Career profile · 49-9099
Geothermal Technicians
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.
What the work can involve
- 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.
Selected core tasks from O*NET 31.0. Responsibilities vary by employer, specialization and experience.
Preparation and entry routes
This broad O*NET group commonly involves some prior preparation and on-the-job learning. Check the specific employer, occupational credential and state requirements.
Check the route for the specific occupation where you plan to work. Education, employer experience requirements, occupational licensing and industry certification can be separate steps.
Understand the different credentials →Skills used in this occupation
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Knowledge to build
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Physics
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Common work activities
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Training subjects to investigate
The federal education-to-occupation crosswalk connects this role to the subjects below. These links do not endorse a school or guarantee that any particular award qualifies a graduate for the job.
- Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General126 institutions →
- Gunsmithing/Gunsmith18 institutions →
- Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/Technician1 institutions →
- Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician6 institutions →
- Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician8 institutions →
- Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other1 institutions →
Working conditions to consider
These are the most common published responses to selected O*NET work-setting questions. They describe occupation-level survey findings, not every employer or a particular job.
| Work-setting question | Most common response | Share giving that response |
|---|---|---|
| Contact With Others | Constant contact with others | 65.9%08/2020 · sample 22 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | Every day | 73.6%08/2020 · sample 21 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | Never | 81.2%08/2020 · sample 20 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | Every day | 89.9%08/2020 · sample 21 |
| Spend Time Sitting | Less than half the time | 44.6%08/2020 · sample 22 |
| Spend Time Standing | About half the time | 37.6%08/2020 · sample 21 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | More than half the time | 47.3%08/2020 · sample 22 |
| Time Pressure | Once a month or more but not every week | 39.8%08/2020 · sample 21 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | Every day | 83.8%08/2020 · sample 21 |
| Work Schedules | Regular (established routine, set schedule) | 83.5%08/2020 · sample 22 |
O*NET 31.0 Work Context, selected topics. Only unsuppressed source responses with sample size at least 10 are shown. A most-common response need not be a majority. Sampling uncertainty applies; source dates vary. Ask employers about actual schedules, accessibility, protective equipment and working conditions.
Software used in the workplace
Use these O*NET examples to ask how a course builds practical digital skills. They are workplace examples, not a required shopping list or confirmation of a school’s curriculum.
- Analytical or scientific software: ClimateMaster GeoDesigner, Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool, Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD, WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD
- Electronic mail software: Email software, Microsoft Outlook
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software
- Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS systems
- Industrial control software: Distributed control system DCS
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word
Selected categories and examples from O*NET 31.0 Software Skills. Products and employer requirements change. These examples are not endorsements; check the complete official occupation profile.
Pay & employment outlook
Salary estimates for geothermal technicians
This O*NET specialty shares the BLS 49-9099 occupation series. Pay is measured for Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other, not separately for this specialty.
The median divides workers into two equally sized groups by pay. It is not a starting salary, a school’s graduate outcome or a promise of employment. Lower percentiles are not automatically new graduates.
National outlook: 2025–2035
- Typical education for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- Typical on-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
BLS national employment projections, 2025–2035. Openings include people leaving occupations or the labor force; these are not advertised vacancies. Education categories describe typical entry, not legal eligibility or a guarantee that any specific program is sufficient.
Compare wages across 51 state/DC estimates
| State | Annual median | Hourly median | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,610 | $22.41 | 1,440 |
| Alaska | $75,360 | $36.23 | 100 |
| Arizona | $49,990 | $24.03 | 4,010 |
| Arkansas | $45,830 | $22.03 | 1,350 |
| California | $51,230 | $24.63 | 23,630 |
| Colorado | $50,840 | $24.44 | 4,980 |
| Connecticut | $56,110 | $26.98 | 2,490 |
| Delaware | $48,310 | $23.23 | 510 |
| District of Columbia | $59,320 | $28.52 | 130 |
| Florida | $46,290 | $22.25 | 16,340 |
| Georgia | $48,490 | $23.31 | 7,430 |
| Hawaii | $74,260 | $35.70 | 970 |
| Idaho | $51,680 | $24.84 | 990 |
| Illinois | $55,780 | $26.82 | 5,350 |
| Indiana | $48,120 | $23.14 | 1,570 |
| Iowa | $48,680 | $23.40 | 2,050 |
| Kansas | $51,060 | $24.55 | 1,020 |
| Kentucky | $51,310 | $24.67 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $50,660 | $24.36 | 7,970 |
| Maine | $61,380 | $29.51 | 1,230 |
| Maryland | $49,950 | $24.01 | 4,200 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 | $28.79 | 1,240 |
| Michigan | $47,470 | $22.82 | 5,800 |
| Minnesota | $60,250 | $28.97 | 2,140 |
| Mississippi | $44,370 | $21.33 | 910 |
| Missouri | $52,000 | $25.00 | 2,390 |
| Montana | $48,360 | $23.25 | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $48,940 | $23.53 | 770 |
| Nevada | $50,190 | $24.13 | 4,000 |
| New Hampshire | $49,030 | $23.57 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $49,920 | $24.00 | 3,970 |
| New Mexico | $50,010 | $24.04 | 500 |
| New York | $56,900 | $27.36 | 5,390 |
| North Carolina | $46,780 | $22.49 | 4,650 |
| North Dakota | $52,040 | $25.02 | 790 |
| Ohio | $47,550 | $22.86 | 3,620 |
| Oklahoma | $49,420 | $23.76 | 970 |
| Oregon | $52,230 | $25.11 | 2,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,180 | $23.17 | 5,380 |
| Rhode Island | $59,890 | $28.79 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $46,430 | $22.32 | 2,240 |
| South Dakota | $48,490 | $23.31 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $48,200 | $23.17 | 3,730 |
| Texas | $45,360 | $21.81 | 18,580 |
| Utah | $53,110 | $25.53 | 2,750 |
| Vermont | $51,030 | $24.53 | 580 |
| Virginia | $47,910 | $23.03 | 5,580 |
| Washington | $63,080 | $30.33 | 3,550 |
| West Virginia | $47,850 | $23.01 | 570 |
| Wisconsin | $49,100 | $23.61 | 2,360 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 | $23.20 | 100 |
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan wages
Search the 481 published local-area estimates for this occupation. Metropolitan areas can cross state lines; a city’s postal name is not necessarily the statistical area’s name.
Sources: BLS May 2025 OEWS public downloads and 2025–2035 employment projections, retrieved September 9, 2026. Unpublished estimates stay unavailable. “+” means BLS’s upper reporting threshold ($239,200 annually or $115 hourly). Wages exclude self-employment and nonwage benefits. How to interpret these figures.
Compare the route and prepare for work
Questions to test the fit
- What does an entry-level working day look like, and how does it differ from the experienced role described here?
- Which tasks, work environments and schedules would I enjoy or find difficult?
- What education, supervised practice and credentials do local employers actually request?
- Can I speak with someone in the occupation or arrange a suitable workplace visit?
- How does the complete training cost compare with my realistic budget and available routes?
Related occupations to compare
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Related through shared training-subject mappings. Entry requirements can differ substantially.
Sources and attribution
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Trade School Guides selects and organizes the material and adds explanatory guidance. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. Occupation code: 49-9099.01.
Training connections: CIP 2020–SOC 2018 crosswalk. Snapshot: September 8, 2026. See the methodology.