5 Great Jobs in the Solar Industry
The solar industry is one that is relatively new but is expanding quite notably. In fact, a ten-year study showed a 37% increase in solar energy use in the US. As a result of these successes and subsequent, continuous expansion, the job market found within has also continued to expand exponentially. If you are interested in finding work in this field, you’re likely then to be making a great choice. For a quick glimpse of some of this booming field’s current occupational offerings, here are five examples of the jobs to be found within.
Energy Consultant
There are many forms of energy consultants that work within this industry. For the most part though, these can generally be described as positions in which the consultant works with clientele to discover their potential and current energy situations. The consultant will typically travel to a location, study it, and propose solar options that then best fit the current situation. Customer service skills, math, structural knowledge, and a love for solar are all necessary.
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Solar Technician
Solar technicians represent the workforce that maintains the solar systems of the world. These individuals are highly knowledgeable about electricity, electronics, physics, and structural science. With this set of abilities, the technician may be called on to physically repair, upgrade, troubleshoot, or maintain systems anywhere and at any time. From residential setups to large-scale, industrial arrays, the solar technician tends to all types of solar equipment daily.
Solar Installer
Solar installers also possess similar skills to those of the solar technician. As the title suggests, these professionals are more concerned however with the installation side of solar systems as opposed to their later maintenance. Going from site to site, installers transform a traditional, grid-dependent home or business into independent energy bastions. Structural knowledge and building code awareness are especially important here. Physically speaking, this is arguably the most demanding of all solar professions.
R&D Associate
Simply put, this ever-growing industry is fueled by its continuously evolving physical systems and their parts. Fueling this solar tech is the often unheralded research and development associate. These people are experts in tech and gadgetry, electricity, physics, and more. By putting these areas of knowledge to use, workers here design the next, latest, and greatest wires, batteries, solar cells, and all other, associated hardware. The next big design here is always just one inclined mind away from fruition.
Sales Representative
Finally, for those with an inclination in sales, this industry has plenty of opportunities for sales associates that continue to open up. Inside and outside solar sales alike depend on these professionals to make it happen. Additionally, representatives working in solar sales are often given additional, compensatory perks such as bonuses, extra commissions, and more.
Solar energy is undoubtedly the way to the future’s most efficient form of energy harnessing. As long as the sun shines, this type of energy will always be at the ready and in free supply. If you are interested in getting in on the wave of growth that is today’s solar industry, you choose well, and these five careers are just a few, prime examples of the excellent types of work to be found within.