What are careers in solar energy?

Solar panel installers, solar service technicians, and solar sales representatives are careers in solar energy. Here are some details on these careers and others in solar energy:

• Solar panel Installer

Installers are trade-related careers in the renewable energy industry. These include solar panel installers. These roles are seeing a rapid rate of growth in the renewable energy job market.

Installers work directly with renewable energy technology by installing solar panels on a residence or business. They may also maintain, optimize, and fix equipment utilized between a solar energy system and the electrical grid.

Solar panel installers also provide quality assurance services to customers. They may diagnose malfunctioning equipment involving solar panels and make repairs or take note of underperforming systems.

Technical skills are needed for these roles, and some of these positions require higher education, while others only require training.

The average salary of a solar panel installer in the United States is $62,216 per year.

• Solar service technician

Solar service technicians watch solar PV hardware systems in an effort to keep them functioning at top performance levels. They may also maintain, optimize, and fix equipment utilized during solar energy generation.

Solar service technicians also provide quality assurance services to customers. They may diagnose malfunctioning equipment involving solar panels and make repairs or take note of underperforming systems.

Oftentimes they utilize hardware or other equipment to test, clean and calibrate systems with the goal of preventing or fixing disruptions to power.

Technical skills are needed for these roles, and some of these positions require higher education, while others only require training. A bachelor's degree or higher in renewable energy, electrical engineering, or another related field may also be required.

The average salary of a solar service technician is $62,554 per year in the United States.

• Solar sales representative

Solar sales representatives are the sales force that makes calls to prospective clients and try to get them to buy and install solar panels at their residence or business. They may go over the environmental benefits of installing solar panels, as well as the overall savings in energy costs from using solar panels.

These professionals also prepare presentations, price quotes, and customer contracts. Some may also go on-site to get a better sense of a customer's solar needs.

Solar sales representatives may have an associate's degree or higher in a related field. Most will also have sales experience as well as a customer service experience. Some solar panel suppliers are open to training less experienced candidates in this position.

The average salary of a solar sales representative is $65,075 per year in the United States.

• Chemists

Chemists are an essential component of many services in the renewable energy field. They understand complex chemical processes like chemical reactions that lead to combustion, the inner workings of solar power, and many others.

They often use their expertise to develop new products in the renewable energy arena. Most chemists working in renewable energy hold master's or doctorate degrees in chemistry or another related science.

The average salary of a chemist in the United States is $75,988 per year.

• Software engineer

A software engineer is a tech professional who designs software. Software engineers design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software and other software products involving solar panels, applications, software, and other technology utilized in renewable energy.

The software they develop may help solar energy systems design, keeping track of solar energy production and consumption. In addition, some software engineers in this field will create simulation models to show the optimum placement and utilization of large solar energy systems.

Other common tasks include implementing technical designs, improving and maintaining the existing code base, reviewing code changes, writing new codes for applications, identifying issues with the software, and coordinating the installation of solar software for clients.

The average national salary of a software engineer working in solar energy is $110,304 per year.