# Solar Energy Systems Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-systems-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2199.11
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $122,930 (10th percentile $66,810, 90th percentile $189,950)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.7%
- Openings a year: 8,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Engineers, all other".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 83 |
| Investigative (I) | 67 |
| Artistic (A) | 18 |
| Social (S) | 15 |
| Enterprising (E) | 34 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 87/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 81/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 80/100)
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 74/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 73/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 73/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 73/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 71/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Engineering, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1401) (CIP 1401, 803 colleges)
- [Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5123) (CIP 5123, 591 colleges)
- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1410) (CIP 1410, 456 colleges)
- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1408) (CIP 1408, 326 colleges)
- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1515) (CIP 1515, 230 colleges)
- [Chemical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1407) (CIP 1407, 214 colleges)
- [Engineering, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1499) (CIP 1499, 149 colleges)
- [Engineering Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1412) (CIP 1412, 145 colleges)
- [Systems Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1427) (CIP 1427, 119 colleges)
- [Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1442) (CIP 1442, 108 colleges)
- [Engineering Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1413) (CIP 1413, 101 colleges)
- [Manufacturing Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1436) (CIP 1436, 86 colleges)
- [Construction Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1433) (CIP 1433, 59 colleges)
- [Electrical and Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1447) (CIP 1447, 46 colleges)
- Nanotechnology (CIP 1516, 38 colleges)
- [Architectural Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1404) (CIP 1404, 31 colleges)
- Biological/Biosystems Engineering (CIP 1445, 29 colleges)
- Engineering Mechanics (CIP 1411, 29 colleges)
- Energy Systems Engineering (CIP 1448, 25 colleges)
- Surveying Engineering (CIP 1438, 25 colleges)
- Geological/Geophysical Engineering (CIP 1439, 24 colleges)
- Ocean Engineering (CIP 1424, 17 colleges)
- Electromechanical Engineering (CIP 1441, 10 colleges)
- Biochemical Engineering (CIP 1443, 9 colleges)
- Engineering Chemistry (CIP 1444, 3 colleges)
- Forest Engineering (CIP 1434, 3 colleges)
- Paper Science and Engineering (CIP 1440, 3 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,074 | $250,168 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $154,713 | $200,543 | $13,548 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,863 | $161,118 | $15,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $110,607 | $147,241 | $12,750 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $111,942 | $146,003 | $18,118 |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Systems Engineering | $96,168 | $144,830 | $12,000 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | not reported | $143,332 | not reported |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | not reported | $139,068 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-sales-representatives-and-assessors): $104,920 median pay
- [Solar Energy Installation Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-installation-managers): $79,920 median pay
- [Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-thermal-installers-and-technicians): $63,800 median pay
- [Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/energy-engineers-except-wind-and-solar): $122,930 median pay
- [Wind Energy Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Electrical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-engineers): $120,630 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.