Occupation · SOC 17-2199.03
Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.
Median wage
$117,750
$62,840–$183,510
Projected growth
+2.1%
Slower than average
Annual openings
330
per year
Employed (US)
150,750
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
924 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingSystems AnalysisMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSpeakingMathematicsActive LearningScienceSystems EvaluationJudgment and Decision MakingOperations AnalysisSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementService OrientationPersuasionInstructingCoordinationNegotiationLearning StrategiesManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignOperation and ControlTroubleshootingProgrammingEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsBuilding and ConstructionCustomer and Personal ServiceMechanicalEnglish LanguagePhysicsDesignAdministration and ManagementEconomics and AccountingComputers and ElectronicsSales and MarketingLaw and GovernmentChemistryPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesEducation and TrainingCommunications and MediaAdministrativePsychologyGeographyTransportationTelecommunicationsBiologySociology and AnthropologyProduction and ProcessingPhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
360 Analytics eQUESTAIRMaster+Architectural Energy Corporation ENFORMA Building DiagnosticsArchitectural Energy Corporation VisualDOEAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk EcotectCarrier Hourly Analysis Program HAPChilled Water System Analysis Tool CWSATCombined Heat and Power Application Tool CHPCool Roof CalculatorDOE-2DesignBuilder Software DesignBuilderEffTec EffTrackEnergy Efficient Rehab AdvisorEnergyPlusEnergySoft EnergyProFacility Energy Decision Systems FEDSFan System Assessment Tool FSATFederal Renewable Energy Screening Assistant FRESAFielding Data Labs OptoMizerHome Energy Efficient Design HEEDInterEnergy Software Building Energy Analyzer PROItron Enterprise Energy Management EEM SuiteMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordMotorMaster+Performance Systems Development TREATProcess Heating Assessment and Survey Tool PHASTProgram for Energy Analysis of Residences PEARPythonQuick Plant Energy ProfilerRRetrofit Energy Savings Estimation Model RESEMSteam System Tool Suite
Representative tasks
Working with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeThinking CreativelyCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationProcessing InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping and Building TeamsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesTraining and Teaching OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesSelling or Influencing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentAssisting and Caring for OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Energy audit checklists and data collection forms — complete and submit under direct supervision during site visits to commercial or institutional facilities.Energy consumption data — record and organize from utility bills and meter readings under guidance from a senior engineer.HVAC and daylighting systems — inspect using established protocols and document observations on standardized forms in building field assessments.Spreadsheet software — enter and format energy usage data to support basic monitoring tasks in an office or project environment.Energy conservation measures — identify common examples from reference materials and flag potential opportunities under supervision.Technical reports and engineering standards — read and summarize key findings to support project team discussions on energy performance.CAD and analytical software — operate at a basic level to retrieve and view energy system drawings under the direction of a licensed engineer.Energy billing statements and meter readings — verify for accuracy against utility records using established verification procedures.Engineering terminology and energy concepts — apply foundational knowledge of physics and mathematics when interpreting system specifications in team settings.Client and colleague communications — listen actively and take structured notes during energy project meetings to capture requirements and action items.
developing
Energy audits — conduct independently at commercial buildings following ASHRAE Level I and Level II protocols to evaluate consumption and identify savings opportunities.Energy consumption trends — monitor and analyze using analytical software and spreadsheets, producing routine performance reports for project managers and clients.HVAC, ventilation, and daylighting systems — inspect and assess energy performance against design benchmarks on active construction or renovation projects.Energy savings strategies — identify and recommend to clients based on audit findings, payback analysis, and site-specific constraints in an engineering consulting context.Graphical representations of energy data — create and interpret using engineering software to communicate system performance to technical and non-technical stakeholders.Energy modeling inputs and outputs — review and validate against measured consumption data to support design decisions on building retrofit projects.Utility bills and interval meter data — verify and reconcile discrepancies by cross-referencing metering systems and billing records for multi-site commercial clients.Energy engineering design and construction issues — monitor progress and flag deviations from energy performance targets during project execution phases.Written technical reports — draft clearly and accurately to document audit findings, recommendations, and projected savings for client delivery.Climate control and sustainable design topics — advise colleagues and junior staff drawing on accumulated project experience in an interdisciplinary engineering team.
proficient
Comprehensive energy audits — lead independently across diverse facility types, applying systems analysis to uncover non-obvious inefficiencies and cost reduction measures.Complex energy consumption datasets — analyze and interpret using advanced analytical and modeling software to diagnose performance gaps in large commercial or industrial portfolios.Energy savings strategies — develop and present customized, multi-measure recommendations to clients that balance technical feasibility, economics, and sustainability goals.Energy system design reviews — evaluate and provide authoritative input on HVAC, controls, and envelope systems during design and construction phases to ensure performance compliance.Energy modeling scenarios — build, calibrate, and validate using simulation software to forecast the impact of proposed retrofits or new building designs.Utility rate structures and energy economics — analyze to optimize procurement strategies and accurately project financial returns on energy investments for client organizations.Data logging and monitoring systems — configure and interpret to support continuous commissioning and ongoing energy management programs across facility portfolios.Non-routine technical problems — resolve by applying deductive and inductive reasoning across mechanical, electrical, and building envelope systems in operational facilities.Client advisories on climate control, energy auditing, and sustainable design — deliver confidently through written reports and presentations tailored to executive and technical audiences.Energy-related regulatory requirements and green building standards — apply rigorously to ensure project compliance with applicable codes, incentive programs, and certification criteria.
advanced
Organizational energy strategy — define and champion enterprise-wide programs that integrate energy efficiency, decarbonization, and cost reduction across a client's or firm's full portfolio.Energy engineering teams — lead, mentor, and develop junior and mid-level engineers, establishing technical standards, quality processes, and professional growth pathways.Energy master plans — author and present to C-suite and board-level stakeholders, translating complex engineering analyses into strategic investment decisions with quantified financial impact.Methodologies for energy auditing and consumption monitoring — design and institutionalize, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and continuous improvement across a large engineering practice.Cross-functional project delivery — direct interdisciplinary teams of engineers, architects, and contractors on major energy retrofit or sustainable design programs from conception through commissioning.Emerging energy technologies and analytical tools — evaluate and integrate into practice, driving innovation in energy modeling, data analytics, and building performance optimization.Industry relationships and thought leadership — cultivate by contributing to professional bodies, publishing research, and representing the organization in sector-wide forums on energy engineering.Risk and investment decisions — guide senior leadership by synthesizing systems-level analysis, market economics, and regulatory landscapes into defensible recommendations for large-scale energy projects.Client portfolio energy performance — oversee through executive dashboards and governance frameworks, holding delivery teams accountable to agreed efficiency targets and sustainability commitments.Organizational capability in energy management — build by establishing training curricula, knowledge management systems, and competency frameworks that advance the firm's technical and market position.
Also known as
32 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Alternative Energy EngineerCarbon AnalystCarbon SpecialistCertified Green Building EngineerEnergy Conservation EngineerEnergy Efficiency EngineerEnergy EngineerEnergy Infrastructure EngineerEnergy Market AnalystEnergy ModelerEnergy Project EngineerEnergy Systems EngineerEngineerField EngineerGreen Building Energy EngineerGreen Building EngineerGuidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer (GNC Engineer)Heating EngineerHVAC Engineer (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Engineer)HVAC Engineer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Engineer)HVAC Sensor and Digital Control Designer (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Sensor and Digital Control Designer)Hydroelectric Plant Power Generation EngineerHydrogen Power Plant EngineerIndustrial Energy EngineerMeasurement And Verification EngineerOptimization EngineerPhotovoltaic Power Systems EngineerRefrigeration EngineerRenewable Energy EngineerSmart Grid EngineerSustainability EngineerTest and Balance Engineer