SALARY GUIDE
Wind Energy Jobs UK: Salary Guide & How to Get Started 2026
By GreenRoles Team · Updated March 2026 · 8 min read
The UK is the world's second largest offshore wind market, with over 14GW of installed capacity and £50 billion of investment planned over the next decade. Wind energy is one of the most exciting — and best paid — sectors in the UK's green economy. Whether you're looking at offshore turbine technician roles or onshore wind farm management, this guide covers everything you need to know.
14GW
UK offshore wind capacity installed
80,000+
Wind energy jobs expected by 2030
£52k
Average offshore wind technician salary
Types of wind energy jobs in the UK
Offshore Wind Turbine Technician
The most distinctive wind energy role — technicians travel by boat or helicopter to offshore platforms to maintain and repair turbines. The work is physically demanding but very well paid. Most roles involve a rotation pattern (e.g. 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off) with accommodation provided offshore.
Onshore Wind Turbine Technician
Similar technical work but based at land wind farms across Scotland, Wales, Northern England and the South West. Less physically remote than offshore roles but still involves working at significant heights. Usually involves travelling between multiple wind farm sites.
Wind Farm Operations Manager
Oversees the day-to-day operation of one or more wind farms. Responsible for maintenance schedules, safety compliance, subcontractor management and performance reporting. Usually requires 5+ years of wind industry experience.
Wind Energy Project Developer
Works on new wind farm development — planning applications, grid connection agreements, land agreements, environmental impact assessments. A highly commercial role with significant earning potential.
Electrical / Mechanical Engineer (Wind)
Design and engineering roles focused on turbine systems, grid connections, substations and cabling. Strong demand for both offshore and onshore projects across the UK.
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Manager
Wind energy has stringent safety requirements, especially offshore. Experienced HSE professionals command strong salaries and are in high demand across all major operators.
Wind energy salary guide UK 2026
| Role | Entry Level | Experienced | Senior |
|---|
| Offshore Wind Technician | £35,000 | £52,000 | £70,000+ |
| Onshore Wind Technician | £28,000 | £40,000 | £55,000 |
| Wind Farm Operations Manager | £45,000 | £62,000 | £85,000 |
| Wind Project Developer | £38,000 | £60,000 | £95,000+ |
| Wind Energy Engineer | £35,000 | £55,000 | £80,000 |
| HSE Manager (Wind) | £40,000 | £58,000 | £80,000 |
| SCADA / Control Systems Engineer | £38,000 | £58,000 | £80,000 |
💡 Offshore premium: Offshore wind roles typically pay 20-30% more than equivalent onshore roles due to the remote working conditions and travel involved. Many offshore roles also include additional allowances for helicopter travel and offshore accommodation.
Essential qualifications and certifications
- GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) — mandatory for all offshore wind workers. Covers first aid, fire awareness, manual handling, working at height and sea survival.
- GWO Advanced Rescue Training (ART) — required for senior technician roles
- OPITO BOSIET — Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (for offshore roles)
- 18th Edition Wiring Regulations — for electrical roles
- CompEx certification — for working in explosive atmospheres (substations)
- IOSH Managing Safely — for supervisory and management roles
- Degree in Engineering — BEng/MEng in Mechanical, Electrical or Renewable Energy Engineering for graduate roles
Top UK wind energy employers hiring in 2026
- Ørsted — world's largest offshore wind developer, major UK operations
- SSE Renewables — UK's leading renewable energy company
- RWE Renewables — major offshore and onshore wind portfolio
- ScottishPower Renewables — significant UK onshore and offshore presence
- Vattenfall — major UK offshore wind developer
- Vestas — world's largest turbine manufacturer, large UK service operation
- Siemens Gamesa — major turbine manufacturer with UK manufacturing in Hull
- Cierco — specialist wind O&M contractor
Where are wind energy jobs based in the UK?
Wind energy jobs are concentrated in specific regions:
- Scotland — Europe's largest onshore wind capacity. Aberdeen is the offshore wind capital of Europe.
- Yorkshire & Humber — major offshore wind hub, home to Siemens Gamesa manufacturing in Hull
- East Anglia — home to some of the world's largest offshore wind farms including Hornsea
- Wales — growing onshore wind capacity, especially in mid and north Wales
- Northern Ireland — significant onshore wind development
How to break into wind energy with no experience
- Get your GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) — costs around £600-£800, widely available at training centres
- If you have an electrical or mechanical background, apply for junior technician roles directly
- Consider an apprenticeship — SSE, Ørsted and Siemens Gamesa all run wind energy apprenticeships
- Look at transferable roles — ex-military, oil & gas, and telecoms engineers are highly valued
- Connect with the wind industry on LinkedIn — follow RenewableUK, the main UK wind trade body
Browse wind energy jobs across the UK
Offshore, onshore and graduate wind energy roles — updated daily.
Browse Wind Jobs →