NJ’s Off-Shore Wind Jobs: Salary, Training, An Average Day
Ørsted held a press conference in Atlantic City on Tuesday to announce an application period for training for slots in a Wind Power Ready training program to work operating and maintaining offshore wind farms off the South Jersey coast.
Who is the Company Looking to Hire?
The company plans to give the first priority for hiring technicians will go to Atlantic City residents and then to New Jersey residents. Ørsted say they have vowed, “to reduce barriers to employment for women, Black and brown folks and those most harmed by pollution and environmental injustices".
What Does This Training Involve?
This full-time paid training program for wind turbine technicians pays $15 per hour and lasts 22 weeks. It is designed to ready you to join the industry by gaining practical skills and developing the capabilities needed to become an offshore wind technician.
Where is the Training?
Portions of the training will be held at Rowan College of South Jersey, with training locations in Atlantic City and in Sewell, Gloucester County, and at Atlantic Cape Community College's new wind education center in Atlantic City.
Training will also include travel to the Midwest and to Ørsted's wind farm off Rhode Island, according to The Press of Atlantic City.
What Does the Technician Job With Ørsted Pay?
The company quotes data from U.S. News & World Report's list of “Best Maintenance and Repair Jobs for 2022," and the Bureau of Labor Statistics that wind turbine technician has ranked #1 and is the second-fastest growing occupation, with a projected 68% increase in job growth by 2030 and a median annual salary of $56,230.
Ørsted says their technicians are paid $65,000 per year plus benefits, well above the industry average.
What is the deadline to Apply for This Technician's Job Training?
The deadline to apply is Monday, June 3rd. The approximate program start date of training is July 31, and ends on Dec. 22. The training program's schedule is Monday-Friday from 8 am - 4 pm. You can apply here.
What's a typical Day Like in Job Training?
Here is a rundown of a typical day from an employee with Ørsted in Denmark and the UK.
1: The typical day started at 7.00 am until 4.00 pm.
2:- Learned the full manufacturing of wind turbine blades from casting to final inspection.
2:- The line manager was a respected team manager who was helpful and considerate.
3:- The workplace culture was to perform your job in the correct and orderly fashion and show respect to others, but also carry out all duties required, on contractors' facilities.
4:- The hardest part of the job is dealing with some weather conditions out on site.
5:- the most enjoyable part of the job is getting a good rapport with contractors and their QC teams, and also seeing the finished article, on load out.