Energy Career Clusters

An engineer is someone who likes to solve problems. They can help make the nation's electricity usage more efficient and more reliant on clean fuels. Now that's a real difference!

Architects
Plan and design structures like homes, offices, theaters, factories, and other buildings.

Civil Engineers
Use engineering to plan and design construction projects, like roads, bridges, airports, water and sewage systems, and other facilities.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
Work under the direction of engineers. Design, build, or repair electrical equipment, like circuitry or components. Some electrical and electronic engineering technicians work for power companies that generate and transmit electricity. As companies look for ways of reducing utilities costs, new employment opportunities may arise for engineering technicians who can recommend solutions for improving production efficiency.

Electrical Engineers
Use engineering to research, design, develop, or test electrical equipment and systems. May oversee the manufacturing or installation of systems. Talents may be applied to connecting wind farms and solar panels to the grid. Career specialties include energy engineers and photo-voltaic (solar cell) systems engineers. Opportunities may arise for power electronics engineers who can work on design, application, and quality testing in wind turbine manufacturing firms.

Electronics Engineers
Use engineering to research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, military, or scientific use. May design electronic circuits for things like telecommunications or aerospace controls.

Industrial Engineering Technicians
Work under the direction of industrial engineers to design processes to make better use of resources at work sites. Design the layout of an industrial or manufacturing workplace to make production more efficient.

Mechanical Engineers
Use engineering principles to design tools, engines, and other mechanical equipment. Oversee installation, operation, and equipment repairs. Can identify efficiency opportunities in commercial and industrial facilities and calculate estimates of savings. Some can also specialize in wind turbines.

Nuclear Engineers
Conduct research on nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal. They work on problems related to how nuclear energy is used, and how to dispose of nuclear waste.

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Run or maintain equipment that provides utilities to building such as power plants, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings. May operate stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment. They operate equipment like steam engines, generators, motors, and turbines.

Installers and repairers are essential to the energy industry. They install, inspect, test, and repair electrical or mechanical equipment.

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers
Install, repair, and maintain devices that regulate processes in buildings. This includes things such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, and safety valves.

Electrical and Electronics Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment such as industrial controls, transmitters, or antennas.

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Install and fix cables and wires that are used in electrical power or distribution systems. May put up poles and transmission towers, identify and fix defects.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Work on heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in home and office buildings. May repair or install HVAC equipment. As demand for energy-efficient equipment grows, HVAC mechanics can become involved in the installation and maintenance of small scale renewable technologies.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Repair, install, or adjust manufacturing equipment. May take machinery apart when there is a problem and repair or replace broken equipment. As demand for energy increases, new employment opportunities can arise for machinery mechanics that can repair, install, or maintain wind farms and pipeline distribution systems.

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Helpers
Assist maintenance workers with installation, maintenance, and repair work. May supply tools or clean work areas. Some workers may be employed in the energy industry in maintaining and repairing plumbing, heating, or residential and commercial electrical systems to make use of solar-derived hot water.

Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers
Inspect and maintain electrical equipment in power generating stations, substations, and in-service relays. This occupation can be involved in solar installation and maintenance.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Install and maintain solar photovoltaic systems on roofs which convert energy from the sun into electricity for homes and businesses. PV Power Systems engineers drive the development and implementation of highly efficient grid-connected systems for Concentrated PV technologies. Electrical Engineers can be LEED-certified and work on sustainable projects or with an architectural firm.

Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Directly supervise the activities of workers who maintain or repair various machines, equipment, vehicles, or buildings. May be employed in electrical generation facilities to coordinate the activities of inspectors, machine setters and operators, and plant operators. They may also work in the energy industry to coordinate the activities of power-line installers, mechanics, electricians, solar panel installers, and others.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Inspect, adjust, or repair wind turbines. They may correct electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic problems.

Production workers in energy are mostly employed in power plants, often combining the duties of operators and technicians. Due to their high technical skills and union contracts, these workers can earn double the salary of what their counterparts in other industries earn.

Chemical Equipment Operators
Operate equipment to control chemical changes or reactions during a production process. May work on devulcanizers, steam-jacket kettles, or reactor vessels.

Chemical Plant and System Operators
Operate systems of machines that control entire chemical processes.

Gas Plant Operators
Distribute or process gas for utility companies by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on gas pipelines.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Operate or control nuclear reactors. May start and stop equipment, monitor controls, and record data. Use emergency procedures when necessary.

Petroleum Pump System and Refinery Operators
Operate systems that refine petroleum. May specialize in certain types of systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Power Plant Operators
Operate machinery to generate electric power. Monitor power plant equipment to watch for problems. Adjust controls to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.

Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers employed in production plants. Oversee inspectors, precision workers, machine setters, fabricators, and plant and system operators.

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Weld or join metal pieces together using hand-welding, flame-cutting, or brazing tools. May fill holes, dents, or seams of fabricated metal products. May be employed in the construction of gas pipelines, new power plants, and maintenance of existing facilities.

Since saving energy is as important as generating energy from scratch, all careers involved in energy-efficient construction and building operations belong to the energy sector. Some construction workers, like plumbers and pipelayers, can be employed in utilities as well as in commercial and residential building retrofitting.

Construction and Building Inspectors
Inspect structures to make sure that building codes are met through all phases of construction. Use engineering skills to confirm buildings are structurally sound. May look at a whole building or review a specific area, such as a building's electrical system. May be employed as home energy auditors to inspect homes or commercial buildings to identify conditions that cause energy waste and suggest actions to reduce waste.

Construction Managers
Plan, direct, and oversee the work of people who are building and maintaining structures. Manage scheduling, budgeting, and organization of the work. Assure the work is completed on time and within budget. A specialization in green construction techniques can expand opportunities to building projects that are registered as environmentally sustainable.

Electricians
Install and repair electrical wiring in homes and businesses. Assure that work is in compliance with various codes. May install street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Operate one or more types of power construction equipment. Professionals work either on site (in nuclear power plants) or in a research institution to experiment with new ways of producing and using nuclear energy.

Pipelayers
Lay pipe for sewers, drains, and water mains. May level out trenches, position the pipe, or seal pipe joints.

Plumbers
Work with pipelines that carry water, air, or other liquids or gases. Workers may be involved in the construction of gas pipelines or in redesigning plumbing systems to make sure of solar-derived hot water.

Supervisors of Construction and Extraction Workers
Directly supervise the activities of construction or extraction workers.

View all careers in energy

Architects
Plan and design structures like homes, offices, theaters, factories, and other buildings.

Chemical Equipment Operators
Operate equipment to control chemical changes or reactions during a production process. May work on devulcanizers, steam-jacket kettles, or reactor vessels.

Chemical Plant and System Operators
Operate systems of machines that control entire chemical processes.

Civil Engineers
Use engineering to plan and design construction projects, like roads, bridges, airports, water and sewage systems, and other facilities.

Construction and Building Inspectors
Inspect structures to make sure that building codes are met through all phases of construction. Use engineering skills to confirm buildings are structurally sound. May look at a whole building or review a specific area, such as a building's electrical system. May be employed as home energy auditors to inspect homes or commercial buildings to identify conditions that cause energy waste and suggest actions to reduce waste.

Construction Managers
Plan, direct, and oversee the work of people who are building and maintaining structures. Manage scheduling, budgeting, and organization of the work. Assure the work is completed on time and within budget. A specialization in green construction techniques can expand opportunities to building projects that are registered as environmentally sustainable.

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers
Install, repair, and maintain devices that regulate processes in buildings. This includes things such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, and safety valves.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
Work under the direction of engineers. Design, build, or repair electrical equipment, like circuitry or components. Some electrical and electronic engineering technicians work for power companies that generate and transmit electricity. As companies look for ways of reducing utilities costs, new employment opportunities may arise for engineering technicians who can recommend solutions for improving production efficiency.

Electrical and Electronics Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment such as industrial controls, transmitters, or antennas.

Electrical Engineers
Use engineering to research, design, develop, or test electrical equipment and systems. May oversee the manufacturing or installation of systems. Talents may be applied to connecting wind farms and solar panels to the grid. Career specialties include energy engineers and photo-voltaic (solar cell) systems engineers. Opportunities may arise for power electronics engineers who can work on design, application, and quality testing in wind turbine manufacturing firms.

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Install and fix cables and wires that are used in electrical power or distribution systems. May put up poles and transmission towers, identify and fix defects.

Electricians
Install and repair electrical wiring in homes and businesses. Assure that work is in compliance with various codes. May install street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

Electronics Engineers
Use engineering to research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, military, or scientific use. May design electronic circuits for things like telecommunications or aerospace controls.

Gas Plant Operators
Distribute or process gas for utility companies by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on gas pipelines.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Work on heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in home and office buildings. May repair or install HVAC equipment. As demand for energy-efficient equipment grows, HVAC mechanics can become involved in the installation and maintenance of small scale renewable technologies.

Industrial Engineering Technicians
Work under the direction of industrial engineers to design processes to make better use of resources at work sites. Design the layout of an industrial or manufacturing workplace to make production more efficient.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Repair, install, or adjust manufacturing equipment. May take machinery apart when there is a problem and repair or replace broken equipment. As demand for energy increases, new employment opportunities can arise for machinery mechanics that can repair, install, or maintain wind farms and pipeline distribution systems.

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Helpers
Assist maintenance workers with installation, maintenance, and repair work. May supply tools or clean work areas. Some workers may be employed in the energy industry in maintaining and repairing plumbing, heating, or residential and commercial electrical systems to make use of solar-derived hot water.

Mechanical Engineers
Use engineering principles to design tools, engines, and other mechanical equipment. Oversee installation, operation, and equipment repairs. Can identify efficiency opportunities in commercial and industrial facilities and calculate estimates of savings. Some can also specialize in wind turbines.

Nuclear Engineers
Conduct research on nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal. They work on problems related to how nuclear energy is used, and how to dispose of nuclear waste.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Operate or control nuclear reactors. May start and stop equipment, monitor controls, and record data. Use emergency procedures when necessary.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Operate one or more types of power construction equipment. Professionals work either on site (in nuclear power plants) or in a research institution to experiment with new ways of producing and using nuclear energy.

Petroleum Pump System and Refinery Operators
Operate systems that refine petroleum. May specialize in certain types of systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

Pipelayers
Lay pipe for sewers, drains, and water mains. May level out trenches, position the pipe, or seal pipe joints.

Plumbers
Work with pipelines that carry water, air, or other liquids or gases. Workers may be involved in the construction of gas pipelines or in redesigning plumbing systems to make sure of solar-derived hot water.

Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Power Plant Operators
Operate machinery to generate electric power. Monitor power plant equipment to watch for problems. Adjust controls to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.

Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers
Inspect and maintain electrical equipment in power generating stations, substations, and in-service relays. This occupation can be involved in solar installation and maintenance.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Install and maintain solar photovoltaic systems on roofs which convert energy from the sun into electricity for homes and businesses. PV Power Systems engineers drive the development and implementation of highly efficient grid-connected systems for Concentrated PV technologies. Electrical Engineers can be LEED-certified and work on sustainable projects or with an architectural firm.

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Run or maintain equipment that provides utilities to building such as power plants, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings. May operate stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment. They operate equipment like steam engines, generators, motors, and turbines.

Supervisors of Construction and Extraction Workers
Directly supervise the activities of construction or extraction workers.

Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Directly supervise the activities of workers who maintain or repair various machines, equipment, vehicles, or buildings. May be employed in electrical generation facilities to coordinate the activities of inspectors, machine setters and operators, and plant operators. They may also work in the energy industry to coordinate the activities of power-line installers, mechanics, electricians, solar panel installers, and others.

Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers employed in production plants. Oversee inspectors, precision workers, machine setters, fabricators, and plant and system operators.

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Weld or join metal pieces together using hand-welding, flame-cutting, or brazing tools. May fill holes, dents, or seams of fabricated metal products. May be employed in the construction of gas pipelines, new power plants, and maintenance of existing facilities.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Inspect, adjust, or repair wind turbines. They may correct electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic problems.