Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Wind Energy Development Managers

Wind Energy Development Managers: Career Overview

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

What Tasks Do Wind Energy Development Managers Take On?

The day-to-day responsibilities of wind energy development managers cover:

  • Coordinate or direct development, energy assessment, engineering, or construction activities to ensure that wind project needs and objectives are met.
  • Manage wind project costs to stay within budget limits.
  • Lead or support negotiations involving tax agreements or abatements, power purchase agreements, land use, or interconnection agreements.
  • Create wind energy project plans, including project scope, goals, tasks, resources, schedules, costs, contingencies, or other project information.
  • Supervise the work of subcontractors or consultants to ensure quality and conformance to specifications or budgets.
  • Develop scope of work for wind project functions, such as design, site assessment, environmental studies, surveying, or field support services.
  • Provide verbal or written project status reports to project teams, management, subcontractors, customers, or owners.
  • Update schedules, estimates, forecasts, or budgets for wind projects.

Skills and Knowledge

Successful wind energy development managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.

Top Skills

The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Critical Thinking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Coordination  3.6 / 5
0
5

Top Knowledge Areas

Administration and Management  4.1 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.8 / 5
0
5
Building and Construction  3.8 / 5
0
5
Engineering and Technology  3.7 / 5
0
5
Economics and Accounting  3.4 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  3.3 / 5
0
5

Other Wind Energy Development Managers Job Titles

This career also goes by job titles like:

  • Business Development Director
  • Business Development Manager
  • Development Director
  • Development Manager
  • Energy Director
  • Energy Project Director
  • Environmental Projects Advisor
  • Project Development Leader

How Many Wind Energy Development Managers Are There?

The U.S. employs around 97,662 wind energy development managers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.1% over the projection horizon.

Forecasted number of jobs for Wind Energy Development Managers

How Much Do Wind Energy Development Managers Make?

Statistic Value
Annual median $169,952
Hourly median $81.71
10th percentile $97,434
25th percentile $133,693
75th percentile $206,210
90th percentile $242,469

Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.

Salary ranges for Wind Energy Development Managers

How Much Do Wind Energy Development Managers Make in Different U.S. States?

State Annual median salary
Massachusetts $172,380
District of Columbia $171,910
California $170,740
Delaware $170,310
Washington $165,080
Colorado $164,010
New Jersey $163,630
Virginia $162,610
New York $161,360
Minnesota $158,680
Connecticut $149,690
Maryland $148,680
Rhode Island $147,240
New Hampshire $142,650
Illinois $134,810
Texas $133,070
Michigan $133,040
Arizona $132,040
North Carolina $131,990
Pennsylvania $129,170
Iowa $127,680
New Mexico $127,060
Ohio $126,600
West Virginia $126,250
Oklahoma $124,800
Oregon $124,190
Maine $123,950
Vermont $123,930
Alaska $123,160
Kentucky $123,010
Hawaii $122,520
Georgia $120,810
South Carolina $120,640
Kansas $118,310
North Dakota $118,010
Wyoming $117,060
Missouri $117,050
Alabama $116,830
Nebraska $114,050
South Dakota $111,630
Idaho $107,800
Montana $105,840
Wisconsin $105,690
Florida $102,670
Louisiana $100,890
Nevada $99,590
Mississippi $97,780
Guam $97,210
Virgin Islands $92,270
Tennessee $88,110
Arkansas $84,610
Indiana $79,080
Puerto Rico $78,740

Top-Paying U.S. Regions

Compensation for wind energy development managers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:

Region Median annual wage Share of U.S. jobs Location quotient
Far Western US $160,982 22.6% 1.34
New England $156,233 3.9% 0.83
Middle Atlantic $153,807 17.6% 2.07
Southwest $132,453 11.2% 0.90
Plains States $126,095 4.1% 0.64
Southeast $116,490 29.4% 1.35
Rocky Mountains $112,945 3.8% 1.01
Great Lakes $112,898 6.4% 0.72

Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Wind Energy Development Managers

Metro area State Median annual wage Employment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA CA $215,120 13,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA CA $203,030 22,980
Lewiston-Auburn, ME ME $190,070 100
Kennewick-Richland, WA WA $175,070 400
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MA $174,840 9,240
Boulder, CO CO $173,490 1,080
Binghamton, NY NY $171,190 190
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA WA $168,750 7,580

Which Industries Hire Wind Energy Development Managers

The largest employers of wind energy development managers are concentrated in the following sectors:

Industry Employment Median annual wage
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 94,490 $164,060
Management of Companies and Enterprises 50,980 $163,830
Manufacturing 46,390 $160,640
Finance and Insurance 44,890 $162,780
Information 38,680 $167,740
Educational Services 32,840 $102,450
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 32,500 $109,990
Health Care and Social Assistance 31,360 $108,810
Wind Energy Development Managers sectors

Wind Energy Development Managers work in the following industries:

Wind Energy Development Managers industries

Tools and Technology

  • Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
  • Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
  • Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
  • Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
  • Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
  • Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
  • Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
  • Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
  • Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)

What the Workplace Is Like

The on-the-job environment of wind energy development managers reflects the following characteristics:

  • Telephone Conversations
  • E-Mail
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How to Become Wind Energy Development Managers

Typical wind energy development managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.

Other Careers to Consider

Similar Occupations

Top Programs to Study For This Career

Aspiring wind energy development managers often complete programs in:

Social Sciences

40 programs across 14 majors

Psychology

28 programs across 4 majors

15 programs across 5 majors

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

12 programs across 10 majors

9 programs across 4 majors

History

9 programs across 1 majors

About the Data

Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
  • BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
  • O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.

SOC code: 11-9199.10 (Managers, All Other).

Find Graduate Schools Near You

Our school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S. for free.