This paper describes a real-time hardware simulator for a grid-tied Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) wind power system, which consists of an anemometer, a data logger, a motor-generator set with vector drive, and a back-to-back power converter with a digital signal processor (DSP) controller. The anemometer measures real wind speed, and the data is sent to the data logger to calculate the turbine torque. The calculated torque is sent to the vector drive for the induction motor after it is scaled down to the rated simulator power. The motor generates the mechanical power for the PMSG, and the generated electrical power is connected to the grid through a back-to-back converter. The generator-side converter in a back-to-back converter operates in current control mode to track the maximum power point at the given wind speed. The grid-side converter operates to control the direct current link voltage and to correct the power factor. The developed simulator can be used to analyze various mechanical and electrical characteristics of a grid-tied PMSG wind power system. It can also be utilized to educate students or engineers on the operation of grid-tied PMSG wind power system.