The Future of Energy: 20 Best Paying Jobs In Energy

Why are energy jobs so important, and what are some of the best paying jobs in energy? 

Climate change is increasingly concerning, and fewer resources, including petroleum and natural gas, are recognized as sustainable. 

With that in mind, renewable energy is seemingly the next big thing. As such, jobs in energy are some of the fastest-growing jobs available.

These new materials and resources have created job growth and opportunities for job seekers within various energy sectors, including solar and wind energy. 

Are Jobs In Energy in High Demand?

According to Forbes, overall energy sector jobs rose 4% in 2021. This added more than 300,000 jobs to reach more than 7.8 million total energy-related jobs. 

U.S. energy sector job growth outpaced overall U.S. jobs growth, rising 2.8% in 2021. Furthermore, the production of electric vehicle jobs skyrocketed, increasing by 26.2%. 

This added 21,961 new jobs to the economy. The DOE reports that 40% of total energy jobs support reducing U.S. emissions to zero across several sectors—underscoring the pathway to success in reaching President Biden’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

What Are The Educational Requirements for the Best Paying Jobs in Energy?

There is a range of jobs available in energy with renewable energy companies, from entry-level positions to management and executive leadership. 

While employees must understand renewable energy sources and the renewable energy sector as a whole, this is a good career path for those without formal education past high school. Many crucial skills can be gained on the job while employees gain real-life experience.

With that said, often, individuals in the renewable energy sector must be good with math, and, depending on the area of specialty, good with biology and physics.

Where to Find The Best Paying Jobs in Energy

Clean energy was a significant source of job growth in many states. However, the three states with the highest energy job growth numbers overall are Michigan, California, and Texas.

Organizations, including Young Professionals in Energy (YPE), have job boards focused on the energy sector. If you’re looking for energy jobs in the government sector, you can also check out the federal website, which includes a variety of job postings.

20 of the Best Paying Jobs in Energy Sector + How to Get Them

1. Wind Farm Site Manager

Average Salary: Median salary for 2020 was $116,350

Education:

Most wind farm site managers are required to have a bachelor’s degree. Some have a master’s degree. Generally, several years of practical experience through education and/or on-the-job training are needed to become qualified for this role.

Description:

A Wind Farm Site Manager supervises the construction and maintenance of a wind farm. A wind farm is a plot of land, which houses huge turbines and generators that crank wind into energy. That energy hits the grid and is sent to schools and households.

2. Geoscientist

Average Salary: The median annual wage for geoscientists was $83,680 in May 2021

Education:

The education needed to be a geoscientist is normally a bachelor’s degree.

Description:

Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth.

3. Financial Analyst for Energy Companies

Average Salary: Renewable Energy System Finance Specialists in America make an average salary of $70,090 per year or $34 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $105,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $46,000 per year.

Education:

The most common degree for renewable energy system finance specialists is a bachelor’s degree.

Description:

lead analysis and manage institutional partnerships in clean energy finance.

4. Solar Project Developer

Average Salary: median pay is $105,060 per year

Education:

Solar project developers typically hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or finance, and often an MBA as well.

Description:

Solar Project Developers are responsible for all aspects of solar energy project development, including securing land rights, interconnection rights, building permits, and property tax agreements; working closely with engineering, finance, and commercial teams when a project moves successfully to the ‘pre construction’ phase.

Solar Project Developers also act as lead project sponsor for the successful financing and construction of the project.

5. Solar Power Plant Operator

Average Salary: The median annual wage for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers was $94,790 in May 2021.

Education:

High-School Diploma (or equivalent).

Description:

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.

 6. Project Manager, Solar

Average Salary: Median annual salary is $82,500

Education:

Solar project managers typically need a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Many employers prefer candidates with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field.

Description:

Solar project managers negotiate contracts, monitor project performance, and ensure that the project is completed according to the agreed upon schedule and within budget guidelines

7. Consultant, Renewable Energy

Average Salary: Energy consultants have a national average salary of $109,440 per year. Aside from their base salary, these professionals make an average commission of $26,400 per year.

Education:

Though some employers only require an associate’s degree, a majority of organizations are looking for applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Additionally, industry certification can be an impressive addition to your energy consulting resume.

Description:

An energy consultant, also referred to as a renewable energy consultant, is a relatively new position that helps clients evaluate, understand and implement systems that reduce the organization’s carbon footprint and overall energy use.

8. Sales Representative, Solar

Average Salary: Glassdoor estimates that solar sales reps make an average salary of $74,174 per year.

Education:

High-School Diploma (or equivalent).

Description:

Solar sales representatives sell solar-powered energy products through calls, training, and presentations to prospective clients and leads.

9. Site Assessor

Average Salary: According to ZipRecruiter, an average site assessor’s annual salary is $55,913.

Education:

High-School Diploma (or equivalent). Site assessors should pursue industry-specific training and certification to improve site assessment and report writing skills.

Description:

Site assessors evaluate sites in-person or remotely to determine how much energy can be harvested at a given location, then make written and verbal system recommendations to potential customers.

10. Solar PV Installer

Average Salary: Recruiter.com notes that a solar photovoltaic installer earns an average salary ranging from $32,590 – $64,600.

Education: 

High-School Diploma (or equivalent).

Description:

Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers assemble, set up, and maintain rooftops or other systems that convert sunlight into energy.

11. Aerospace Engineers 

Average Salary: The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $122,270 in May 2021.

Education:

Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or another engineering field or science related to aerospace systems. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need security clearance.

Description:

Aerospace engineers design, test, and supervise the manufacture of turbine blades and rotors, and conduct aerodynamics assessments.

They are frequently involved in site selection, working closely with meteorologists to determine the optimal configuration of turbines at a wind farm site.

12. Civil Engineers 

Average Salary: The median annual wage for civil engineers was $88,050 in May 2021.

Education:

Civil engineers need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, in one of its specialties, or in civil engineering technology. They typically need a graduate degree and licensure for promotion to senior positions.

Although licensure requirements vary by state, civil engineers usually must be licensed if they provide services directly to the public.

Description:

Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of many parts of wind farms, including roads, support buildings, and other structures such as the tower and foundation portions of the wind turbine.

Because of the scale of wind turbines, these engineers must deal with some atypical problems, such as designing roads that can withstand very heavy loads and trailers that are up to 100 feet long.

Since many wind farms are located in the Midwest and western States, they have to consider potential hazards ranging from extreme winds and cold temperatures to earthquakes. Civil engineers in wind power typically specialize in structural, transportation, construction, and geotechnical engineering.

13. Electrical Engineers

Average Salary: The median annual wage for electrical engineers was $100,420 in May 2021.

Education:

Electrical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related engineering field.

Description:

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of turbines’ electrical components, including electric motors, machinery controls, lighting and wiring, generators, communications systems, and electricity transmission systems.

14. Electronics Engineers

Average Salary: The median annual wage for electronics engineers was $104,820 in May 2021.

Education:

Electronics engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related engineering field.

Description:

Electronics engineers are responsible for electricity systems that control turbine systems or signal processes. Whereas electrical engineers work primarily with power generation and distribution, electronics engineers deal with the complex electronic systems used to operate the turbine.

 

15. Environmental Engineers

Average Salary: The median annual wage for environmental engineers was $96,820 in May 2021.

Education:

A bachelor’s degree is needed to become an environmental engineer. Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering.

Description:

Environmental engineers deal with the potential environmental impacts of wind turbines. Although wind power is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of electricity, engineers must consider some environmental concerns.

These include noise, visual impact, the impact on local species, interference with radar and telecommunications, and electric and magnetic fields caused by electricity-generating equipment.

16. Health and Safety Engineers

Average Salary: The average salary for a Health And Safety Engineer is $76,151 per year in the US.

Education:

Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or in environmental health and safety. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have practical experience.

As a result, cooperative-education programs may be valuable as well to candidates looking to pursue this career.

Description:

Health and safety engineers identify and measure potential hazards of wind turbines, and implement systems that ensure safe manufacture and operation. They usually recommend appropriate loss-prevention measures according to the probability of harm or damage.

17. Industrial Engineers

Salary: The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $95,300 in May 2021.

Education:

Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field, such as mechanical or electrical engineering or industrial engineering technologies.

Description:

Industrial engineers determine the most effective ways to use the basic factors of production to make components of wind turbines.

They are primarily concerned with increasing productivity and minimizing costs in manufacturing turbine systems and components.

Industrial engineers study product requirements and design manufacturing and information systems to meet those requirements with the help of mathematical models. They also aid in financial planning, cost analysis, and the design of production processes and control systems.

18. Materials Engineers

Average Salary: The average Materials Engineer salary in the United States is $74,613 as of October 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $67,579 and $82,115.

Education:

Materials engineers must work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and composites that meet certain mechanical and electrical requirements.

• 69% of materials development engineers hold a bachelor’s degree
• 18% hold a master’s degree)

Description:

Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to construct wind turbines. Wind turbines consist of thousands of parts, and each must be designed to exact specifications because of the stresses involved in generating wind power.

Materials engineers must work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and composites that meet certain mechanical and electrical requirements.

19. Mechanical Engineers

Average Salary: BLS estimates that the annual wage for mechanical engineers is $97,000 annually.

Education:

Mechanical engineers require a bachelor’s degree, and may be able to increase wages by obtaining a master’s degree and other industry certifications.

Description:

Mechanical engineers work on a variety of machines and other mechanical devices. They research, design, develop, and test tools and mechanical devices.

These engineers work on wind turbine components, systems, or machinery used to manufacture and test the turbines. Many of these engineers also supervise manufacturing processes.

20. Wind Turbine Technicians

Average Salary: US News notes that Wind Turbine Service Technicians make between $46,270 and $68,920 annually.

Education:

According to BLS, Most wind techs learn their trade by attending technical schools or community colleges, where they typically complete certificates in wind energy technology, although some workers choose to earn an associate’s degree.

Many technical schools have onsite wind turbines that students can work on as part of their studies.

Description:

Wind turbine service technicians install, maintain, and repair wind turbines.