The job market for geothermal technicians in the United States

There are currently an estimated 195,400 geothermal technicians in the United States. The geothermal technician job market is expected to grow by 1.5% between 2022 and 2032.

How employable are geothermal technicians?

CareerExplorer rates geothermal technicians with a C employability rating, meaning this career should provide moderate employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 8,400 geothermal technicians. That number is based on 2,900 additional geothermal technicians, and the retirement of 5,500 existing geothermal technicians.

Are geothermal technicians in demand?

Advances in technology and energy efficiency will result in declining job prospects for geothermal technicians. As energy companies promote reduced energy usage to cut costs and comply with environmental regulations, the demand for electricity is predicted to grow more slowly than in the past. This will lead to fewer technician positions in the field. In addition, older geothermal power plants will be replaced by new ones that have higher capacities and produce electricity more economically. These modern plants will have sophisticated control rooms which are highly automated and which generate large amounts of information. Consequently, plant productivity will rise and manpower needs will fall. Because geothermal technicians work at residential and commercial sites, as well as at power plants, they must be prepared to work in hot, cold, and unfavourable environmental conditions. To work in positions that could affect the power grid, they must be certified by the North American Energy Reliability Corporation (NERC). Organizations such as the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) provide professional and networking opportunities.

What’s the supply of geothermal technicians?

The geothermal technician industry is concentrated in California, Florida, Illinois

Geothermal Technician job market by state