Where will your career take you next?
Whether you’re at the entry level or have decades of experience, there is an energy career for you in Virginia. You might find a career helping Virginia homes and businesses become more energy efficient, an opportunity in the state’s solar energy industry, or a job supporting battery storage technologies.
Visit our Connect Now page to browse through employers in your area and find the training providers to help you gain the skills you need to succeed. Read on to find out how to get started!
Building Performance Jobs
in Virginia
Virginia’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps income-eligible households across the Commonwealth reduce energy use while improving comfort, health, and safety in their homes. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) funds a network of nonprofit organizations that deliver services such as energy audits, air sealing, added insulation, and heating and cooling system repairs at no cost to qualifying residents.
A Rewarding Career
Virginia’s Weatherization Assistance Program offers meaningful work for people who want to help neighbors live in safer, more energy efficient homes.
> Build a meaningful career in a field that values problem-solving, teamwork, and service to seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.
> Address health and safety needs by supporting combustion-safety checks.
> Install cost-effective energy-saving measures like sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and improving heating and cooling performance.
Learn New Skills
Virginia’s weatherization network builds strong skills in residential energy efficiency and building performance.
> Learn to assess homes, identify energy waste, and design cost-effective improvement plans.
> Build hands-on experience installing ventilation, repairing ducts, and upgrading inefficient or unsafe HVAC systems.
> Work within clear state and federal guidelines focused on quality, durability, and measurable energy savings.
Program Delivery
Teams
Virginia’s WAP is delivered locally, so services are rooted in the communities they serve.
> DHCD subgrants funds to local nonprofits and agencies that manage outreach, eligibility, audits, installations, and inspections within their service areas.
> Local providers deliver end-to-end services, from health and safety checks to lighting and HVAC upgrades, giving households a single point of contact.
> State oversight, operations manuals, and guidance notices keep the network aligned on best practices and consistent standards.
Wages in Virginia
Here are some example wages for a few main job roles in the solar and building performance industries including some apprenticeable pathways. Wages listed are national median averages.
Retrofit Installer Technician
$31k - $53k
Crew Leader
$32k - $56k
Energy Auditor
$36k - $63k
Quality Control Inspector
$41k - $69k
Registered Apprenticeships in Virginia
What is a Registered Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships can be valuable for individuals of all ages and across different life, education, and career stages.
> Registered Apprenticeships provide a structured pathway combining on-the-job training with formal instruction.
> Participants earn while they learn, gaining hands-on experience from industry professionals and working toward a recognized qualification.
> Learn more about clean energy apprenticeships.
Choose a Career
Pathway
There are many opportunities for apprenticeships in the energy efficiency, solar, wind, and solar-plus-storage industries.
> Some apprenticeship programs prepare you for a career in traditional trades, such as the electrical or construction industries.
> Additional opportunities include employment in non-construction roles such as Customer Service Representative, Human Resources Specialist, Project Manager, and Software Developer.
> The U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Finder can be used to search apprenticeable occupations. If you’re interested in joining an apprenticeship program, sign up for updates to find out about future opportunities and resources.
Resources for
Employers
If you’re an employer interested in apprenticeship programs, we have the resources to help you get started.
> Read our Registered Apprenticeships Toolkit to learn how to start, join, and implement apprenticeship programs.
> Browse other resources along with case studies on successful apprenticeship programs.
> Complete our intake form to learn about opportunities for free technical assistance.
Solar Energy in Virginia
Career Opportunities
The solar industry in Virginia offers a wealth of opportunities for both entry-level and experienced workers.
> Virginia has 5,010 jobs in the solar energy industry, according to our latest National Solar Jobs Census.
> There are 216 solar companies in Virginia.¹
> Virginia produces enough solar energy to power 824,278 homes.¹
A Meaningful Career
The solar industry has a place for everyone—no matter what your skills, interests, and educational background.
> You’ll find career opportunities for construction workers, electricians, project managers, sales professionals, manufacturing technicians, and many more.
> 80% of the solar jobs in Virginia are with installation and project development companies. There are also opportunities in manufacturing, operations and maintenance and wholesale trade & distribution.
> There are training providers across the state of Virginia that prepare the workforce for solar industry jobs. Visit our Connect Now page to learn more about training providers in your area.
Take the Next Step
Explore our resources to understand industry trends and career opportunities in solar.
> Read IREC’s National Solar Jobs Census to learn about the latest trends in the solar industry.
> Not sure where you fit in? Visit our Solar Career Map to find the opportunity that matches your skills and interests.
> See if a solar career is right for you by signing up for our free Exploring Solar Careers course.
Connect Now
