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The differences between solar sales consultants and energy consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a solar sales consultant, becoming an energy consultant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a solar sales consultant has an average salary of $84,739, which is higher than the $81,907 average annual salary of an energy consultant.
The top three skills for a solar sales consultant include renewable energy, sales process and lead generation. The most important skills for an energy consultant are renewable energy, project management, and energy efficiency.
| Solar Sales Consultant | Energy Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $84,739 | $81,907 |
| Hourly rate | $40.74 | $39.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 28,317 | 17,538 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A solar sales consultant works with dealers or customers who want to purchase solar energy technology. They provide information about solar power and advice about solar panel installation. They may be responsible for cold-calling potential customers or going door-to-door to sell solar energy solutions.
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. They also recommend materials with low costs and efficient energy features. An energy consultant must have excellent communication and analytical skills, especially in measuring energy credits and building systems.
Solar sales consultants and energy consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solar Sales Consultant | Energy Consultant | |
| Average salary | $84,739 | $81,907 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $140,000 | Between $56,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | BlueSnap | Vermont Energy Investment Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a solar sales consultant and an energy consultant in terms of educational background:
| Solar Sales Consultant | Energy Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between solar sales consultants' and energy consultants' demographics:
| Solar Sales Consultant | Energy Consultant | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 11% |