Solar Energy Sales Representatives

Solar energy sales representatives and assessors will continue to be needed to help solar energy systems companies increase their sales and grow their customer base. Solar energy use is already well established in high-value markets such as remote power, satellites, and communications. Industry experts are working to improve current technology and lower costs to bring solar-generated electricity, hot water systems, and solar-optimized buildings to the public. The manufacturing of photovoltaic cell systems also presents many employment opportunities.

Solar systems installation has become even more affordable than in the past, with costs dropping by more than 70 percent since 2010. This has led to the expansion of solar energy in new markets. In 2024, a record 50 GW of new solar capacity was added in the United States, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The organization described this as the “largest single year of new capacity added to the grid by any energy technology in over two decades.” Solar energy sales representatives and assessors will be in demand to create customized energy management plans for companies' current and potential customers. Those with prior successful sales experience, certification, and strong knowledge of solar energy and solar systems and technologies will have the advantage in the job market.

Opportunities for solar energy workers should be stable through the end of the decade. "The industry forecasts that solar deployment will stay at a roughly level rate between 2024 and 2029, with about 3% growth each year," the Interstate Renewable Energy Council explains. "The solar industry continues to be buoyed by favorable economics and supportive policies like the IRA. However, there are key long-term challenges that threaten to put a ceiling on growth." Challenges during the mid-2020s included trade disputes, a slowdown in residential solar installations, and a skilled labor shortage. The political climate and government support for renewable energy initiatives also have the potential to impact job growth.