Architecture and engineering
Solar Energy Systems Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
SOC 41-4011.07
Contact new or existing customers to determine their solar equipment needs, suggest systems or equipment, or estimate costs.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products"
Annual pay range
284,800 people work in this occupation.
In short
Solar sales representatives and assessors contact customers to evaluate their solar equipment needs, recommend systems, and estimate costs. The median annual pay for the broader sales group containing this career is $104,920.
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.
Contact new or existing customers to determine their solar equipment needs, suggest systems or equipment, or estimate costs.
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.
People in this career focus on selling solar technology and helping customers transition to renewable energy. On a daily basis, they gather information from clients, explain the benefits of solar systems, and calculate cost estimates. This role requires strong skills in speaking, persuasion, active listening, and negotiation to influence buyers and build lasting relationships.
These professionals spend significant time communicating with individuals outside their organization and working with computers to design proposals. Success in this field relies on knowledge of sales and marketing, customer service, and basic mathematics. They must also understand building construction and design principles to assess whether a property is suitable for solar panels. This occupation attracts people with enterprising interests who enjoy taking initiative, making decisions, and solving complex problems.
To enter this field, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree, though the career is classified as requiring medium preparation. Many individuals qualify through vocational training, an associate degree, or related sales experience.
Students interested in this career path often pursue college majors in general sales or merchandising and related marketing operations. Gaining experience in customer service or general sales roles can also help prepare candidates for this position. No specific professional licenses, certifications, or association memberships are listed as standard requirements to enter the field.
The median annual pay for solar sales representatives and assessors is $104,920, though this figure represents the broader category of technical and scientific products sales representatives. Within this group, the lowest 10% of earners make less than $52,600, while the highest 10% earn more than $200,440.
Employment in this field is projected to grow by 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, which is slower than the average for all occupations. Despite this slow growth rate, the industry expects about 23,600 job openings each year to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Interest code ECR. Compare it with yours
Canvasser · Energy Consultant · Residential Solar Consultant · Residential Solar Sales Consultant · Retail Solar Advisor · Sales Associate · Sales Consultant · Sales Representative (Sales Rep) · Sales Specialist · Salesman
Career pathway
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.
1Interests
2This career
3Majors
4Colleges
Interests
This career
Majors
Colleges
College Scorecard program 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.
Waco, TX · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
College Station, TX · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
Bowling Green, OH · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
Ogden, UT · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
West Lafayette, IN · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
Madison, WI · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
Kennesaw, GA · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
Muncie, IN · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
358 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What solar sales representatives and assessors may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work.
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
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
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.
People in this field are known by many names, including energy consultant, residential solar sales consultant, retail solar advisor, and canvasser. They may also be called sales specialists, solar sales representatives, or sales associates.
The strongest interest area for this occupation is enterprising. This means the work appeals to people who enjoy starting and carrying out projects, persuading others, and making business decisions.
Related careers in the energy sector include solar energy systems engineers, solar energy installation managers, energy auditors, solar photovoltaic installers, and wind energy development managers.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
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.