Wisconsin Solar workforce: 4,429 workers, 23rd in U.S. (2024)

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

Sector	Jobs (2024)	National rank
Energy Efficiency	58,160	#15
Solar	4,429	#23
Wind	2,002	#17
Electric Vehicles	1,925	#19
Storage & Grid	1,526	#19
Nuclear	945	#22
Clean Fuels	308	#20
Hydropower	305	#27

Wisconsin vs. the solar leader, median, and bottom

1st · California

116,380

23. Wisconsin

4,429

25th · Hawaii

4,083

51st · Alaska

163

States with comparable solar employment

Solar roles and pay in Wisconsin

Role	SOC	National median	Wisconsin-adjusted	Job Zone
Electrician	47-2111.00	$61,590	$57,340	3
Solar Photovoltaic Installer	47-2231.00	$51,860	$48,282	2

Employer-reported hiring difficulty in Wisconsin

Did not hire

49.0%

Somewhat difficult hiring

24.9%

Very difficult hiring

20.1%

Not at all difficult hiring

6.0%

NAICS industry mix for Wisconsin clean-energy jobs

Manufacturing

46,604

Construction

38,757

Trade

19,019

Other Services

18,866

Professional Services

10,962

Utilities

8,479

Pipeline Transport & Commodity Flows

4,864

Agriculture and Forestry

898

Mining and Extraction

50

Wisconsin’s electric-power generation workforce by fuel type

Solar

4,429

Wind

2,002

Coal electricity

1,690

Natural gas electricity

1,393

Nuclear electricity

945

Bioenergy/Combined heat and power

575

Other electricity

439

Traditional hydropower

305

Low impact hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetics

170

Geothermal electricity

120

Oil and other fossil fuel electricity

81

Full USEER workbook line items for Wisconsin

Fuels

Fuels total	7,633
Oil (petroleum and other fossil fuels)	4,293
Corn ethanol	1,433
Natural gas fuels	538
Other fuels	409
Woody biomass	354
Other biofuels	308
Nuclear fuels	158
Other ethanol and non-woody biomass	122
Coal fuels	19

Electric Power Generation

Electric power generation total	12,148
Solar	4,429
Wind	2,002
Coal electricity	1,690
Natural gas electricity	1,393
Nuclear electricity	945
Bioenergy/Combined heat and power	575
Other electricity	439
Traditional hydropower	305
Low impact hydropower, marine, and hydrokinetics	170
Geothermal electricity	120
Oil and other fossil fuel electricity	81

Transmission, Distribution & Storage

Transmission, distribution, and storage total	20,801
Traditional transmission and distribution	14,878
Other (including commodity flows)	3,280
Storage	1,526
Other grid modernization	417
Smart grid	362
Micro grid	339

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency total	58,160
Certified and efficient lighting	21,080
Advanced materials	18,118
Traditional HVAC with an efficiency component	9,711
High efficiency HVAC and renewable heating and cooling	7,312
Other	1,938

Motor Vehicles

Motor vehicle total	49,757
Gasoline and diesel vehicles	37,467
Motor vehicle commodity flows	3,015
Hybrid electric vehicles	2,952
Other vehicles	2,435
Battery electric vehicles	1,925
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles	1,333
Hydrogen/fuel cell vehicles	334
Natural gas vehicles	296

By NAICS Industry

Manufacturing	46,604
Construction	38,757
Trade	19,019
Other Services	18,866
Professional Services	10,962
Utilities	8,479
Pipeline Transport & Commodity Flows	4,864
Agriculture and Forestry	898
Mining and Extraction	50

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