Ranked list · 43 careers
43 Renewable Energy Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Manager tops this list at $171,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +5.5% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 43 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 43From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $102,320BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 40 of 43BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 913,700Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers building and running clean power: wind and solar technicians and installers, energy engineers, project developers and the managers of renewable plants. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Careers building and running clean power: wind and solar technicians and installers, energy engineers, project developers and the managers of renewable plants. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 43 renewable energy jobs
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
- Median pay
- $171,270median a year
- Growth
- +5.5%
- Openings / yr
- 14,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.
- 2
2. Wind Energy Development Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $141,900median a year
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 100,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals.
- 3
3. Wind Energy Operations Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $141,900median a year
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 100,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.
- 4
4. Biofuels Production Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $126,060median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 17,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manage biofuels production and plant operations.
- 5
5. Biomass Power Plant Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $126,060median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 17,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities.
- 6
6. Geothermal Production Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $126,060median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 17,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities.
- 7
7. Hydroelectric Production Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $126,060median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 17,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities.
- 8
8. Energy Engineer, Except Wind and Solar
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $122,930median a year
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 8,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction.
- 9
9. Solar Energy Systems Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $122,930median a year
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 8,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers.
- 10
10. Wind Energy Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $122,930median a year
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 8,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems and prepare and develop site specifications.
- 11
11. Battery Energy Storage Engineer
Specialty within electrical engineer
- Median pay
- $120,630median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.9%
- Openings / yr
- 11,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs and integrates grid-scale battery storage systems that store electricity from the grid, solar or wind and release it when needed.
- 12
12. Grid Interconnection Engineer
Specialty within electrical engineer
- Median pay
- $120,630median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.9%
- Openings / yr
- 11,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Studies how new solar, wind and battery projects will affect the power grid and designs the upgrades needed to connect them.
- 13
13. Substation Engineer
Specialty within electrical engineer
- Median pay
- $120,630median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.9%
- Openings / yr
- 11,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs the high-voltage substations that step power up and down between power plants, transmission lines and local distribution networks.
- 14
14. Battery Engineer
Specialty within materials engineer
- Median pay
- $112,860median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs, tests and improves battery cells and packs for electric vehicles, grid storage and electronics.
- 15
15. Geothermal Drilling Engineer
Specialty within mining and geological engineer, including mining safety engineers
- Median pay
- $106,220median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plans and oversees the drilling of deep, hot wells that tap underground heat for geothermal power plants and heating systems.
- 16
16. Solar Sales Representative and Assessor
Sales and Related
- Median pay
- $104,920median a year
- Growth
- +1.2%
- Openings / yr
- 23,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Contact new or existing customers to determine their solar equipment needs, suggest systems or equipment, or estimate costs.
- 17
17. Fuel Cell Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $104,110median a year
- Growth
- +11.2%
- Openings / yr
- 17,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design, evaluate, modify, or construct fuel cell components or systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications.
- 18
18. Solar Project Developer
Specialty within project management specialist
- Median pay
- $102,320median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.7%
- Openings / yr
- 76,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Takes solar and storage projects from an empty site to construction-ready, securing land, permits, grid connection and contracts.
- 19
19. Biomass Plant Technician
Production
- Median pay
- $102,040median a year
- Growth
- −5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- High school
Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
- 20
20. Hydroelectric Plant Technician
Production
- Median pay
- $102,040median a year
- Growth
- −5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- High school
Monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation.
- 21
21. Wind Resource Analyst
Specialty within atmospheric and space scientist
- Median pay
- $99,070median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Measures and models wind at proposed and operating wind farms to estimate how much energy turbines will produce.
- 22
22. High Voltage Cable Splicer
Specialty within electrical power-line installer and repairer
- Median pay
- $95,320median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +10.3%
- Openings / yr
- 10,900
- Education
- High school
Joins and terminates the underground high-voltage power cables that feed cities, industrial plants, data centers and wind and solar farms.
- 23
23. Solar Energy Installation Manager
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $79,920median a year
- Growth
- +5.0%
- Openings / yr
- 67,000
- Education
- High school
Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.
- 24
24. Hydrogen Plant Operator
Specialty within chemical plant and system operator
- Median pay
- $78,120median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 1,300
- Education
- High school
Runs the equipment that produces hydrogen gas, either from natural gas reformers or from water electrolyzers, for refineries, fuel and industry.
- 25
25. Offshore Wind Technician
Specialty within wind turbine service technician
- Median pay
- $64,120median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +29.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Certificate
Maintains and repairs wind turbines at sea, transferring from boats to towers to service generators, blades and electrical systems.
- 26
26. Wind Turbine Blade Technician
Specialty within wind turbine service technician
- Median pay
- $64,120median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +29.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Certificate
Inspects and repairs the giant composite blades of wind turbines, often while hanging from ropes or a platform high above the ground.
- 27
27. Wind Turbine Service Technician
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $64,120median a year
- Growth
- +29.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Certificate
Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines.
- 28
28. Solar Thermal Installer and Technician
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $63,800median a year
- Growth
- +6.8%
- Openings / yr
- 42,000
- Education
- High school
Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.
- 29
29. Biofuels Processing Technician
Production
- Median pay
- $62,470median a year
- Growth
- +2.3%
- Openings / yr
- 1,200
- Education
- High school
Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process.
- 30
30. Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $53,140median a year
- Growth
- +36.5%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- High school
Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics.
- 31
31. Geothermal Technician
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $49,230median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 18,300
- Education
- High school
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources.
- 32
32. Carbon Capture Engineer
Specialty within chemical engineer
- Median pay
- $125,040median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs and runs systems that capture carbon dioxide from industrial plants or the air and move it to permanent storage or use.
- 33
33. Protection and Control Engineer
Specialty within electrical engineer
- Median pay
- $120,630median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.9%
- Openings / yr
- 11,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs and sets the protective relays that detect faults on the power grid and trip breakers within fractions of a second.
- 34
34. Ocean Engineer
Specialty within marine engineer and naval architect
- Median pay
- $112,230median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.7%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs structures and systems that work in the ocean, from offshore platforms, wind turbine foundations and subsea equipment to breakwaters and underwater vehicles.
- 35
35. Energy Manager
Specialty within facilities manager
- Median pay
- $106,660median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.6%
- Openings / yr
- 14,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Cuts energy use and cost across a portfolio of buildings or plants by tracking consumption, buying power wisely and leading efficiency projects.
- 36
36. Carbon Removal Project Developer
Specialty within project management specialist
- Median pay
- $102,320median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.7%
- Openings / yr
- 76,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Builds projects that pull carbon dioxide out of the air, such as direct air capture plants or enhanced rock weathering, and turns them into verified, sellable carbon removal credits.
- 37
37. Marine Geologist
Specialty within geoscientist, except hydrologists and geographers
- Median pay
- $101,920median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 1,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
A geoscientist who studies the seafloor and coastlines, mapping sediments, faults and coastal change for research, hazards, offshore energy and engineering projects.
- 38
38. Dynamic Positioning Operator
Specialty within captain, mate, and pilot of water vessels
- Median pay
- $92,460median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Certificate
A licensed deck officer who uses computer-controlled thrusters to hold offshore vessels precisely in position for drilling, diving, construction and wind farm work.
- 39
39. Energy Trader
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $78,660median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Buys and sells electricity, natural gas, oil and related contracts to manage supply and profit from price swings in energy markets.
- 40
40. ROV Pilot Technician
Specialty within electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologist and technician
- Median pay
- $73,900median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,400
- Education
- Associate's
Pilots and maintains remotely operated underwater vehicles for offshore energy, subsea construction, ocean research and salvage work.
- 41
41. EV Charging Technician
Specialty within electrician
- Median pay
- $63,190median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.2%
- Openings / yr
- 72,700
- Education
- High school
Installs, commissions and repairs electric vehicle chargers, from home wall units to high-power fast-charging stations along highways.
- 42
42. Protected Species Observer
Specialty within biological technician
- Median pay
- $57,510median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.4%
- Openings / yr
- 9,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Watches for whales, dolphins and sea turtles from ships and platforms during offshore construction, seismic surveys and dredging, and orders work to pause when animals come too close.
- 43
43. Electric Vehicle Technician
Specialty within automotive service technician and mechanic
- Median pay
- $50,620median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.0%
- Openings / yr
- 66,200
- Education
- Certificate
Diagnoses and repairs hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, including high-voltage batteries, electric motors, inverters and charging systems.
Questions
Renewable Energy Jobs: FAQ
What is the top career on the renewable energy jobs list?
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Manager leads the list with a median wage of $171,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +5.5% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Careers building and running clean power: wind and solar technicians and installers, energy engineers, project developers and the managers of renewable plants. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers building and running clean power: wind and solar technicians and installers, energy engineers, project developers and the managers of renewable plants. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do renewable energy jobs pay?
Across the 43 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $102,320 a year, from $49,230 at the bottom to $171,270 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
15 of the 43 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).