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How To Get Into Solar Engineering
Solar engineering is a high-paying job field that allows you to help make the planet a better place. Solar energy engineering jobs are expected to continue to grow in demand as more people see the value of renewable energy in reducing the impacts of climate change.
- What Does a Solar Engineer Do?
- Where Do Solar Engineers Work?
- Average Solar Engineer Salary
- What is the Job Outlook for Solar Engineers?
- What Education is Needed to Become a Solar Engineer?
There are actually several different types of solar engineers who work together on solar energy projects. This comprehensive career guide covers the different types of solar engineers and answers questions including what do solar engineers do and how to become a solar engineer.
Career Path Overview for Solar Engineer |
|
Education Requirements |
Bachelor’s Degree; Licensure as a Professional Engineer |
Recommended Degree Program |
BS in SBM Renewable Energy, A.A.S. in Renewable Energy |
Average Salary (2021) |
$98,300 |
Workers Employed in U.S. (2020) |
25,100 |
Projected Job Openings by 2030 |
2,100 |
Projected Growth Rate |
8% (as fast as average) |
Other Job Titles |
Solar Power Engineer, Material Engineer |
Related Careers |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Does a Solar Engineer Do?
If this field is new to you, you may be wondering what is solar engineering? Solar engineering is a field of engineering that focuses on designing, implementing, and maintaining ways to utilize solar power, usually through the use of solar panels. Sun power is the most ubiquitous energy source available on this planet, so solar engineering is an important field that is expected to continue to grow. It’s one of many climate change careers that help protect the planet.
Solar panel engineers design solar panels and solar energy systems. Engineers work in many aspects of the solar energy field, including building, designing, and installing solar panels and working to improve solar technology through data collection, lab work, and field experiments. Some engineers also work on repairing solar panels and performing routine maintenance.
Solar engineer teams usually consist of many different types of engineers:
- Materials Engineer: Material engineers work with the raw materials used to create different solutions such as solar panels. They develop and test materials like computer chips, metal for solar panel mounts, batteries, and more.
- Chemical Engineer: Chemical engineers aid in developing solar panels by studying the flow of energy and other processes taking place. They help to improve solar technology to make it more efficient, affordable, and sustainable.
- Electrical Engineer: These engineers are essential to the field of solar energy. They design, create, and maintain the circuits that give solar energy electrical systems life.
- Industrial Engineer: This lesser-known type of engineer helps bridge the gap between the designers of solar panels and the end users. They ensure that solar energy systems are usable and efficient for customers.
- Mechanical Engineer: Solar energy systems are complex and involve a lot of parts that work together. Mechanical engineers make sure those parts work seamlessly as a team. They also repair and maintain parts as needed.
Junior Solar Engineer Job Description
What does a solar engineer do in an entry-level position? A junior solar engineer job may involve installing, maintaining, and repairing solar panels under the supervision of a more experienced engineer. Junior solar engineers should be proficient in computer-aided design (CAD) software and have a strong understanding of solar energy. They should be able to work with a team of engineers and other solar energy professionals.
Advanced Solar Engineer Job Description
Advanced solar engineers may help to develop and implement large solar energy projects such as one for a large corporation or a city. They often manage teams of engineers and oversee solar energy systems. Senior solar engineers also work with executives, consultants, and other professionals to execute, manage, and audit projects. Some advanced solar engineers may even go into teaching and lead solar engineer training programs.
Explore more high-paying environmental careers where you can make a difference at work.
Where Do Solar Engineers Work?
Solar engineers spend some of their work time in offices and some in the field. Others may work in laboratories or factories. A solar engineer’s job description varies greatly depending on the job and the employer.
The job may require travel to different sites and physical labor such as carrying heavy equipment and climbing onto rooftops. Regardless of the work environment, most solar engineers work full time and may work irregular hours due to travel or responding to power outages and other issues. This includes responding to natural disasters.
The states that employ the most material engineers, a common type of solar engineer, are:
- California
- Ohio
- Texas
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
Average Solar Engineer Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have data specifically on the average solar engineer salary, but they do have overall data on material engineers. This is relevant since many solar engineers are material engineers. The median pay for material engineers in 2021 was $98,300. This is significantly higher than the national median income for the same year across all occupations, which was $44,225.
Top 5 States for Geoscientist Salary in U.S. |
||
State |
Average Annual Salary |
Average Hourly Rate |
Washington |
$132,110 |
$63.51 |
Alaska |
$122,170 |
$58.74 |
Maryland |
$115,430 |
$55.50 |
Texas |
$114,930 |
$55.25 |
California |
$112,760 |
$54.21 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
What is the Job Outlook for Solar Engineers?
The job outlook for solar engineers is bright – pun intended! As humanity continues to see the effects of climate change on society, renewable energy options become more popular. This means there will continue to be a need for solar engineers to help maintain existing solar energy projects and design more effective solar panels for the future. In fact, the job outlook is promising for many renewable energy careers.
Job Outlook for Material Engineers:
- Estimate of jobs available: 22,100
- Rate of projected job growth: 6% (as fast as average)
- New jobs to be added in the next 10 years: 1,300
- Fastest growing states for jobs: California, New Mexico, Ohio, and Texas
What Education is Needed to Become a Solar Engineer?
Knowing how to get a job in solar energy starts with the right education. Most entry-level solar engineer positions require a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Your education will include both academic and lab time, and you will need to develop a strong grasp of photovoltaic systems, thermal power technology, CAD, and computer programming.
Solar Engineer High School Recommendations
Some high schools focus on engineering and other STEM fields. These schools can help prepare you for a career as a solar engineer before you even start college. Classes such as physics, chemistry, computer science, and environmental science are key to establishing a strong foundation for engineers. Take as many of these as your high school offers.
In addition to science, technology, and elective courses, you can get involved in extracurricular activities and organizations to build your solar engineering skills. Here are some popular options:
- An environmental activism club
- International Science and Engineering Fair
- A robotics team
Solar Engineer College Education Recommendations
Becoming an engineer requires completing a Bachelor of Science degree program, which usually takes about four years. The degree may be in engineering or a related field such as Environmental Science and Climate Change.
A master’s degree is required for some advanced positions, research, and teaching jobs. If you want to earn a master’s degree, it will take an additional two years or more of college.
Learn how environmental science can prepare you for an engineering career from Unity’s blog.
Undergraduate
Aspiring solar engineers should obtain a bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, or a related field. While there are many different types of engineering undergraduate programs, Unity Environmental University offers a one-of-a-kind BS in Sustainable Business Management: Renewable Energy.
Postgraduate
A master’s of engineering is an advanced degree geared towards working professionals. An advanced degree may be required for high-level engineering positions. Also, if you are interested in teaching higher education or working in solar energy research and development, it may be worth it to pursue a master’s.
Additional Certifications and Licenses
Some, but not all, engineering jobs require a Professional Engineering (PE) license to work in addition to a degree. To get an engineering license, you must pass two tests – the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. The license is issued by the state where you work.
Recommended Unity Environmental University Degrees and Courses
BS in SBM Renewable Energy
This business degree will prepare you for a career managing solar energy systems. It combines coursework on environmental science, economics, and solar technology. This is a great option for anyone interested in starting their own solar energy business.
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Explore More Career Paths Related to Solar Engineering
Energy Engineer
Solar engineers are a type of energy engineer, but energy engineers may also work on wind turbines and other renewable energy systems.
Renewable Energy Consultant
Renewable energy consultants are part of the solar energy team. They advise businesses and organizations on renewable energy projects from development to auditing.
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