Ohio Solar workforce: 8,780 workers, 11th in U.S. (2024)

Where Ohio’s clean-energy jobs sit across 8 sectors

Sector	Jobs (2024)	National rank
Energy Efficiency	81,397	#8
Solar	8,780	#11
Electric Vehicles	6,793	#4
Storage & Grid	1,812	#16
Nuclear	1,786	#13
Wind	1,679	#23
Hydropower	400	#24
Clean Fuels	392	#14

Ohio vs. the solar leader, median, and bottom

1st · California

116,380

11. Ohio

8,780

25th · Hawaii

4,083

51st · Alaska

163

States with comparable solar employment

Solar roles and pay in Ohio

Role	SOC	National median	Ohio-adjusted	Job Zone
Electrician	47-2111.00	$61,590	$56,540	3
Solar Photovoltaic Installer	47-2231.00	$51,860	$47,607	2

Employer-reported hiring difficulty in Ohio

Did not hire

39.5%

Somewhat difficult hiring

34.7%

Very difficult hiring

22.4%

Not at all difficult hiring

3.4%

NAICS industry mix for Ohio clean-energy jobs

Manufacturing

123,332

Construction

69,916

Other Services

38,912

Trade

35,576

Professional Services

27,103

Utilities

18,139

Pipeline Transport & Commodity Flows

12,898

Mining and Extraction

5,568

Agriculture and Forestry

681

Ohio’s electric-power generation workforce by fuel type

Solar

8,780

Coal electricity

7,754

Natural gas electricity

3,260

Nuclear electricity

1,786

Wind

1,679

Other electricity

763

Bioenergy/Combined heat and power

696

Traditional hydropower

400

Low impact hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetics

320

Geothermal electricity

221

Oil and other fossil fuel electricity

173

Full USEER workbook line items for Ohio

Fuels

Fuels total	21,592
Oil (petroleum and other fossil fuels)	11,963
Natural gas fuels	4,824
Corn ethanol	1,055
Other fuels	1,044
Other ethanol and non-woody biomass	973
Coal fuels	689
Other biofuels	392
Woody biomass	356
Nuclear fuels	297

Electric Power Generation

Electric power generation total	25,831
Solar	8,780
Coal electricity	7,754
Natural gas electricity	3,260
Nuclear electricity	1,786
Wind	1,679
Other electricity	763
Bioenergy/Combined heat and power	696
Traditional hydropower	400
Low impact hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetics	320
Geothermal electricity	221
Oil and other fossil fuel electricity	173

Transmission, Distribution & Storage

Transmission, distribution, and storage total	41,922
Traditional transmission and distribution	31,709
Other (including commodity flows)	6,611
Storage	1,812
Other grid modernization	645
Micro grid	584
Smart grid	561

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency total	81,397
Traditional HVAC with an efficiency component	19,465
Advanced materials	18,393
High efficiency HVAC and renewable heating and cooling	16,951
Certified and efficient lighting	16,489
Other	10,099

Motor Vehicles

Motor vehicle total	161,383
Gasoline and diesel vehicles	125,483
Hybrid electric vehicles	10,392
Motor vehicle commodity flows	7,490
Battery electric vehicles	6,793
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles	4,691
Other vehicles	4,316
Hydrogen/fuel cell vehicles	1,175
Natural gas vehicles	1,042

By NAICS Industry

Manufacturing	123,332
Construction	69,916
Other Services	38,912
Trade	35,576
Professional Services	27,103
Utilities	18,139
Pipeline Transport & Commodity Flows	12,898
Mining and Extraction	5,568
Agriculture and Forestry	681

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 Word 🔥 Microsoft Excel 🔥 Microsoft Office software 🔥 Microsoft Outlook 🔥 Salesforce software 🔥 SAP software 🔥 Extensible markup language XML 🔥 Adobe Acrobat 🔥 Autodesk AutoCAD 🔥 Microsoft Windows 🔥 Computer aided design CAD software Work scheduling software Cost estimating software Craftsman CD Estimator One Mile Up Panel Planner Database software Programmable logic controller PLC 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