by our College Data Analytics TeamFind out the key facts every solar energy technology/technician. major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering solar energy technology/technician. programs.
Across the country, solar energy technology/technician. draws strong interest, with 341 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Solar Energy Technology/Technician. Schools ranking analyzes these 28 schools to determine the best overall colleges for solar energy technology/technician. students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of solar energy technology/technician. programs later in this article.
Studies in Solar Energy Technology/Technician. emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations solar energy technology/technician. graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a solar energy technology/technician. program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a solar energy technology/technician. major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several solar energy technology/technician. degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 82 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 231 |
People currently working in careers related to solar energy technology/technician. tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.0% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.1% |
| Master’s degree | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in solar energy technology/technician. careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in solar energy technology/technician. can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to solar energy technology/technician..
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to solar energy technology/technician..
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 360,116 | 4.2% |
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of solar energy technology/technician. graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $64,973 |
| 4 years | $59,663 |
| 5 years | $66,892 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for solar energy technology/technician. graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers solar energy technology/technician. grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | $32,563 |
With 28 different solar energy technology/technician. programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased solar energy technology/technician. school rankings to help you.
Students interested in solar energy technology/technician., you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Energy Systems Technology/Technician | 815 |
| Power Plant Technology/Technician | 84 |
| Wind Energy Technology/Technician | 42 |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians, Other | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
