How to become an Energy Engineer

Official title: Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Also called: Energy Efficiency Engineer, Energy Engineer, Industrial Energy Engineer, Test and Balance Engineer (TAB Engineer)

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.

Main tasks

• Identify and recommend energy savings strategies to achieve more energy-efficient operation.
• Collect data for energy conservation analyses, using jobsite observation, field inspections, or sub-metering.
• Monitor and analyze energy consumption.
• Prepare energy-related project reports or related documentation.
• Monitor energy related design or construction issues, such as energy engineering, energy management, or sustainable design.
• Conduct energy audits to evaluate energy use and to identify conservation and cost reduction measures.
• Analyze, interpret, or create graphical representations of energy data, using engineering software.
• Train personnel or clients on topics such as energy management.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Ways in

• College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 45 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $122,930 a year The middle half earn $90,970 to $158,090.
• About 166,700 people work in this job now, and about 173,000 are projected by 2035. (+3.7%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Wind Energy Engineers
• Mechatronics Engineers
• Solar Energy Systems Engineers
• Microsystems Engineers
• Photonics Engineers
• Robotics Engineers

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Energy Engineer?

Ways in include: Engineering degrees.

How much does an Energy Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $122,930 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $90,970 to $158,090.

Is an Energy Engineer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 166,700 to about 173,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Energy Engineer?

Usually. 84% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Energy Engineer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.