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All About Geothermal Technicians
Occupation Description Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
Life As a Geothermal Technician
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
- Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
- Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
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Geothermal Technician Needed Skills
Geothermal Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Other Geothermal Technician Job Titles
- Operations and Maintenance Technician
- Geothermal HVAC Technician (Geothermal Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Technician)
- Corrosion Technician
- Control Operator
- Operations Technician
Job Outlook for Geothermal Technicians
There were about 175,800 jobs for Geothermal Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 14,500 new jobs for Geothermal Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 18,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Geothermal Technician are Utah, Florida, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Geothermal Technician Make?
The salary for Geothermal Technicians ranges between about $24,630 and $65,120 a year.
Geothermal Technicians who work in Alaska, Hawaii, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Geothermal Technicians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,210 |
| Alaska | $71,220 |
| Arizona | $42,760 |
| Arkansas | $40,260 |
| California | $46,210 |
| Colorado | $39,970 |
| Connecticut | $44,480 |
| Delaware | $40,340 |
| District of Columbia | $56,140 |
| Florida | $36,390 |
| Georgia | $38,890 |
| Hawaii | $60,340 |
| Idaho | $42,280 |
| Illinois | $48,290 |
| Indiana | $38,850 |
| Iowa | $42,830 |
| Kansas | $41,040 |
| Kentucky | $41,150 |
| Louisiana | $44,290 |
| Maine | $41,870 |
| Maryland | $44,700 |
| Massachusetts | $48,110 |
| Michigan | $45,170 |
| Minnesota | $46,200 |
| Mississippi | $43,430 |
| Missouri | $41,400 |
| Montana | $40,670 |
| Nebraska | $52,020 |
| Nevada | $48,750 |
| New Hampshire | $48,440 |
| New Jersey | $43,060 |
| New Mexico | $40,930 |
| New York | $40,390 |
| North Carolina | $40,360 |
| North Dakota | $50,710 |
| Ohio | $41,650 |
| Oklahoma | $42,840 |
| Oregon | $43,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,350 |
| Rhode Island | $47,220 |
| South Carolina | $41,570 |
| South Dakota | $44,980 |
| Tennessee | $37,540 |
| Texas | $41,320 |
| Utah | $40,160 |
| Vermont | $42,030 |
| Virginia | $43,810 |
| Washington | $55,610 |
| West Virginia | $39,660 |
| Wisconsin | $40,660 |
| Wyoming | $46,210 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Geothermal Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Geothermal Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Email software
- SAP
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Distributed control system DCS
Becoming a Geothermal Technician
What education is needed to be a Geothermal Technician?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Geothermal Technician?
Who Employs Geothermal Technicians?
Geothermal Technicians work in the following industries:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Alexis P. Docherty, 49th Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.