colleges)
- [Engineering Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1413) (CIP 1413, 101 colleges)
- [Manufacturing Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1436) (CIP 1436, 86 colleges)
- [Construction Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1433) (CIP 1433, 59 colleges)
- [Electrical and Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1447) (CIP 1447, 46 colleges)
- Nanotechnology (CIP 1516, 38 colleges)
- [Architectural Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1404) (CIP 1404, 31 colleges)
- Biological/Biosystems Engineering (CIP 1445, 29 colleges)
- Engineering Mechanics (CIP 1411, 29 colleges)
- Energy Systems Engineering (CIP 1448, 25 colleges)
- Surveying Engineering (CIP 1438, 25 colleges)
- Geological/Geophysical Engineering (CIP 1439, 24 colleges)
- Ocean Engineering (CIP 1424, 17 colleges)
- Electromechanical Engineering (CIP 1441, 10 colleges)
- Biochemical Engineering (CIP 1443, 9 colleges)
- Engineering Chemistry (CIP 1444, 3 colleges)
- Forest Engineering (CIP 1434, 3 colleges)
- Paper Science and Engineering (CIP 1440, 3 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,074 | $250,168 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $154,713 | $200,543 | $13,548 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,863 | $161,118 | $15,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $110,607 | $147,241 | $12,750 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $111,942 | $146,003 | $18,118 |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Systems Engineering | $96,168 | $144,830 | $12,000 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | not reported | $143,332 | not reported |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | not reported | $139,068 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Solar Energy Systems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-systems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/energy-engineers-except-wind-and-solar): $122,930 median pay
- [Electrical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-engineers): $120,630 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Aerospace Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineers): $134,960 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.