Clean Energy Jobs Powering the Future

In-Demand Careers in Key Clean Energy Sectors

Careers in the clean energy industry are available and growing statewide, including opportunities to get paid while you learn and break into the field without a four-year degree.

Here’s a look at New York’s leading sectors and career options for aspiring clean energy professionals.

Clean Heating and Cooling

New York homes and buildings are increasingly installing clean heating and cooling equipment, such as heat pumps. These efficient, cold-climate technologies run on electricity and deliver heating and cooling in a single system.

More than 36,000 workers were employed in efficient HVAC and clean heating and cooling in New York in 2022 ^[1]. This sector is poised for significant growth: Heat pumps have outsold gas furnaces for two consecutive years, and New York State has seen as 23% increase in installations from 2021 to 2023.

Clean heating and cooling careers can offer free training and paid apprenticeships for new professionals. Many positions are hands-on, such as HVAC installers and geothermal technicians responsible for servicing, repairing, and installing equipment. There are also more specialized roles (e.g., geothermal driller) for workers to further their career with in-demand skills and experience.

Hear from an HVAC apprentice about their clean heating and cooling career path.

EVs and Charging

More drivers are choosing to make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) every year. Nationally, new electric vehicle registrations increased by more than 40% from 2022 to 2023 ^[2].

With more than 235,000 EVs on the road in New York as of July 2024, there’s already demand for EV-related careers ^[3]. In fact, clean and alternative transportation jobs in New York have grown by 60% between 2016 and 2022. As more passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses go electric, there will be a greater need for skilled workers to support EV maintenance and repair and build out the necessary charging infrastructure.

EV and charging careers exist across the clean transportation supply chain, including manufacturing, engineering, and sales positions. EV mechanics and EV charging station installers are two careers that offer on-the-job training and professional growth without the barrier of a degree to get hired.

Energy Assessment

Buildings are responsible for around 40% of total energy use in the United States ^[4]. Thus, managing energy use in homes, businesses, schools, and other building types represents a significant component of the clean energy industry.

Energy assessment workers analyze how energy is used in homes and buildings, from heating and air conditioning to lighting and powering equipment. They’re also involved in developing recommendations for solving energy problems and improving energy efficiency in buildings.

New York’s building decarbonization and energy efficiency sector, which includes energy assessment jobs, represents the largest number of clean energy jobs in the industry ^[1]. This includes entry-level positions, such as energy efficiency technician and energy efficiency program assistant, that offer a mix of fieldwork and administrative duties. Positions that require more training and experience like building energy analyst demonstrate the opportunity for advancement in this sector.

See what a day in the life of a building energy analyst is like, plus how one New Yorker got started on their career path in sustainability.

Solar Energy

While New York may not be known for balmy, sunny weather, it is home to a thriving solar energy industry. New York leads the U.S. on community solar capacity, while onsite solar for homes and businesses continues to be sought after its for energy bill savings and backup power.

Employment in New York’s solar industry rose from 13,400 in 2021 to 14,292 in 2022. New York’s ongoing clean energy investment has contributed to sustained growth in the sector, with solar jobs rising by 15.2% from 2016 to 2022 ^[1].

New York’s solar industry is primarily comprised of distributed residential, commercial, and community solar systems across the state, meaning that careers in solar are available in every region.

There are a variety of solar energy career paths, with solar installer and solar sales representative representing two entry-level positions – the first being field-based while the second is focused on customer service and administrative tasks. Solar designers are another integral role within the industry, providing technical support to plan and size solar projects for a variety of customers.

Weatherization and Buildings

New York is home to more than six million buildings, and a skilled workforce is necessary to keep them operating efficiently. Weatherization, which involves improving a building’s energy efficiency and protecting the interior from outside elements, is integral to reducing energy bills and creating healthy and comfortable indoor environments.

As of 2022, there are more than 126,000 workers employed across New York State in building decarbonization and energy efficiency, which includes weatherization. Investment in this sector increased by 134% from 2021 to 2022, underscoring the projected job growth to meet rising demand for more energy-efficient homes and businesses ^[1].

Many weatherization careers don’t require a degree, and free or paid training may be available to develop the necessary job skills. Options range from field-based positions like insulation and air sealing technicians and building maintenance workers to administrative roles, such as sales representatives and consultants.

Learn about starting a career in weatherization from an energy efficiency expert.

Wind Energy

New York is home to both land-based wind and offshore wind. To date, most wind development has been land-based, but offshore wind energy is expected to generate nine gigawatts of electricity (enough to power six million homes) by 2035. New York’s first operational offshore wind farm went online in December 2023, and additional offshore wind projects are in active development.

Continued investment in wind energy has contributed to employment growth in recent years, with New York-based wind jobs rising by nearly 52% from 2016 to 2022 ^[1]. There are numerous job opportunities across the wind energy supply chain, from manufacturing to construction and turbine maintenance.

Entry-level roles, such as wind turbine technician and wind welder, typically require vocational training or prior work experience. These positions offer opportunities for advancement and additional training, making it a viable long-term career. Working as a wind electrical engineer could be a good fit for candidates with a four-year degree and technical knowledge.