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What Does it Take to Be an Energy Engineer?

Energy Engineer Definition 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. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

List of Energy Engineer Job Duties

  • Review or negotiate energy purchase agreements.
  • Prepare energy-related project reports or related documentation.
  • Advise clients or colleagues on topics such as climate control systems, energy modeling, data logging, sustainable design, or energy auditing.
  • Perform energy modeling, measurement, verification, commissioning, or retro-commissioning.
  • Verify energy bills and meter readings.
  • Inspect or monitor energy systems, including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or daylighting systems to determine energy use or potential energy savings.

Energy Engineer Required Skills

When polled, Energy Engineers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Energy Manager
  • Distributed Generation Project Manager
  • Energy Project Engineer
  • Energy Efficiency Engineer
  • Test and Balance Engineer

Energy Engineer Job Outlook

There were about 132,500 jobs for Energy Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,500 new jobs for Energy Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 9,500 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Energy Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of an Energy Engineer

The salary for Energy Engineers ranges between about $50,750 and $155,650 a year.

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Energy Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.

How much do Energy Engineers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $115,710
Alaska $114,040
Arizona $94,450
Arkansas $71,510
California $107,700
Colorado $111,610
Connecticut $100,230
District of Columbia $132,530
Florida $82,970
Georgia $93,580
Hawaii $96,940
Idaho $110,270
Illinois $87,220
Indiana $73,340
Iowa $78,230
Kansas $82,060
Kentucky $79,690
Louisiana $90,580
Maine $85,800
Maryland $118,420
Massachusetts $109,220
Michigan $90,420
Minnesota $101,620
Mississippi $79,630
Missouri $86,850
Montana $79,590
Nebraska $82,760
Nevada $94,950
New Hampshire $99,070
New Jersey $114,990
New Mexico $114,790
New York $95,270
North Carolina $83,900
North Dakota $83,270
Ohio $93,370
Oklahoma $83,080
Oregon $90,720
Pennsylvania $96,550
Rhode Island $95,790
South Carolina $100,750
South Dakota $84,320
Tennessee $82,030
Texas $113,370
Utah $89,810
Vermont $81,960
Virginia $118,390
Washington $104,890
West Virginia $91,420
Wisconsin $86,600
Wyoming $97,040

What Tools do Energy Engineers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Energy Engineers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Project
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Visio
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor
  • Cool Roof Calculator
  • DesignBuilder Software DesignBuilder
  • EffTec EffTrack
  • Architectural Energy Corporation ENFORMA Building Diagnostics
  • EnergyPlus
  • Facility Energy Decision Systems FEDS
  • Federal Renewable Energy Screening Assistant FRESA
  • Fielding Data Labs OptoMizer
  • InterEnergy Software Building Energy Analyzer PRO
  • Itron Enterprise Energy Management EEM Suite

How do I Become an Energy Engineer?

Learn what Energy Engineer education requirements there are.

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What work experience do I need to become an Energy Engineer?

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Energy Engineers Sector

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being an Energy Engineer may also be interested in:

Those who work as an Energy Engineer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Rémi Kaupp via Multi-license with GFDL and Creative Commons CC-BY-SA

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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