Resources > How solar creates jobs

How solar creates jobs

April 11, 2024

Behind every solar array lies an entire team of workers who made it possible. This is true for large utility-scale solar farms and for small rooftop systems. Deploying solar requires installers, engineers, electricians, equipment manufacturers, system designers, salespeople, and more. The solar industry employs more than 260,000 workers full time across all 50 states. 

Solar employment is on the rise

Over the past two decades, the demand for solar has increased. The cost of solar equipment has decreased. The government has enacted solar-friendly policies like the Inflation Reduction Act. This shift has caused solar deployment to skyrocket. And that means many more solar jobs!

Between 2012 and 2017, the U.S. solar industry added more than 130,000 new jobs. That’s one in every 100 new jobs nationwide!

For employees across the energy industry, solar is the best and brightest place to be. Solar employs twice as many workers as coal and nearly five times as many as nuclear. Solar is the fastest growing source of power in the country. Thus, solar employment is set to continue its rapid upswing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the top 20 fastest growing occupations over the next 10 years. They include the job of solar installer on that list.

Solar jobs in your community

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are already employed by the solar industry. But what about solar jobs specifically in your backyard? 

See how many solar jobs are in your state and county! Check out the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) Solar Jobs Census 2022. The Jobs Census is the preeminent solar jobs tracker, updated on an annual basis.

Our role in solar job creation

People who install solar on their homes help to create solar jobs in their communities. In fact, more than a third of all solar industry jobs nationwide are due to residential solar. It employs almost three times as many workers as utility-scale solar.

Solar United Neighbors helps people go solar in many ways. This creates new solar jobs in communities all over the U.S. One major driver is our solar co-op program. We currently run solar co-ops in 12 states.

A solar co-op is a group of community members who come together to go solar on their homes and businesses. They do so with the technical support of Solar United Neighbors. To date, our solar co-ops have taken more than 9,900 individuals solar. These installations have caused electric bill savings, created local wealth, and benefitted public health. They have also created 1,805 new solar jobs.*

*We calculated this number using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Jobs and Economic Development (JEDI) model.

The real people of the solar industry

Each new solar job represents a real person—a community member deserving of a stable, well-paying job. Meet Azam, Ryan, and Steve.

Solar United Neighbors of Ohio worked with YellowLite on the Cuyahoga County Solar Co-op. We saw demand for solar from hundreds of homeowners across the county. YellowLite grew their installation business while serving the co-op.

Florida is one of the nation’s fastest-growing solar markets. Our co-ops have helped more than 2,500 homeowners go solar in Florida. We partnered with Tampa Bay Solar for our Hillsborough and Citrus County Solar Co-ops.

In Maryland, Solar United Neighbors has worked on several co-ops with Sustainable Energy Systems. Their business has grown from a few employees to dozens of staff.

Career paths available in solar

What comes to mind when you think about someone working in the solar industry? You probably picture a person in a hard hat, installing a rooftop solar array. Or a person in protective goggles, on a manufacturing line that produces solar panels. 

Installer and manufacturer remain two of the leading solar jobs. But the solar industry features more than 40 career paths. Solar jobs span many sectors, including manufacturing, engineering, design, sales, and policy. The industry offers ample career opportunities for individuals at all skill levels. What’s more, military skills translate particularly well to the solar industry. That’s why solar employers are looking to hire more veterans.

Solar Job Search Resources

Are you a solar job seeker? Check out the following resources. They will help you gain experience, impress potential employers, and land a solar job.