The solar systems that go on roofs and fields get designed by you, sizing the panels, layout, and wiring so they generate power safely and pass inspection. Where sunlight becomes a working system.
The work means assessing a site, sizing the array, laying out panels and electrical, and producing plans that meet code and get permitted. You work mostly in design software, with sales, installers, and inspectors. The design has to be both efficient and buildable, and a code or shading miss costs real money.
What people underestimate is the code, permitting, and detail work: every jurisdiction has its own rules, and plans get rejected over small things. Volume and deadlines can be high, the field shifts with technology and incentives, and you design what others have to build. Settings range from residential to utility-scale.
It fits someone precise, technically minded, and detail-driven. If you want fieldwork or fast variety, the screen-bound detail can feel narrow. But if you like clean, code-correct design, and a system that quietly generates power for decades, the work tends to be steadily satisfying, and the field is growing.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Engineering roles →The solar systems that go on roofs and fields get designed by you, sizing the panels, layout, and wiring so they generate power safely and pass inspection. Where sunlight becomes a working system.
Median pay for a Solar Designer is about $85K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $39K to $184K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Writing, and Speaking.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 22.1% through 2034, with roughly 179,030 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Solar Advisor, Solar Consultant, and Solar Sales Advisor.
Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.
Explore Truest career tools