Engineering
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$122,930
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$67k – $190k
Job outlook
+2% (about average)
AI exposure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 8 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $99,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Education
Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Solar Energy Systems Engineers Intern
Internship
$36,000
~4 mos to advance
Junior Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Entry / Junior
$66,810
~2 yrs to advance
Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Established
$122,930
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Senior
$156,440
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems.
- •Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
- •Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings.
- •Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.
- •Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Engineering
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- Georgia Institute of Technology16% admit · $99,000 grad pay
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign45% admit · $80,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.