by our College Data Analytics TeamDiscover the essential details every energy systems engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering energy systems engineering programs.
Across the country, energy systems engineering draws strong interest, with 160 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Energy Systems Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for energy systems engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of energy systems engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Energy Systems Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations energy systems engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a energy systems engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a energy systems engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several energy systems engineering 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 45 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 106 |
People currently working in careers related to energy systems engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in energy systems engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in energy systems engineering can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to energy systems engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to energy systems engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Salaries for energy systems engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers energy systems engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
With 16 different energy systems engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased energy systems engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in energy systems engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Energy Systems Engineering, General | 149 |
| Power Plant Engineering | 9 |
| Energy Systems Engineering, Other | 2 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
