SS_standard3_courser_ethan_3

STANDARD #3

Wind Turbine Service Technician:

As a wind turbine service technician i would install, maintain, and perform repairs on
wind turbines for a living. I would need to attend a technical school or community college like
Lansing Community College to receive training in this trade, then complete a long term
apprenticeship to become an official service technician. Wind turbine service technicians earn
on average $49,150 annually, with the lowest being $33,000 and the highest being $66,000
annually.

How To Become A Wind Turbine Service Tech:

Step #1 will be to graduate Charlotte High School.
Step #2 will be to enroll myself in the two year program at L.C.C.
Step #3 will be to finish the classes at L.C.C. and get my certification.
Step #4 will be to find an employer willing to offer an apprenticeship for me.
Step #5 will be to complete that apprenticeship.
Step #6 will be to get a job as a wind turbine tech and just do it.

What Will The Job Be Like:

On a daily basis i would go out to local wind farms, inspect the tower and substations of the
farm, climb the tower, and inspect the equipment inside the nacelle. I would identify the
problems and then fix it. For major repairs on the turbines i would be required to work with a
team of construction workers and other wind techs to fix the issue as quickly as possible. Every
second a wind turbine is not producing energy is costing the producers money so this job is in
very high demand!

Salary Information:

The average salary for a wind turbine technician in Michigan is about $45,970 as on 2012. The
salary average is rising as well since the demand for new wind techs is also increasing. At
highest wind techs can earn $67,340 annually, and at lowest about 32,045 per year.

Job Outlook:

Jobs for wind turbine service technicians is projected to grow almost 24 percent from now to
2022. This is much faster than the speed for all other jobs. Because wind electricity generation
is expected to grow over the coming years, additional wind techs will be needed to install and
maintain new turbines.

Why This Plan Will Work For Me:

This plan is perfect for me in many ways. The college that i plan to attend offers an associates
degree in this field so thats kind of perfect! It is a near by college so i don't have to worry about
room and board costs. Also L.C.C. is a community college so its tuition is well within my ability
to save for rather than go into student loan debt. Wind farms are being constructed all over
michigan so the job outlook in my area is looking great! With only two years of training needed
to get qualified i will be able to get my career started early rather than late. The annual salary for
a wind turbine tech would be more than enough for me to live comfortably for the foreseeable
future.