Suppose you are talking with your phone, playing with your PS5 or Xbox One, watching TV, cooking pancakes for breakfast, or just roaming the streets with your lover. In all of these cases, you are consuming energy, a sightless but sensible brio in our lives.
Many companies are working 7/24 to maintain, boost, and repair energy streams flowing in our daily activities. How many jobs are available in energy? Am I ready to apply for one of them? In this complete guide, you will meet the answers to these questions;
- What are energy jobs?
- Is energy a good career path?
- What do energy jobs pay?
- How many jobs are available in energy?
- Where can I find the best paying jobs in energy?
- The top 20 best paying jobs in energy
- Best paying jobs in natural gas distribution
What are energy jobs?
Three elements are considered an obligation for global population improvement; drinkable water availability, money, financial-economical support, and of course, usable energy circuits. Humanity has used many sources as domestic or social energy fountains, from burning logs and firewood to oil exploration in barren deserts, and now, the science of slicing atoms.
Energy jobs are classified in the category of the energy industry, which is responsible for supplying and maintaining chemical and electrical circuits we need to manage our households, factories, megacities, and out-of-planet space stations. Several sub-classes have been born in the energy field throughout history, as you can see here;
- Chemical energy
- Fossil fuels energy
- Nuclear energy
- Hydroelectric energy
- Geothermic energy
- Solar energy
- Biomass
- Wind energy
- Hydropower energy
The last six titles are named under the coverage of “renewable energy resources.”
Is energy a good career path?
When we are talking about the best paying jobs in the natural gas distribution or just other paying jobs in energy plants, we are actually reviewing jobs with high salaries and low health and legal risks compared with remaining high-paying jobs. Since the energy sector is essential to everyday life for billions of people across the world, governments and international consortiums have no choice except to support their employees.
Is energy a good career path? Honestly, jobs in the energy sector are in huge demand, as oil owner regions are constructing new oil rigs, and the countries out of underground hydrocarbon supplies are participating in the club of renewable energies, including solar and geothermic energy plants.
What do energy jobs pay?
The cost of energy is totally floating, most related to the global demands, political interactions, and newfound power plants throughout the world. However, the crew working in the energy industry have enough job security and constant wages, even in the presence of international energy crises.
Suppose you prefer the fossil fuels energy category over renewable energy sources because of higher salaries. In that case, the new statistics will disappoint you as the wage gap has been getting narrower in recent years. You can view the average annual salary in different energy territories in the United States;
- Oil & Gas extraction: $97,700
- Coal Mining: $63,400
- Nuclear Power Generation: $101,400
- Natural Gas Distribution: $87,900
- Solar Power Generation: $98,700
- Wind Power Generation: $85,500
To make a better look, we can differentiate different categories based on the amount of the average salary the staff can make per hour. In this case, the renewable energy field is still behind the traditional representatives;
- Nuclear: $39
- Petroleum: $27
- Natural gas: $30
- Coal: $29
- Solar: $24
- Wind: $26
How many jobs are available in energy?
The world energies is a world of many job positions, as people can search for their dream job based on their talent. According to US Energy & Employment Jobs Report (USEER), the energy sector has added more than 300,000 jobs, increasing the total number of jobs from 7,500,000 in 2020 to 2021. They are estimated to have 350,000 more job positions added to this number.
How many jobs are available in energy? Generally speaking, no electronic counter can enumerate it. But don’t worry; you can see a list of 50 paying jobs in energy as an example;
- Electrical Power Engineer
- Sustainability Engineer
- Staff Research Engineer
- Corporate Utility Manager
- Power Electronics
- Solar Energy Systems Designer
- Indoor Environmental Consultant
- Performance Assurance Consultant
- Environmental Manager
- Intelligent Building Specialist
- Energy Market Analyst
- Measurement & Verification Specialist
- Distribution Standards Engineer
- Building Control Specialist
- Refrigeration Engineer
- Reliability Engineer
- DC Power Engineer
- Facilities Electrical Engineer
- Stormwater Planning & Engineer
- Operations & Maintenance Engineer
- Power Market Analyst
- Purchasing Specialist
- Safety Trainer
- Gas & Energy Coordinator
- Chief of Energy Engineering
- Performance Assurance Specialist
- Certified Energy Auditor
- Renewable Energy Consultant
- Technical Facilities Assistant
- Lenders Engineer
- Business Services Engineer
- Safety Advisor
- Wastewater Engineer
- Geo-Exchange Designer
- Quality Control Manager
- Demand-Side Management Program Consultant
- Smart Grid Engineer
- Campus Energy Manager
- Mechanical Operations Manager
- Automated Controls Technician
- LEED Performance Assurance Engineer
- Energy Services Coordinator
- Electric Utility Project Coordinator
- Power Plant Engineer
- Project Developer
- Utilities and Energy Director
- Hydro Geologist
- Environmental Coordinator
- HVAC Engineer
- Energy Sales Advisor
What salary can you expect from an energy job?
The energy industry is like an exuberant orchard, where you can find fruits in different sizes and shapes. The average annual salary of an energy group member depends on the type of work they do and the years of experience they have in total. However, we can expect a mean salary of $86,900 per year for an engineer and $56,600 for non-engineering job positions.
What are the educational requirements for an energy job?
For most professional paying jobs in energy, you need to have the related expertise in the field of interest. However, not all paying jobs in energy are a college degree requiring, so good news for the ungraduated population.
If you decide to as a prospective energy engineer, employers will ask you for at least a bachelor’s degree for the entrance of their job interviews. This is not a rigid rule in the energy industry, as some companies may ask you for more or fewer requirements according to their disciplines, ethics, and goals.
How to find the best paying jobs in energy?
Suppose you think you have enough evidence about making success in the energy sector. In that case, you can find the best paying jobs in energy by checking several online and official job resources. For example, you can visit www.energy.gov if you are an American resident or just swipe down the web pages of paying jobs in energy on Indeed.com. There are also more websites to be previewed to find your best paying jobs in energy as you wish;
- Energyjobline.com
- Euroenergyjob.com
- Greenjobs.co.uk
- Glassdoor.com
- Ziprecruiter.com
Top 20 best paying jobs in energy
We have a complete explanation of what we should know about paying jobs in energy, so let’s go a step further and consider choosing a nice and cozy position in the world of oils, winds, oceans, and suns. In the following paragraphs, we will review the top 20 best paying jobs in energy that can enrich your life with dollars and welfare;
- Reservoir Engineer
Are you seeking the best paying jobs in natural gas distribution? Then try being a reservoir engineer. These people estimate the amount of oil and gas that can be extracted from reservoirs and measure the properties of refined oil products on each local oil rig. Reservoir engineers are averagely receiving an average payment of $148,000 a year.
- Geoscientist
As one of the best paying jobs in natural gas distribution, geologists are tasked to explore potential oil and gas resources both on land and at sea. More after, geothermal energy is also becoming a highly demanding sector these days, making this job more favored. To apply to this position, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a geoscience discipline. Geoscientists can earn up to more than $92,000 per year.
- Nuclear Technician
Nuclear energy is the mother of our modern world’s electricity supplies, so a nuclear technician is tasked to keep this mother healthy and hardworking. Nuclear technicians are hired to control nuclear reactors and their related sub-systems, as well as monitor the stream of energy production from the generators and transfer it to the national electricity network. Nuclear Technicians are well-nourished, with an average salary of $84,000 a year.
- Solar Energy Software Developer
As you know, solar energy production is heavily reliant on software in order to keep the equipment at a high level of performance and efficiency. Solar energy software developers are responsible for providing this maintenance, and sometimes, they also have to upgrade the central control with new software platforms. A bachelor’s in a computer science discipline is required for this job position, and as a Solar Energy Software Developer, you can earn up to $74,000 annually.
- Information Systems Manager
Energy control systems are facing tons of data each second, giving information about parameters playing a role in energy production, conduction, leakage, and more. An information systems manager is missioned to analyze these data, make correct decisions, and let other members know about their comments. This is one of the best paying jobs in energy since an excellent Information Systems Manager can enjoy their average annual salary of $147,000 and more.
- Power Plant Operator
Energy business owners hire power plant operators to service and maintain the systems that produce and distribute energy. Although there are different types of power plant operators in the energy industry, the common goal is to maintain equipment, address issues as they appear, and perform preventative care to avoid problems altogether. Is energy a good career path when we come to power plant operation? The good news is you don’t need a degree to enter the field; just a high school certificate is required. If you decide, you can earn as high as $95,000 a year as a Power Plant Operator.
- Solar Energy Technician
Solar energy panels, no matter if they are planted above your roof or in a large-scale solar power plant, need a lot of maintenance work to do, which solar energy technicians are ready for. If you have applicants with work experience in electrical appliances, HVAC, central heating, and solar panel installation, you are more likely to get this job. As a Solar Energy Technician, you can make an average of $74,000 per year.
- Wind Turbine Service Technician
Wind turbine installations are mushrooming all over the world, so we need special technicians to look after them, called wind turbine service technicians. This job needs skilled workers familiar with construction, welding, and electrical installations to install new wind farms as well as service existing ones. A typical Wind Turbine Service Technician can make $54,000 every year.
- Gas Technician
Gas technicians resemble typical plumbers you see in building construction, but with a higher experience in creating gas piping systems and keeping them operative all the time. These technicians install and repair faucets and appliances in the natural gas sector and replace them with newer pieces if managers decide to. A typical Gas Technician can make up to $115,000 per year.
- Mechanical Engineer
An energy extraction site consists of many mechanical appliances, including drills, central pumps, generators, and storing or refinery systems. As a mechanical engineer, you are employed to ensure all of these tools are of the best performance, and nothing can interfere with the energy production process. Mechanical Engineers are satisfied with an average salary of $93,000 per year.
- Material Scientist
The goal of a material scientist is to study and analyze the chemical properties of different materials used in the energy sector. These scientists are aimed to produce new products based on their findings. With the right qualifications, Material Scientists can earn as high as $93,000 a year.
- Renewable Energy Consultant
As one of the best paying jobs in energy with high trending value, renewable energy consultants are going to find their deserved position in the energy industry. These guys are responsible for dealing with new and existing clients to advise them on the most effective energy solutions and possible upgrades. A graduated Renewable Energy Consultant can make a mean salary of $90,000 per year.
- Sales Engineer
Any business needs to make new customers bring revenue to their sector; a mission sales engineers are trained to do. In this job, you are supposed to recognize new markets, know their demand, and consult with employers to manufacture the product which customers wish to have. If you are interested, you can earn up to $112,000 per year as a Sales Engineer.
- Aerospace Engineer
You may hear aerospace engineers typically work on satellites, airplanes, and other crafts that defy gravity. But in these cases, we are talking about engineers spending time with wind turbines. As an aerospace engineer, you are tasked to design turbines and other crucial systems and calculate a list of variants, such as resistance, force, efficiency, and other principles. Aerospace Engineers can earn as high as $116,000 for an average annual payment.
- Petroleum Engineer
Although renewable energy sectors are sharpening their swords to govern our societies, we still need to mine new oil reservoirs to keep our energy circuits alive. As one of the best paying jobs in energy, a petroleum engineer is responsible for providing essential systems and circles of oil extraction, refinement, and storing. Petroleum Engineers can make an average of $133,000 every year.
- Agricultural Engineer
I know it seems controversial when we put agriculture and engineering next together. Still, agricultural engineers are ready to merge these two principles in newly appeared energy sectors like biomass and biofuel production. An agricultural engineer is missioned to use machinery, supplies, structures, and even environmental advantages to produce more biofuel products with fewer resources. Agricultural Engineers are supported with an average payment of $83,000 a year.
- Environmental Health Officer
All workers in natural gas sectors must keep themselves from health risk factors, which an environmental health officer is managed to monitor. This is one of the best paying jobs in natural gas distribution, which is missioned to ensure compliance with health and safety codes. Environmental Health Officers are knowledgeable about local and federal safety codes and are supported with an average salary of $167,000 per year.
- Architectural Manager
As the title says, an architectural manager is tutored to design and build energy-efficient buildings with the parameters required in a particular energy discipline. These managers also have to do detailed planning, perform research management, and check technical accuracy so that business owners are consuming energy reservoirs as efficiently as possible. If you were an employer, you would have to averagely pay $145,000 per year to hire an Architectural Manager.
- Financial Analyst
Energy power plants have limitations in the total energy they can access, so they need to increase efficiency and performance to keep costs low and competitive. In this case, a financial analyst is required to conduct quantitative analyses of investment information, calculate investment returns, and make new services for a better business pattern. Successful financial analysts require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance with enough employment track in the same field. Top Financial Analysts can earn as high as $144,000 per year.
- Chemical Engineer
No chemical engineering is allowed to neglect as we are talking about the energy industry since these guys are here to focus on fuel and fuel-related products and solve many daily problems in their careers. Since this is a heavy job, you need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, math, or other related fields. Graduated Chemical Engineers are supported with an average salary of $109,000 per year.
Pros & Cons of Careers in Energy
Working as an energy employee is companied with many advantages and disadvantages. The energy sector is a business with high revenue, so the staff can ensure they can have a relatively wealthy life with the given salary. Furthermore, many bank facilities are dedicated to energy businesses by the governments, so the light of energy generation is not going to be weakened in the near future.
On the other hand, owners and companies have to invest excellent finance in exploring new reservoirs or founding a new power plant. Hence, most offices prefer not to step into risky gambles like this career. More after, some energy disciplines, such as solar or geothermal energy, require special locations to have enough production efficacy and make the rich persuaded to spend their assets on a new power plant.
Summary
That is it. We have covered all information about the best paying jobs in energy, what do energy jobs pay, and answering if it is a good time to approach high paying jobs in energy sector at the moment. Note that for getting one of the best paying jobs in energy, you need to do your best in almost all aspects, including practice, college certification, and having enough ambition in your career.
How many jobs are available in energy disciplines? Many people are being conducted to work as a member of the global energy team, but still, there are lots of empty job positions worldwide. Is energy a good career path for a person like me? Just take a leap in the dark and make your feature in energy generation!!!
