The Association of Energy Engineers conducted a survey of its members in 2017. It found that they earned an average salary of $105,661. A small percent reported earnings of $200,000 to $300,000 or more. About 68 percent of respondents earned $75,001 to $150,000, and approximately 21 percent of respondents earned $50,000 to $75,000.

The U.S. Department of Labor does not provide comprehensive salary information for geothermal energy industry workers. It does provide salary ranges (all statistics are from May 2018) for engineers, technicians, power plant operators, environmental scientists, and other workers in all industries. It reports that engineers earned the following salary ranges by specialty:

civil, $54,780 to $142,560+
electrical, $61,190 to $153,240+
electronics, $64,840 to $162,200+
mechanical, $56,270 to $136,550+
mining and geological, $54,550 to $151,030+

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians earned salaries that ranged from less than $38,110 to $95,140 or more; civil engineering technicians, $33,290 to $79,600+; and mechanical engineering technicians, $34,900 to $85,430+.

Power plant operators earned salaries that ranged from less than $45,590 to $106,650 or more.

Environmental scientists earned median annual salaries of $71,130. Ten percent of workers earned less than $42,520, and 10 percent earned $124,620 or more.

Hydrologists had median annual earnings of $79,370. Salaries ranged from less than $48,820 to $122,890 or more.

Trades workers earned the following mean annual salaries by specialty: electricians, $59,190; plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, $58,150; roofers, $43,870; structural iron and steel workers, $58,170; and welders, $44,360.

Support workers in the geothermal energy industry earn a wide range of salaries, from starting salaries of $20,000 for clerical workers, to $200,000 or more for lawyers and top executives.

Benefits for full-time workers include vacation and sick time, health (and sometimes dental) insurance, and pension or 401(k) plans. Self-employed workers must provide their own benefits.

Geothermal Energy Industry Workers

Overview

Introduction

Quick Facts

Earnings

Work Environment

Outlook

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