Wind Energy Development Managers
SOC code 11-9199 · O*NET-SOC 11-9199.10 · Considerable preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation
Wind Energy Development Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$141,900
a year
Hourly
$68.22
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$153,890
$73.99 per hour
Middle 50%
$102,880 – $186,300
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$74,300 – $238,270
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
622,190
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $74,300
- $35.72/hr
- 25th percentile
- $102,880
- $49.46/hr
- Median percentile
- $141,900
- $68.22/hr
- 75th percentile
- $186,300
- $89.57/hr
- 90th percentile
- $238,270
- $114.55/hr
What does a wind energy development manager do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a wind energy development manager
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 67% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree67%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree18%
- Master's Degree12%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate3%
Common questions
How much does a wind energy development manager earn?
The national median is $141,900 a year. The full range runs from $74,300 at the 10th percentile to $238,270 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a wind energy development manager without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.1/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Building and Construction3.8/5
- Engineering and Technology3.7/5
- Economics and Accounting3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
- Design3.3/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.