National Solar Jobs Census 2024
The U.S. solar industry employed 280,119 workers nationwide as of 2024. This is roughly level with solar employment in 2023 with 672 new jobs added, according to the 15th annual National Solar Jobs Census.
This annual report is published by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), an independent nonprofit organization. The National Solar Jobs Census is based on a rigorous survey administered to tens of thousands of energy firms.
Read the full report by clicking on the button below.
Key Findings
Solar Is Largest “Clean Energy” Employer Aside from Energy Efficiency
Altogether, the solar and storage industries employed 464,053 U.S. workers in 2024. Solar continued to employ more people than any clean energy sector except energy efficiency, and more than three times as many workers as the coal industry.
Top States for Solar Jobs
California remained the top state for solar jobs in 2024 despite losing roughly 1,000 jobs after state policy changes affected its residential market. Florida, Texas, New York, and Massachusetts followed as the next-largest employers of solar workers. For the fourth consecutive year, Nevada ranked first in solar jobs per capita.
Growth Across the Political Spectrum
States with notable increases in solar jobs in 2024 included Ohio (5%), Georgia (4.5%), Utah (3.5%), and Texas (3%)—all Republican-leaning “red” states, underscoring that solar energy is being deployed across the political spectrum. Among the 33 states that grew their solar workforce that year, 25 voted for President Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Energy Storage Surge
The Census also tracked employment in energy storage. The expansion of energy storage deployment has led to significant job growth. The number of workers in clean storage occupations increased by 3,905 jobs in 2024, growing 4% year over year to reach 93,497 workers. In the five-year period between 2019 and 2024, the clean storage sector added 13,798 net jobs, marking 17% growth.
By the Numbers
280,119
Solar Workers in 2024
672
Jobs Added, 2023-2024
33
States With Solar Job Growth, 2024
Solar Jobs By State
Solar jobs increased in 33 states in 2024. Browse our interactive map to view the jobs numbers for each state, how the states rank, and trends in job growth over time.
Workforce Development
The future of solar and battery storage relies on building a highly skilled and motivated workforce. The industry offers abundant career paths but faces persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining talent. Browse the Solar Jobs Census for perspectives on hiring difficulty, education and experience requirements, union representation, and other workforce development trends. Plus, explore proven best practices to attract, hire, develop, and retain talent.
Industry Perspective
“Renewable energy is not a partisan issue—it’s secure energy infrastructure, it’s American technology and investment, and it’s American jobs. If we want our industry to thrive for the next 50 years, we need to improve our job health, because jobs are the pulse of an industry.”
Read the full feature Thoughts on the Solar Coaster from EnergeiaWorks CEO William Liuzza by clicking the button below.
Thanks to Our Sponsors
We thank all organizations that sponsored the National Solar Jobs Census 2024. For a complete list of sponsors, see the Acknowledgments section.
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