SOC 17-2199.03

    Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

    Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction.

    Median pay
    $122,930
    Growth
    +3.7%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    8,800
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Engineers, all other"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $66,810
    Median
    $122,930
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $189,950
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    154,070 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Energy engineers design and evaluate projects to cut energy costs and boost efficiency in buildings. The position offers a median annual pay of $122,930, with opportunities spanning green construction, lighting, and heating systems.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What energy engineers, except wind and solar do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Energy engineers focus on reducing energy consumption during the design, construction, and remodeling phases of buildings. They specialize in areas such as electrical systems, green buildings, air quality, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.

    On a daily basis, these professionals gather information, work with computers, and analyze data to solve complex problems. They inspect equipment and structures, evaluate project compliance with standards, and document their findings. This realistic and hands-on work requires strong skills in mathematics, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and systems analysis.

    Successful engineers draw on deep knowledge of engineering, technology, physics, and building construction. They must also understand design, economics, and customer service. Key work styles for this career include attention to detail, dependability, innovation, intellectual curiosity, and cautiousness as they make critical decisions regarding energy infrastructure.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Common college majors that prepare students for this career include general engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, and engineering-related fields.

    Professionals can earn various industry certifications to demonstrate their expertise. The Association of Energy Engineers offers credentials such as Certified Business Energy Professional, Certified Green Building Engineer, Certified Industrial Energy Professional, and Energy Efficiency Practitioner. Other options include the Certified Green Professional from the National Association of Home Builders, and the Commercial Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner with ASHRAE 189.1 from the International Code Council. Additionally, some states list a license for this work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for energy engineers is $122,930. The lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $66,810, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $189,950. These wage figures represent the broader BLS group "Engineers, all other."

    There are 154,070 people employed in this broader category. Employment is projected to grow by 3.7 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. About 8,800 job openings are projected to become available each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    70 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    62 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    17 / 100
    Social (S)
    21 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    35 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    57 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    88
    Working with Computers
    83
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    83
    Analyzing Data or Information
    80
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    79
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    78
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    78
    Documenting/Recording Information
    76
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    75
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Critical Thinking
    • Systems Analysis
    • Writing
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Mathematics
    • Monitoring

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Mechanical
    • Building and Construction
    • Design
    • English Language
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Physics
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Economics and Accounting

    Abilities

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Innovation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Alternative Energy Engineer · Building Engineer · Certified Green Building Engineer · Commissioning Engineer · Energy Conservation Engineer · Energy Efficiency Engineer · Energy Engineer · Energy Infrastructure Engineer · Energy Market Analyst · Energy Modeler

    Career pathway

    From your interests to energy engineers, except wind and solar

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar$122,930 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,074
      4 yrs after
      $250,168
      Median debt
      $19,500
    2. 2University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $154,713
      4 yrs after
      $200,543
      Median debt
      $13,548
    3. 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT logo
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

      Cambridge, MA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,863
      4 yrs after
      $161,118
      Median debt
      $15,000
    4. 4Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $110,607
      4 yrs after
      $147,241
      Median debt
      $12,750
    5. 5The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus logo
      The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus

      Austin, TX · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $111,942
      4 yrs after
      $146,003
      Median debt
      $18,118
    6. 6University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA logo
      University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA

      Charlottesville, VA · Systems Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $96,168
      4 yrs after
      $144,830
      Median debt
      $12,000
    7. 7Columbia University in the City of New York logo
      Columbia University in the City of New York

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $143,332
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $139,068
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What energy engineers, except wind and solar may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 32.

    • Applied Engineering
    • Architectural Engineering
    • Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering
    • Biochemical Engineering
    • Biological/Biosystems Engineering
    • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
    • Construction Engineering
    • Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Electromechanical Engineering
    • Energy Systems Engineering, General
    • Energy Systems Engineering, Other
    • Engineering Chemistry

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    49 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about energy engineers, except wind and solar

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for energy engineers?

    People in this occupation are also called alternative energy engineers, building engineers, energy efficiency engineers, energy infrastructure engineers, and energy market analysts.

    What level of education and preparation is required for this career?

    Most positions require a bachelor's degree and several years of experience in a related field. This career is classified as requiring considerable preparation.

    Are there licensing requirements for energy engineers?

    Licensing requirements vary by location, as some states list a license for this type of engineering work.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.