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Solar Engineer

Solar Engineer

E-07

E Other Energy, solar and power lines jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 17-2199.11

Texas median
whole occupation, 2025
$115,810
work over
40 h a week
50%
load index
from O*NET data
2.5/5
Texas jobs
2024 to 2034
+11.7%

Pay

This level's pay

No published pay record names this level: only 3 filing(s) with this job title; at least 5 are needed. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.

All pay records and context (3)
  • DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $78,480 · Level II $118,000 · Level III $131,768 · Level IV $187,272 (189 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
  • DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $82,000 · Level II $99,375 · Level III $121,722 · Level IV $137,592 (51 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
  • State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Engineer I $61,184 to $99,658 · Engineer II $65,104 to $106,634 · Engineer III $69,572 to $114,099 · Engineer IV $76,530 to $129,430 · Engineer V $84,182 to $142,374 · Engineer VI $92,600 to $156,612 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source

Whole occupation: Solar Energy Systems Engineers (17-2199), Texas
BLS OEWS May 2025
  • Series OEUS480000000000017219913 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
  • Based on an estimated 10,820 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017219901).

Half of all Solar Energy Systems Engineers in Texas earn more than $115,810; the bottom 10% earned less than $64,430 and the top 10% more than $177,780 (May 2025, base pay, about 10,820 jobs). U.S. median $122,930.

OEWS pay for an 'All Other' group; not specific to this occupation. Pay differences against this figure are not shown.

Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Solar Energy Systems Engineers, not level-specific
TWC, BLS

Texas
+11.7% jobs · about 690 openings a year (9,670 jobs in 2024)
United States
+2.1% jobs · about 9,300 openings a year (158,800 jobs in 2024)

Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.

Hours
O*NET 31.0
  • Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2023, n = 28 respondents, O*NET OnLine

About 1 in 2 work more than 40 hours a week (50%).

Schedule: regular 46% · irregular 46% · seasonal 7%

Physical load 2.5 of 5, our index from O*NET
Method
  • Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.17, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.85, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
  • O*NET OnLine

Body

  • Standing2.71
  • Walking or running2.29
  • Climbing ladders2.18
  • Bending or twisting2.04
  • Kneeling or crawling1.93
  • Keeping balance1.89

Exposure

  • Outdoors, all weather3.71
  • High places3.14
  • Hazardous conditions2.93
  • Protective gear2.93
  • Very hot or cold2.7
  • Hazardous equipment2.36
  • Cramped space2.18
Body 2.17 · exposure 2.85. O*NET Work Context means, 1 = never, 5 = continually or every day.

Getting in

License
Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
Degree
59% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related experience is the most common answer (39% of workers).
O*NET
  • O*NET Related Work Experience, Solar Energy Systems Engineers, O*NET OnLine
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Why this level
Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).

Moves to the side 6

  • E Energy Engineer O*NET lists Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.93.
  • E Wind Energy Engineer O*NET lists Wind Energy Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.88.
  • E Solar Sales Representative O*NET lists Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.78.
  • B Solar Energy Installation Manager O*NET lists Solar Energy Installation Managers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.76.
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What the work is 6 core tasks

Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.

  1. Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems.
  2. Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
  3. Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings.
  4. Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.
  5. Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  6. Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency.

Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.

Top skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Mathematics
Sources (4)

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license

Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.

On the line

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Not a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas or any U.S. state. Does not offer engineering services. Exam-prep education only.