Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Machines can already do 36% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 67%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Solar Energy Systems Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 36% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 7% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 67% 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 72% for contact with people.
- Also called: Consulting Engineer, Engineer, Photovoltaic System Designer (PV System Designer), Power Systems 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings | 20% | 35% to 65% | |
| Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software | 15% | 35% to 65% | |
| Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency | 11% | 50% to 85% | |
| Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems | 10% | 3% to 30% | |
| Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring | 10% | 35% to 58% | |
| Develop design specifications and functional requirements for residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems or components | 9% | 50% to 85% | |
| Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities | 6% | 40% to 75% | |
| Review specifications and recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives | 6% | 42% to 75% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills solar energy systems engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Wind Energy Engineers66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Environmental Restoration Planners63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $82,220
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Energy Auditors64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,690
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Solar Energy Systems Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of solar energy systems engineers?
Machines can do 36% of the tasks of solar energy systems engineers today and 67% 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 17-2199.11 (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). Solar Energy Systems Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/solar-energy-systems-engineers/