Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- I C and E Technician (Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical Technician)
- Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Technician)
- Operations Technician
- Plant Technician
Alternate Job Titles
- 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 and C Technician (Instrument and Controls Technician)
- I and E Technician (Instrumentation and Electrical Technician)
- I C and E Technician (Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical Technician)
- Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Technician)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Physics
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Troubleshooting
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Perceptual Speed
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Information Ordering
- Selective Attention
- Visualization
- Flexibility of Closure
- Control Precision
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Adjustable pipe wrenches
- Air monitoring equipment
- Air wrenches
- Alignment clamps
- Butt fusion machines
- Channel lock pliers
- Claw hammers
- Coil tubing units
- Deburring tools
- Depth meters
- Desktop computers
- Grout mixers
- Grout pumps
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Geothermal Technicians.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $35,270 |
| Median | $48,640 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $77,150 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 183,690
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $99,670
Geothermal Production Managers
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $121,440
Power Plant Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $99,670
Biomass Plant Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $99,670
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $75,190
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.