What Does it Take to Be a Geothermal Technician?
Geothermal Technician Definition 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.
What Do Geothermal Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
- Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
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Geothermal Technician Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Geothermal Technicians say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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
- Plant Mechanic
- Geothermal System Installer
- Pump Technician
- Control Room Operator (CRO)
- Geothermal Technician
Geothermal Technician Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 175,800 jobs for Geothermal Technician in 2016. 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. The BLS estimates 18,700 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Geothermal Technician Average Salary
Geothermal Technicians make between $24,630 and $65,120 a year.
Geothermal Technicians who work in Alaska, Hawaii, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Geothermal Technicians make 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
How to Become a Geothermal Technician
Education needed to be a Geothermal Technician:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Geothermal Technician?
Where Geothermal Technicians Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Geothermal Technicians employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Alexis P. Docherty, 49th Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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