New Jersey solar jobs: 9,436 workers, ranked 8th in U.S.

Where New Jersey’s clean-energy jobs sit across 8 sectors

Sector	Jobs (2024)	National rank
Energy Efficiency	40,756	#22
Solar	9,436	#8
Nuclear	2,417	#11
Electric Vehicles	1,837	#20
Wind	1,212	#31
Storage & Grid	1,012	#29
Clean Fuels	371	#16
Hydropower	321	#26

New Jersey vs. the solar leader, median, and bottom

1st · California

116,380

8. New Jersey

9,436

25th · Hawaii

4,083

51st · Alaska

163

States with comparable solar employment

Solar roles and pay in New Jersey

Role	SOC	National median	New Jersey-adjusted	Job Zone
Electrician	47-2111.00	$61,590	$69,227	3
Solar Photovoltaic Installer	47-2231.00	$51,860	$58,291	2

Employer-reported hiring difficulty in New Jersey

Did not hire

42.3%

Somewhat difficult hiring

35.6%

Very difficult hiring

17.6%

Not at all difficult hiring

4.5%

NAICS industry mix for New Jersey clean-energy jobs

Construction

34,921

Other Services

29,153

Trade

28,896

Manufacturing

18,696

Professional Services

14,902

Utilities

12,766

Pipeline Transport & Commodity Flows

7,275

Mining and Extraction

175

Agriculture and Forestry

39

New Jersey’s electric-power generation workforce by fuel type

Solar

9,436

Nuclear electricity

2,417

Natural gas electricity

2,138

Other electricity

1,804

Bioenergy/Combined heat and power

1,547

Wind

1,212

Coal electricity

1,057

Traditional hydropower

321

Low impact hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetics

278

Geothermal electricity

193

Oil and other fossil fuel electricity

97

Full USEER workbook line items for New Jersey

Fuels

Fuels total	15,741
Oil (petroleum and other fossil fuels)	12,820
Natural gas fuels	937
Other fuels	821
Nuclear fuels	372
Other biofuels	371
Other ethanol and non-woody biomass	156
Woody biomass	144
Corn ethanol	91
Coal fuels	29

Electric Power Generation

Electric power generation total	20,499
Solar	9,436
Nuclear electricity	2,417
Natural gas electricity	2,138
Other electricity	1,804
Bioenergy/Combined heat and power	1,547
Wind	1,212
Coal electricity	1,057
Traditional hydropower	321
Low impact hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetics	278
Geothermal electricity	193
Oil and other fossil fuel electricity	97

Transmission, Distribution & Storage

Transmission, distribution, and storage total	28,082
Traditional transmission and distribution	15,474
Other (including commodity flows)	10,453
Storage	1,012
Micro grid	445
Smart grid	355
Other grid modernization	343

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency total	40,756
Traditional HVAC with an efficiency component	12,317
Certified and efficient lighting	9,258
High efficiency HVAC and renewable heating and cooling	8,695
Other	7,355
Advanced materials	3,132

Motor Vehicles

Motor vehicle total	41,743
Gasoline and diesel vehicles	32,547
Hybrid electric vehicles	2,801
Battery electric vehicles	1,837
Other vehicles	1,784
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles	1,246
Motor vehicle commodity flows	938
Hydrogen/fuel cell vehicles	312
Natural gas vehicles	279

By NAICS Industry

Construction	34,921
Other Services	29,153
Trade	28,896
Manufacturing	18,696
Professional Services	14,902
Utilities	12,766
Pipeline Transport & Commodity Flows	7,275
Mining and Extraction	175
Agriculture and Forestry	39

Skill profile for solar roles

Top skills

Troubleshooting3.50

Critical Thinking3.32

Installation3.32

Active Listening3.25

Judgment and Decision Making3.19

Quality Control Analysis3.19

Speaking3.13

Active Learning3.13

Knowledge

Building and Construction4.24

Mechanical3.86

Administration and Management3.85

Design3.72

Mathematics3.68

Customer and Personal Service3.58

Public Safety and Security3.32

Engineering and Technology3.23

Core abilities

Near Vision3.88

Problem Sensitivity3.88

Deductive Reasoning3.57

Information Ordering3.57

Finger Dexterity3.50

Oral Comprehension3.50

Visualization3.50

Inductive Reasoning3.44

Representative tasks for solar workers

Visually inspect and test photovoltaic (PV) modules or systems. (Core)
Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms. (Core)
Install required labels on solar system components and hardware. (Core)
Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified. (Core)
Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components. (Core)
Provide preliminary sketches or cost estimates for materials or services. (Core)
Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors. (Core)
Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications. (Core)
Compile or maintain records of system operation, performance, and maintenance. (Core)
Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous. (Core)
Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools. (Core)
Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets. (Core)

Software and tools used in solar roles

Microsoft Excel 🔥 Microsoft Office software 🔥 Microsoft Outlook 🔥 Microsoft Word 🔥 Salesforce software 🔥 SAP software 🔥 Extensible markup language XML 🔥 Adobe Acrobat 🔥 Autodesk AutoCAD 🔥 Microsoft Windows 🔥 Computer aided design CAD software One Mile Up Panel Planner Craftsman CD Estimator Programmable logic controller PLC software Database software Project management software Electrosoft FlashWorks Resolve Systems Service Management Elite Software E-Coord Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate Elite Software Inpoint Elite Software Outpoint Elite Software Short Elite Software VDROP