There are currently an estimated 175,800 geothermal technicians in the United States. The geothermal technician job market is expected to grow by 8.2% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are geothermal technicians?

CareerExplorer rates geothermal technicians with a D employability rating, meaning this career should provide weak employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 20,200 geothermal technicians. That number is based on 14,500 additional geothermal technicians, and the retirement of 5,700 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

State Name Employed Geothermal Technicians
California 19,840
Florida 14,880
Illinois 11,070
Texas 10,950
Ohio 5,340
Tennessee 4,610
Maryland 4,610
Arizona 4,460
New Jersey 4,320
Louisiana 4,240
Virginia 3,870
Pennsylvania 3,540
Georgia 3,520
North Carolina 3,510
Colorado 3,430
Washington 2,960
Minnesota 2,800
Oregon 2,730
Nevada 2,580
Wisconsin 2,420
Alabama 2,320
Indiana 2,290
Michigan 2,230
Kentucky 2,210
Missouri 2,190
Connecticut 2,060
Massachusetts 1,800
Kansas 1,730
Iowa 1,680
Hawaii 1,290
Oklahoma 1,090
Utah 1,080
Maine 980
South Carolina 890
Arkansas 810
Montana 680
Mississippi 640
Nebraska 590
Alaska 580
North Dakota 530
Puerto Rico 510
West Virginia 470
Idaho 400
Vermont 290
New Hampshire 290
Delaware 270
South Dakota 250
Wyoming 180
District of Columbia 150
Rhode Island 140
Guam 70
Virgin Islands, U.S. 40