Once we leave high school, there is a wide range of career paths for us to consider. For most of us, different factors of a job hold more importance than others – for example, some people may believe that the salary of a position is the most crucial aspect.
If you are looking for a well-paying job in the energy sector, you have plenty of options to choose from. Below, we will be discussing ten of the best paying positions in the energy sector.
Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers are some of the highest-paid employees in the energy sector. For this reason, it is also a relatively popular career choice. In short, petroleum engineers work to find and capture different petroleum resources. In this way, they are directly involved in producing large amounts of energy.
Some petroleum engineers design and create new systems that can be used to extract energy resources. These employees will always be essential, meaning that you do not have to worry about your job becoming obsolete due to the development of machinery.
The average salary of a petroleum engineer lies around $110,600 per year. When compared to other positions within the energy sector, this is a reasonably high number. It is also important to note that your salary is likely to be much higher if you undergo specialized training and offer additional skills.
Wind Farm Site Manager
The responsibilities of a wind farm site manager are self-explanatory. They are tasked with overseeing the harvesting of wind energy at a wind farm site. With that being said, this position involves plenty of unique disciplines. For example, the manager will need to have an in-depth understanding of turbines and how wind farms are run.
On top of this, they are also seen as the leader of the entire organization. For this reason, they will need to undergo specific training to develop their leadership and communication skills. These employees are responsible for generating electrical energy from wind energy.
The average salary of a wind farm site manager lies at $110,600. Again, this number depends on various factors. For example, if you manage a large farm that houses thousands of turbines, you are likely to earn more.
Chemical Engineer
If you are looking for a job that is in high demand, you may want to consider becoming a chemical engineer. These employees are absolutely essential when it comes to the chemical manufacturing process. In short, a chemical engineer is tasked with coming up with solutions that can be used to power battery technologies.
Due to the importance of this position, it only makes sense that the average salary is high. In fact, chemical engineers play an important role in designing sustainable systems that will be used in the future. For this reason, this is another important position that will never be made obsolete.
The average salary of a chemical engineer lies at just under $100,000. However, the more qualified you are, the more money you will earn on the job. Also, the size of the company for which you work will massively impact the amount you are paid.
Geoscientist
In short, geoscientists study the physical aspects of Earth. Since Earth’s resources are responsible for fueling our energy systems, these employees are also massively involved in the energy sector.
Geoscientists are normally hired by companies within the energy sector to assist during the extraction of petroleum resources. Also, these employees work alongside regulatory agencies to develop rules and regulations regarding the extraction of natural resources. If you have a passion for protecting the environment, this career path may be perfect for you.
The average salary of a geoscientist is just over $92,000 per year. It is important to note that a bachelor’s degree is usually enough to obtain an entry-level geoscientist position. However, if you wish to boost your income, a master’s degree often helps command a much higher salary.
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers are tasked with designing and creating very large infrastructure projects. This could mean manufacturing bridges, buildings, or roads. However, some civil engineers also work within the energy sector to design large-scale power grids.
In short, civil engineers are absolutely essential when it comes to the operation of the energy sector. Without these employees, solar, wind, petroleum, nuclear, and hydroelectric farms would simply not exist. For this reason, the position will never become obsolete. Employees in this role tend to earn very high salaries.
The median salary of a civil engineer lies at around $87,000. However, as we have already mentioned, the more qualified and experienced you are, the more companies will pay you for your services. To obtain high-paying jobs, you will need to receive (at least) your master’s degree. Entry-level jobs that can be obtained through a bachelor’s degree are usually not very hands-on.
Financial Analyst for Renewable Energy Companies
Financial analysts are also some of the highest-paid employees in the energy field right now. These employees are often hired by large companies to help plan their futures. This is done through their understanding of finance and how it can be used to implement sustainable techniques and measures.
Financial analysts also help large companies decide which energy markets to invest in. Financial analysts are usually highly trained professionals who have a great understanding of the business and energy sectors. For this reason, they often make informed decisions when it comes to expanding technologies in a sustainable fashion.
The average salary of a financial analyst lies at roughly $85,000. Like with most other positions within the energy sector, the more qualified and experienced you are, the higher you are likely to be paid.
Solar Project Developer
In short, solar project developers are responsible for planning, building, and maintaining solar installations or farms. These employees are also extremely involved when it comes to deciding where solar farms should be built. For this reason, solar developers need to be extremely well-trained and highly qualified, as incorrect decision-making can lead to financial disaster.
Solar project developers sometimes create the plans for solar plants and oversee their construction. These employees need to have a very good understanding of solar energy. They should have sufficient communication, leadership, and collaboration skills.
The median salary of a solar project developer lies at just under $84,000. Since this is such a technical position, it is very important that you are as qualified as possible when applying for long-term jobs. There is a lot of competition in this field, meaning that you will need to gain as much experience and training as you can before finding work.
Industrial Engineer
Industrial engineers are also vital when it comes to the energy sector. Due to this importance, these employees are some of the highest-paid in the industry. In short, industrial engineers should have a very good understanding of complex energy processes and systems.
You can design and build complex systems that can be used to use energy reserves sustainably and efficiently. Industrial engineers are often hired to help companies streamline their production lines. These employees are absolutely essential when it comes to optimizing energy production. It is important to note that bachelor’s degrees are usually only enough to obtain entry-level positions.
The average salary of an industrial engineer lies at just under $84,000. If you wish to boost your yearly income, be sure to gain as much experience as possible before applying for a position. Bigger companies are usually willing to spend more to obtain qualified professionals who will be able to get the job done properly.
Solar Power Plant Operator
Solar power plant operators are essential workers when it comes to the day-to-day operation of solar power plants. These employees are tasked with maintaining solar arrays and keeping the plant running efficiently.
It is important to note that power plant operators need to have very good leadership and communication skills. Also, the position is just as much a science job as it is a human management job – for this reason, specialized training and experience are of the utmost importance.
The average salary of a solar power plant operator lies at just under $80,000. Once again, the more experienced and trained you are, the higher your annual income will be. In fact, some of the most qualified solar power plant operators earn upwards of $120,000.
Materials Engineer
Finally, a materials engineer is responsible for the creation of plastics, metals, and various other kinds of materials. These employees are in very high demand within the energy sector. To be more specific, they are often hired to develop new materials that can be used to store and generate energy.
An example of a common task performed by a materials engineer is the manufacturing of ceramics for solar panels. These employees are often used to solve a number of problems within the energy sector.
The average salary of a materials engineer lies at $77,000. Entry-level jobs that can be obtained through a bachelor’s degree usually pay around $50,000 annually. However, if you have obtained your master’s degree, you are more likely to earn upwards of $100,000.
Summary
There are a variety of jobs in the energy sector for you to consider. It is important that you base your career path on your strengths, skills, and interests.
For example, if you are a good leader, you may want to consider a career as a solar power plant operator or wind farm site manager.
