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Geothermal Technicians in Iowa

Thinking about a career as a Geothermal Technicians in Iowa? Below are the key facts. All installation, maintenance, and repair workers not listed separately.

What do Geothermal Technicians Make in Iowa?

The geothermal technicians working in Iowa, wages run about $46,760 per year (or roughly $22.48/hour).Earnings range from $35,360 at the 10th percentile to $66,040 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$35,360	$17.00
25th percentile	$39,990	$19.23
Median (50th)	$46,760	$22.48
75th percentile	$56,100	$26.97
90th percentile	$66,040	$31.75

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa relative to the national average — is 1.02.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, geothermal technicians earn a median of $64,661 per year ($31.09/hour), lower than the Iowa median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 39,927 geothermal technicians nationwide. In Iowa alone, approximately 1,900 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 1,810 geothermal technicians.

Top Iowa Metros for Geothermal Technicians

These are the Iowa metros with the most geothermal technicians in Iowa.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	620	$46,750
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	280	$52,030
Cedar Rapids, IA	250	$48,080
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	100	$45,560
Iowa City, IA	90	$48,640
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	90	$47,360
Dubuque, IA	60	$45,630
Ames, IA	50	$50,010

Top States for Geothermal Technicians Employment

View the states that employ the most geothermal technicians work.

State	Number Employed
California	27,450
Florida	16,610
Texas	15,690
Georgia	9,140
Michigan	7,160
Illinois	7,110
Louisiana	6,960
Arizona	5,840
New Jersey	5,220
Virginia	5,210
Colorado	4,970
Pennsylvania	4,900
North Carolina	4,880
Tennessee	4,800
Maryland	4,550
Ohio	4,410
Nevada	4,110
New York	3,920
Washington	3,810
Oregon	3,030

Highest-Paying States for Geothermal Technicians

These states pay the most for geothermal technicians.

State	Annual Median Salary
Alaska	$80,230
Hawaii	$80,180
Mississippi	$61,560
Washington	$59,610
Minnesota	$58,800
Maine	$58,580
Kentucky	$57,430
Rhode Island	$57,200
Connecticut	$56,460
Wisconsin	$54,930

Skills

The most important geothermal technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for geothermal technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, geothermal technicians typically:

• Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
• Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
• Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
• Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
• Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
• Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
• Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
• 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.
• Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
• Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
• Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Precision Systems Maintenance
• Electronics Maintenance & Repair
• Mechanics & Repairers
• Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

Related Careers

Other careers like geothermal technicians include:

• Geothermal Production Managers
• Biomass Power Plant Managers
• Hydroelectric Production Managers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
• Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Also Known As

Corrosion Technician, Design Technician, Distribution Field Technician, Field Distribution Technician, Geothermal Field Technician, Geothermal HVAC Technician (Geothermal Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Technician), Geothermal Installer, Geothermal Service Technician, Geothermal System Installer, Geothermal Technician, Ground Source Heat Pump Technician (GSHP Technician), I C and E Technician (Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical Technician), I and C Technician (Instrument and Controls Technician), I and E Technician (Instrumentation and Electrical Technician), Operations Technician.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 49-9099.01