SOC 17-2199.11

    Solar Energy Systems Engineers

    Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers.

    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

    Solar energy systems engineers design and analyze solar power and heating projects for various buildings. Belonging to a broader engineering group with a median annual pay of $122,930, these professionals help clients transition to renewable energy.

    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 solar energy systems engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.

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

    What the work is like

    People in this career perform detailed engineering analyses to evaluate energy efficiency and solar projects for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. They design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems, customizing them to fit local climates, structural energy needs, and thermodynamics. Day-to-day activities involve gathering information, solving complex problems, and drafting technical specifications for solar equipment. They must evaluate their designs to ensure they comply with safety and industry standards.

    This role requires strong realistic interests, meaning hands-on and practical work. Engineers spend significant time working with computers, analyzing data, and organizing project priorities. Success in this field relies on a deep knowledge of engineering, design, building construction, mathematics, physics, and mechanical systems. To collaborate effectively with clients and project teams, these engineers must also possess strong skills in critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and clear written and spoken communication.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of related on-the-job experience. Students preparing for this field usually major in general engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, engineering physics, or other engineering-related fields.

    Depending on where they plan to work, professionals may need to obtain a state license, as some states list licensing requirements for this occupation. Additionally, individuals can pursue professional credentials to demonstrate their expertise, such as the Energy Risk Professional certification offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for solar energy systems engineers is $122,930, though this figure represents the broader group of all other engineers. Within this category, the lowest 10% of earners make less than $66,810, while the highest 10% earn more than $189,950.

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

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    83 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    67 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    18 / 100
    Social (S)
    15 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    34 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    49 / 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
    87
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    81
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    80
    Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
    76
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    74
    Working with Computers
    74
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    73
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    73
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    73
    Analyzing Data or Information
    71
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

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

    Knowledge

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

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Fluency of Ideas
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Oral Expression
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Information Ordering
    • Mathematical Reasoning

    Also called

    Applications Engineer · Consulting Engineer · Engineer · Photovoltaic System Designer (PV System Designer) · Power Systems Engineer · Project Engineer · Renewable Energy Specialist · Research Engineer · Solar Applications Development Engineer · Solar Array Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to solar energy systems engineers

    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

      • Solar Energy Systems Engineers$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 solar energy systems engineers 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 6, 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 solar energy systems engineers

    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 solar energy systems engineers?

    People in this field are also called photovoltaic system designers, power systems engineers, renewable energy specialists, solar array engineers, and project engineers.

    What college majors are most relevant to this career?

    Relevant majors include general engineering, civil engineering, electrical and communications engineering, chemical engineering, engineering physics, and rehabilitation and therapeutic professions.

    Is a license required to work in this field?

    Some states list a license for this work, so requirements vary depending on the location of employment.

    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 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.