1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
What is a Renewable Energy Engineer?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a renewable energy engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $46.77 an hour? That's $97,288 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 12,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Renewable Energy Engineer Do
There are certain skills that many renewable energy engineers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed creativity, listening skills and math skills.
How To Become a Renewable Energy Engineer
If you're interested in becoming a renewable energy engineer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 72.0% of renewable energy engineers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 20.0% of renewable energy engineers have master's degrees. Even though most renewable energy engineers have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Average Salary for a Renewable Energy Engineer
Renewable Energy Engineers in America make an average salary of $97,288 per year or $47 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $143,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $65,000 per year.
Average Renewable Energy Engineer Salary
$97,288 Yearly$46.77 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Renewable Energy Engineer
There are several types of renewable energy engineer, including:
Engineer
Role:
Engineers design and develop new products in a variety of different industries. They might be mechanical or software engineers or create electric machinery, design chemical or geotechnical processes, or help to structure civil or management disciplines. Whatever the case may be, engineers are involved in creating the diverse technologies that facilitate the processes of our lives in different areas. Combining creative thinking with the principles of mathematics and science using a wide range of technical skills, engineers work on the design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of various products from machines, vehicles, buildings, and roads to software or social processes serving consumers, businesses, and societies.
Engineers are creative thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They excel at mathematical, scientific, and mechanical analysis. They follow plans and blueprints with a strong focus, yet remain flexible and work well under pressure.
Engineers develop systems for solving various problems as members of a team. They know that a single component is worthless without their counterparts, so they have to be great communicators, as well, to be successful at their job.
Engineers are creative thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They excel at mathematical, scientific, and mechanical analysis. They follow plans and blueprints with a strong focus, yet remain flexible and work well under pressure.
Engineers develop systems for solving various problems as members of a team. They know that a single component is worthless without their counterparts, so they have to be great communicators, as well, to be successful at their job.
- Average Salary: $92,077
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Energy Engineer
Role:
Energy engineers oversee the development, construction of energy projects with approved specifications and adherence to federal and state laws. You are to monitor industrial energy consumption or management. You are also expected to work with construction managers to survey the field and audit energy-related projects.
An energy engineer may also design systems and propose renewable technologies that will promote energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions and minimize environmental damage. You are to plan and work with the allocated budget for a project and negotiate service with specialist contractors. In addition, you are to document projects or prepare technical reports.
Energy engineers work in field-based roles, and at irregular hours, as such, you are required to be physically fit. You should also have strong scientific and mathematical skills, good knowledge of the market, and the latest industry trends. Project management and computer skills are also valuable skills for this role. To qualify for this post, you should possess a bachelor's degree in engineering or science. The annual average salary is $67,000.
An energy engineer may also design systems and propose renewable technologies that will promote energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions and minimize environmental damage. You are to plan and work with the allocated budget for a project and negotiate service with specialist contractors. In addition, you are to document projects or prepare technical reports.
Energy engineers work in field-based roles, and at irregular hours, as such, you are required to be physically fit. You should also have strong scientific and mathematical skills, good knowledge of the market, and the latest industry trends. Project management and computer skills are also valuable skills for this role. To qualify for this post, you should possess a bachelor's degree in engineering or science. The annual average salary is $67,000.
- Average Salary: $86,305
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Renewable Energy Consultant
Role:
A Renewable energy consultant helps clients perform investigations to understand and direct the installation of renewable energy systems. Their main aim is to boost efficiency and minimize cost at the same time while decreasing negative environmental impacts.
Renewable energy consultants spend their days observing energy sources used all through a client's plant. Then, they try to determine whether the facility can run on other energy sources like solar and wind.
A renewable energy consultant needs to be very analytical and attentive to detail. He/She or she has to have substantial knowledge about renewable energy. Good communication skills will also come in handy as this person will often communicate with clients and other workers continuously.
A bachelor's degree in Renewable Energy Management is enough to gain employment as a renewable energy consultant. Meanwhile, the base salary these consultants earn range from $55,111 to $79,129 a year.
Renewable energy consultants spend their days observing energy sources used all through a client's plant. Then, they try to determine whether the facility can run on other energy sources like solar and wind.
A renewable energy consultant needs to be very analytical and attentive to detail. He/She or she has to have substantial knowledge about renewable energy. Good communication skills will also come in handy as this person will often communicate with clients and other workers continuously.
A bachelor's degree in Renewable Energy Management is enough to gain employment as a renewable energy consultant. Meanwhile, the base salary these consultants earn range from $55,111 to $79,129 a year.
- Average Salary: $94,129
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Renewable Energy Engineer Jobs
Number Of Renewable Energy Engineer Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,476 | $100,603 |
| 2 | Texas | 645 | $106,404 |
| 3 | Virginia | 627 | $99,232 |
| 4 | New York | 467 | $88,003 |
| 5 | Florida | 430 | $81,284 |
| 6 | Washington | 361 | $99,326 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 356 | $105,758 |
| 8 | Illinois | 350 | $101,004 |
| 9 | Maryland | 335 | $101,852 |
| 10 | Colorado | 275 | $98,672 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 262 | $84,260 |
| 12 | Georgia | 240 | $88,277 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 225 | $90,381 |
| 14 | Arizona | 221 | $109,103 |
| 15 | Ohio | 214 | $82,671 |
| 16 | Michigan | 211 | $75,761 |
| 17 | Oregon | 210 | $98,888 |
| 18 | New Jersey | 182 | $98,674 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 156 | $88,327 |
| 20 | Indiana | 143 | $70,017 |
| 21 | Missouri | 125 | $75,035 |
| 22 | Alabama | 119 | $86,960 |
| 23 | Utah | 111 | $90,662 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 110 | $81,198 |
| 25 | South Carolina | 95 | $83,688 |
| 26 | Connecticut | 89 | $102,464 |
| 27 | Tennessee | 77 | $85,278 |
| 28 | Delaware | 74 | $66,982 |
| 29 | Nebraska | 68 | $82,068 |
| 30 | Iowa | 66 | $99,405 |
| 31 | Nevada | 62 | $75,616 |
| 32 | Louisiana | 61 | $87,292 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 60 | $67,435 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | 55 | $100,251 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 52 | $87,888 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | 50 | $79,041 |
| 37 | New Mexico | 49 | $109,985 |
| 38 | Idaho | 44 | $97,376 |
| 39 | Kansas | 42 | $102,267 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 33 | $65,856 |
| 41 | Vermont | 31 | $101,302 |
| 42 | Maine | 30 | $87,338 |
| 43 | Mississippi | 30 | $82,673 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 29 | $92,656 |
| 45 | Alaska | 29 | $90,696 |
| 46 | Hawaii | 28 | $69,074 |
| 47 | West Virginia | 27 | $96,167 |
| 48 | Montana | 26 | $83,801 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 24 | $78,674 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 18 | $82,334 |
Top Colleges for Renewable Energy Engineers
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
9. University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,000
Enrollment
25,973
10. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
Top Skills For a Renewable Energy Engineer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 87.9% of renewable energy engineers listed renewable energy on their resume, but soft skills such as creativity and listening skills are important as well.
Renewable Energy Engineer Demographics
Renewable Energy Engineer Gender Distribution
Male
80%
Female
20%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among renewable energy engineers, 19.6% of them are women, while 80.4% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among renewable energy engineers is White, which makes up 58.9% of all renewable energy engineers.
- The most common foreign language among renewable energy engineers is Chinese at 50.0%.
Online Courses For Renewable Energy Engineer That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure
1. Renewable Energy Projects
Understanding renewable energy technologies is important, but equally important is knowing how to effectively deploy these technologies to provide renewable energy to end-users – the topic of this course. Upon completion of the course, you will understand the development and management of renewable energy projects, large and small, from conception to launch and subsequent operation. This course will teach you to plan, execute, and operate renewable energy projects such as solar PV plants, wind...
See More on Coursera2. Construction Project Management
Construction Project Management introduces learners to Project Initiation and Planning. Columbia University professor, Ibrahim Odeh, along with industry experts join together to provide a comprehensive overview of the construction industry. There are 10 modules that allow learners to become knowledgeable of construction management within the dynamic construction industry. Professor Odeh teaches learners about the fundamentals of the Project Development Cycle while guest lecturers discuss Lean...
See More on Coursera3. Exploring Renewable Energy Schemes
What do you picture when you hear the term “renewable energy?” Do you imagine fields of solar panels, giant windmills, or huge hydroelectric dams? Those are all examples of large-scale, grid-tied systems. In this course, we’ll go much smaller and focus on off-grid, stand-alone systems. We will explore the key components of photovoltaic, wind, and hydroelectric systems. We will examine photovoltaic, or PV, system components, and the scientific laws essential to understanding how renewable energy...
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How Do Renewable Energy Engineer Rate Their Jobs?
Top Renewable Energy Engineer Employers
Most Common Employers For Renewable Energy Engineer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevron | $130,460 | $62.72 | 1 |
| 2 | Motion Recruitment | $102,412 | $49.24 | 1 |
| 3 | Antares Inc | $100,586 | $48.36 | 2 |
| 4 | Blue Ridge Energy | $100,584 | $48.36 | 1 |
| 5 | Solvay America Inc | $100,439 | $48.29 | 3 |
| 6 | Vp Supply | $99,083 | $47.64 | 1 |
| 7 | GE Industrial Solutions | $97,191 | $46.73 | 1 |
| 8 | Henkels & Mccoy Group Inc | $93,447 | $44.93 | 3 |
| 9 | Solaris Oilfield | $93,221 | $44.82 | 1 |
| 10 | L.A.D.W.P. Metro Water Yard | $88,628 | $42.61 | 1 |