Careers / Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Solar Energy Systems Engineers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$122,930
United States, 2025
Employment
154,070
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 17-2199.11
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency.
- Review specifications and recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives.
- Develop design specifications and functional requirements for residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems or components.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$66,810
25th percentile
$90,970
75th percentile
$158,090
90th percentile
$189,950
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Writing3.9
- Active Listening3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Mathematics3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Science3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Instructing3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 17 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
17
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Solar Energy Systems EngineersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $169,650 | 4,970 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $166,230 | 1,020 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,630 | 1,110 | 2025 |
| NM | $162,070 | 2,190 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $159,800 | 4,850 | 2025 |
| Huntsville, AL | $155,630 | 3,110 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $153,340 | 50 | 2025 |
| AL | $152,550 | 3,460 | 2025 |
| DC | $151,920 | 3,560 | 2025 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $151,760 | 230 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $151,340 | 9,230 | 2025 |
| VA | $148,160 | 5,060 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $145,500 | 90 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $142,920 | 280 | 2025 |
| AK | $142,390 | 200 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $142,130 | 440 | 2025 |
| Dayton, OH | $142,080 | 1,650 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $141,150 | 150 | 2025 |
| Greenville, NC | $140,970 | 40 | 2025 |
| Bellingham, WA | $140,220 | — | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Solar Energy Systems Engineers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.