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National Renewable Energy Laboratory salaries
National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary estimate
$60,897yearly
Understanding Salaries at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory serves as a leader in renewable energy research, and its salary structure reflects its commitment to attracting skilled professionals. The average salary at NREL is $60,897, but this figure varies significantly based on position and department.
For instance, the highest paying jobs include group manager ($106,291), senior scientist ($91,138), and software engineer ($86,753). In contrast, entry-level roles such as internships pay around $36,055 annually. This disparity underscores the importance of experience and expertise in salary determination.
Location also plays a crucial role in salary levels. NREL employees in the District of Columbia benefit from higher salaries due to the local cost of living. Additionally, the engineering department is the highest-paid sector with an average of $74,928, indicating a strong demand for engineering talent. Understanding these dynamics provides insights into how compensation is structured at NREL, assisting potential applicants in making informed career decisions.
Highest paying jobs at National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The highest paying jobs at National Renewable Energy Laboratory are group manager, senior scientist, software engineer, and project leader. Group manager jobs at National Renewable Energy Laboratory earn an average yearly salary of $106,291, National Renewable Energy Laboratory senior scientist jobs average $91,138, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory software engineer jobs average $86,753.
The lowest paying National Renewable Energy Laboratory roles include internship and laboratory technician. National Renewable Energy Laboratory internship average salary is $36,055 per year. So while the average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary is $60,897 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at National Renewable Energy Laboratory
| Rank | Job title | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group Manager | $106,291 | $51.10 |
| 2 | Senior Scientist | $91,138 | $43.82 |
| 3 | Software Engineer | $86,753 | $41.71 |
| 4 | Project Leader | $86,319 | $41.50 |
| 5 | Software Developer | $85,874 | $41.29 |
| 6 | Ruby On Rails Developer | $85,027 | $40.88 |
| 7 | Staff Scientist | $84,697 | $40.72 |
| 8 | Devops Engineer | $84,541 | $40.64 |
| 9 | Project Manager | $80,032 | $38.48 |
| 10 | Subcontract Administrator | $74,905 | $36.01 |
| 11 | Systems Administrator | $72,810 | $35.00 |
| 12 | Systems Analyst | $71,373 | $34.31 |
| 13 | Marketing Professional | $68,947 | $33.15 |
| 14 | Finance Analyst | $68,137 | $32.76 |
| 15 | Communications Specialist | $65,392 | $31.44 |
| 16 | Projects Controller | $64,005 | $30.77 |
| 17 | Human Resources Generalist | $62,686 | $30.14 |
| 18 | Post Doctoral Researcher | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 19 | Associate Designer | $61,835 | $29.73 |
| 20 | PHD Researcher | $61,548 | $29.59 |
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Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary by state
National Renewable Energy Laboratory pays the highest salaries in District of Columbia due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
| Rank | State | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $65,152 | $31.32 |
| 2 | Alaska | $62,671 | $30.13 |
| 3 | Colorado | $58,218 | $27.99 |
How much does National Renewable Energy Laboratory pay by location?
Highest paying National Renewable Energy Laboratory locations
| Rank | Location | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $65,117 | $31.31 |
| 2 | Fairbanks, AK | $62,216 | $29.91 |
| 3 | Golden, CO | $58,237 | $28.00 |
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National Renewable Energy Laboratory salaries by department
Salaries at National Renewable Energy Laboratory vary depending on the department you work in. National Renewable Energy Laboratory salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $74,928. Employees in the it department at National Renewable Energy Laboratory receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $74,167 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at National Renewable Energy Laboratory include the administrative and the facilities organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $45,892 and $50,729, respectively.
Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering | $74,928 | $36.02 |
| 2 | IT | $74,167 | $35.66 |
| 3 | Plant/Manufacturing | $69,403 | $33.37 |
| 4 | Finance | $68,430 | $32.90 |
| 5 | Art/Design | $66,648 | $32.04 |
| 6 | Human Resources | $64,681 | $31.10 |
| 7 | Marketing | $62,755 | $30.17 |
| 8 | Research & Development | $60,175 | $28.93 |
| 9 | Healthcare | $54,918 | $26.40 |
| 10 | Accounting | $53,870 | $25.90 |
| 11 | Facilities | $50,729 | $24.39 |
| 12 | Administrative | $45,893 | $22.06 |
How much does National Renewable Energy Laboratory pay by department?
Best paying National Renewable Energy Laboratory research & development salaries
| Rank | Position | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Scientist | $91,138 | $43.82 |
| 2 | Staff Scientist | $84,697 | $40.72 |
| 3 | Analytical Chemist | $70,453 | $33.87 |
| 4 | Environmental Engineer | $66,115 | $31.79 |
| 5 | Post Doctoral Researcher | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 6 | PHD Researcher | $61,548 | $29.59 |
| 7 | Environmental Specialist | $54,516 | $26.21 |
| 8 | Research Internship | $47,921 | $23.04 |
| 9 | Chemistry Technologist | $47,143 | $22.66 |
| 10 | Research Assistant | $43,369 | $20.85 |
| 11 | Laboratory Internship | $42,213 | $20.29 |
| 12 | Laboratory Technician | $38,148 | $18.34 |
| 13 | Chemical Technician | $37,596 | $18.08 |
Best paying National Renewable Energy Laboratory engineering salaries
| Rank | Position | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Database Administrator | $102,007 | $49.04 |
| 2 | Senior Engineer | $100,022 | $48.09 |
| 3 | Design Architect | $92,112 | $44.28 |
| 4 | ETL Architect | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| 5 | Computer Hardware Designer | $89,748 | $43.15 |
| 6 | Software Engineer | $86,753 | $41.71 |
| 7 | Project Leader | $86,319 | $41.50 |
| 8 | Software Developer | $85,874 | $41.29 |
| 9 | Ruby On Rails Developer | $85,027 | $40.88 |
| 10 | Engineering Analyst | $84,819 | $40.78 |
| 11 | Computer Scientist | $84,482 | $40.62 |
| 12 | Technical Project Manager | $84,250 | $40.50 |
| 13 | Test Engine Evaluator | $83,378 | $40.09 |
| 14 | Waste Management Specialist | $77,581 | $37.30 |
| 15 | Chemical Engineering Internship | $71,266 | $34.26 |
| 16 | Data Science Internship | $70,015 | $33.66 |
| 17 | Data Analyst | $68,958 | $33.15 |
| 18 | Mechanical Technician | $53,380 | $25.66 |
| 19 | Reliability Technician | $50,389 | $24.23 |
Best paying National Renewable Energy Laboratory IT salaries
| Rank | Position | Average National Renewable Energy Laboratory salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enterprise Architect | $109,811 | $52.79 |
| 2 | Security Manager | $108,642 | $52.23 |
| 3 | Information Technology Project Manager | $95,360 | $45.85 |
| 4 | Project Leader | $86,319 | $41.50 |
| 5 | Senior Technical Advisor | $82,447 | $39.64 |
| 6 | Network Engineer | $82,178 | $39.51 |
| 7 | Senior Infrastructure Analyst | $80,799 | $38.85 |
| 8 | Securities Consultant | $78,547 | $37.76 |
| 9 | Power System Operator | $74,682 | $35.90 |
| 10 | Network Administrator | $74,318 | $35.73 |
| 11 | Systems Administrator | $72,810 | $35.00 |
| 12 | Systems Analyst | $71,373 | $34.31 |
| 13 | Information Specialist | $70,469 | $33.88 |
| 14 | Data Center Technician | $46,814 | $22.51 |
| 15 | Technical Internship | $43,455 | $20.89 |
| 16 | Computer Science Internship | $41,531 | $19.97 |
| 17 | Computer Operator | $39,899 | $19.18 |
Recently added National Renewable Energy Laboratory salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Specialist IV | Boulder, CO | 06/24/2025 | $50,200 |
| Subcontract Administrator IV-Construction | Golden, CO | 06/24/2025 | $81,500 |
| Postdoc In Molecular Biology/Metabolic Engineering | Golden, CO | 06/17/2025 | $74,900 |
| Senior Technical Recruiter-Defense and National Security Programs | Golden, CO | 06/14/2025 | $97,800 |
| Professional IV/V-Standard Labor Rate Analyst | Boulder, CO | 06/12/2025 | $81,500 |
Frequently asked questions about National Renewable Energy Laboratory salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of National Renewable Energy Laboratory, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its employees or that of Zippia.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory may also be known as or be related to NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LA, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Solar Energy Research Institute.