Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
Machines can already do 31% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 57%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 31% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 7% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 57% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 154,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $122,930 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Energy Efficiency Engineer, Energy Engineer, Industrial Energy Engineer, Test and Balance Engineer (TAB Engineer).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify and recommend energy savings strategies to achieve more energy-efficient operation | 9% | 48% to 78% | |
| Prepare energy-related project reports or related documentation | 9% | 70% to 95% | |
| Conduct energy audits to evaluate energy use and to identify conservation and cost reduction measures | 9% | 3% to 30% | |
| Perform energy modeling, measurement, verification, commissioning, or retro-commissioning | 9% | 3% to 30% | |
| Monitor and analyze energy consumption | 7% | 40% to 80% | |
| Advise clients or colleagues on topics such as climate control systems, energy modeling, data logging, sustainable design, or energy auditing | 7% | 35% to 58% | |
| Collect data for energy conservation analyses, using jobsite observation, field inspections, or sub-metering | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Inspect or monitor energy systems, including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or daylighting systems to determine energy use or potential energy savings | 6% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills energy engineers, except wind and solar use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Architectural and Engineering Managers50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $171,270
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of energy engineers, except wind and solar?
Machines can do 31% of the tasks of energy engineers, except wind and solar today and 57% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2199.03 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/energy-engineers-except-wind-and-solar/