Career Map: Trade Worker

Position Title Trade Worker
Alternate Title(s) Iron Worker, Rigger,  Rodbuster, Cement Mason, Crane Operator, Electrician
Education & Training Level Bachelor’s degree generally not expected. Some training preferred. Electricians require formal training.
Education & Training Level Description Trade workers often learn informally on the job. Other positions may learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship or technical school. Additional certifications may be required depending on state, union and project training requirements. Electricians require formal training.
Brief job description After a site is selected and construction begins, trade workers help install the wind turbines and support structures. This requires the work of many skilled people, including a wide variety of trade workers. Trade workers in the wind turbine construction phase are primarily, but are not limited to cement masons, electricians, and equipment operators.
Preferred Level of Education None specified.
Preferred Level of Experience See the Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information.
Estimated/Expected Salary See the Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information.
Job Profile

Trade workers are typically employed for the installation of the turbine components which involves tying rebar, cement work, rigging, climbing, and working at heights. 

Some examples of trade workers in the wind industry are cement masons and electricians.

Cement masons are responsible for pouring, smoothing, and finishing concrete foundations for wind turbines. Concrete work for wind farms is very repetitive as typically one foundation design will be used per project, and single projects can have hundreds of turbine foundations.

Electricians are needed to get the energy from the turbine's generator to the power grid on the ground. They wire the turbine to connect its electrical system, install the wind farm collection system, and construct substations.

For more information on jobs as cement masons, electricians, and other trade workers, please visit the BLS Occupation Outlook Handbook.
Job Skills
  • Physical strength. Cement masons must be able to lift and carry heavy materials. For example, the forms into which concrete is poured.
  • Stamina. Cement masons must be able to spend a lot of time kneeling, bending, and reaching.
  • Color vision. Electricians need good color vision because workers frequently must identify electrical wires by color.
  • Critical-thinking skills. Electricians perform tests and use the results to diagnose problems. For example, when an outlet is not working, they may use a multimeter to check the voltage, amperage, or resistance to determine the best course of action.
  • Customer-service skills. Some trade workers work with people on a regular basis. As a result, they should be friendly and be able to address customers’ questions.
  • Managerial skills. Some trade workers must be able to direct others’ work as well as plan work schedules. Often, this work includes preparing estimates, scheduling jobs, and other administrative tasks. 
  • Troubleshooting skills. Electricians find, diagnose, and repair problems. For example, if a motor stops working, they perform tests to determine the cause of its failure and then, depending on the results, fix or replace the motor.
Resources

Bureau of Labor Statistics:

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