How to hire a solar energy specialist

How to hire a solar energy specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step solar energy specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a solar energy specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new solar energy specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The solar energy specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A solar energy specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, solar energy specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of solar energy specialists.

   Type of Solar Energy Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Solar Energy Specialist	Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain product features, answer any questions that their customers may have, and negotiate prices.	$15-62
   Energy Consultant	An energy consultant is responsible for evaluating a company or household's energy consumption to identify alternatives that would minimize energy costs without compromising the quality of resources. Energy consultants analyze the clients' utility bills, inspect the equipment and machinery used for production, and strategizing energy plans to limit energy waste and costing... Show more	$26-56
   Energy Audit Advisor	An energy audit advisor specializes in providing analytical services to help commercial and residential establishments maintain energy-efficient operations. They are usually working for energy service companies where their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing extensive data, conducting research and analysis, facilitating tests, and performing audits and risk assessments... Show more	$22-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Renewable Energy
   • Utility Bills
   • HVAC
   • Energy Efficiency
   • Conservation Measures
   • Energy Auditing
   • Sustainability
   • Assistance Program
   • Blower Door
   • Retrofit
   • Energy Analysis
   • Solar Power
   • BPI

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage retrofit and direct installation projects with a teams of up to six members.
   • Write functional document of intelligent analytic tool to automate report and big data calculation process.
   • Perform numerous energy audits of lighting and HVAC systems in commercial and industrial buildings.
   • Conduct energy audits, recommend energy-efficient lighting and HVAC measures, and write audit reports for school districts and universities.
   • Perform quality assurance inspections to verify energy retrofit installations.
   • Produce impact assessment framework and report that used climate change models to identify system vulnerabilities that can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

   More solar energy specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your solar energy specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A solar energy specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, solar energy specialists' average salary in hawaii is 54% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level solar energy specialists earn 75% less than senior-level solar energy specialists.
   • Certifications. A solar energy specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a solar energy specialist's salary.

   Average solar energy specialist salary

   $65,454yearly

   $31.47 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level solar energy specialist salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average solar energy specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$113,156	$54
   2	Massachusetts	$95,568	$46
   3	Pennsylvania	$95,311	$46
   4	New Jersey	$91,209	$44
   5	Michigan	$86,761	$42
   6	District of Columbia	$84,412	$41
   7	Arizona	$82,665	$40
   8	New Mexico	$79,535	$38
   9	North Carolina	$79,448	$38
   10	Virginia	$79,101	$38
   11	Illinois	$77,799	$37
   12	Texas	$77,060	$37
   13	Indiana	$75,909	$36
   14	Colorado	$72,333	$35
   15	Minnesota	$72,129	$35
   16	Oklahoma	$71,912	$35
   17	Arkansas	$71,704	$34
   18	Georgia	$70,444	$34
   19	Maryland	$67,386	$32
   20	Florida	$65,439	$31

   Average solar energy specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$136,157	$65.46	218
   2	Bloomberg	$126,558	$60.85
   3	Kern Community College District	$121,190	$58.26	1
   4	Logistics Management Institute	$95,184	$45.76	2
   5	Daymark Energy Advisors	$88,076	$42.34
   6	Sunpro Solar	$81,525	$39.19
   7	Loureiro Engineering Associates	$81,287	$39.08
   8	CDI	$80,548	$38.73
   9	WorleyParsons	$79,554	$38.25
   10	Willdan	$79,461	$38.20	12
   11	University of Illinois Springfield	$78,737	$37.85
   12	Sargent & Lundy	$77,924	$37.46	8
   13	Maryland Energy Administration	$77,413	$37.22	2
   14	Schneider Electric Critical Systems	$77,362	$37.19
   15	HGA	$76,905	$36.97
   16	Walker-Miller Energy Services	$75,981	$36.53
   17	EYP	$65,921	$31.69
   18	McCarthy Holdings, Inc.	$61,680	$29.65	13
   19	Blue Raven Solar	$54,391	$26.15
   20	Trojan Battery	$52,137	$25.07

4. Writing a solar energy specialist job description

   A solar energy specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a solar energy specialist job description:

   Solar energy specialist job description example

   Loureiro Engineering Associates has an immediate need for a Energy Specialist to expand our energy auditing and energy conservation measure implementation service. Our goal is to employ the right individuals to be a part of our team, learning and working with experienced professionals who will help provide the formal training and mentoring needed to grow professionally and strive toward the opportunities that Loureiro can offer.
   
   You will work on a number of diverse projects and will be able to see how the Company's core values- integrity, client satisfaction, quality, work environment, safety and health, and sustainability are instilled in every project and in every employee.
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Perform energy audits at industrial manufacturing facilities;
   * Installing and removing data loggers;
   * Utilizing snapshot energy collection equipment;
   * Downloading and manipulating energy data;
   * Implementation of the Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program, including client outreach and training,
   * Identifying and quantifying energy uses within a site and their energy reduction opportunities;
   * Calculate energy savings for energy conservation projects, and return on investment calculations for energy conservation measures;
   * Performing data analysis using logger software as well as Excel applications;
   * Writing detailed reports on energy reduction opportunities;
   * Collaborate with other focus areas within Facility Engineering Division including Water/Wastewater, and mechanical, electrical, and Plumbing (MEP).
   
   Requirements:
   
   * Bachelor's degree in engineering, science or a technical field with 2-5 years' experience working with energy use systems and energy reduction;
   * Energy Certifications from the Association of Energy Engineers, Building Performance Institute, or similar; Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or Energy Manager in Training (EMIT) certification is preferred
   * Previous experience performing energy work in an industrial and manufacturing setting is preferred
   * Greenhouse Gas reporting experience, lean manufacturing experience, and complex project management are a plus.
   
   Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc. (Loureiro) is an employee owned (ESOP), full-service multi-disciplinary consulting firm with operations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Missouri, and the District of Columbia. Loureiro' s areas of expertise include the integration of the highest quality engineering, construction, environmental health & safety, energy, laboratory analytical, and waste management services.
   
   EEO/AAP Statement: Loureiro Engineering Associates Inc. is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right solar energy specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with solar energy specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit solar energy specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your solar energy specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit solar energy specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit solar energy specialists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new solar energy specialist

   Once you've found the solar energy specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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