Careers
Our program prepares students for careers in sustainability, renewable energy, and related industries, including wind energy, solar power, biofuels, and energy management.
Sustainable & Renewable Energy is a major component of the sustainability economy that employs approximately 8.1 million persons around the world and 769,000 in the United States, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. The largest portion of the job market is in solar photovoltaics, followed by liquid biofuels and wind energy. Jobs in the U.S. solar industry grew dramatically over the last two years—as much as 12 times more than overall job creation.
Salary Statistics
$35,000-$55,000
Starting salary range for the previous year
Salary data is compiled from alumni surveys and graduate exit surveys. The salary range reported is dependent upon location and does not reflect the entire compensation package offered.
Employment Opportunities
Our Sustainable & Renewable Energy program is designed to prepare students for employment opportunities across a variety of industries, including solar, wind, and biofuels, as well as jobs in regulatory and government agencies. Students are encouraged to complete two internships in their field of study. These experiences are great resume-builders and often lead to jobs in the industry.
Job Titles
Graduates are actively recruited for leadership roles. Initial placement positions include the following:
- Account Executive
- Administrative Assistant
- Assistant Wind Engineer
- Commercial Developer
- Control Center Operator
- Development Manager
- Electric Supply Analyst
- Energy Advisor
- Energy Analyst
- Energy Auditing Specialist
- Energy Engineer
- Energy Specialist
- Energy Management PSM
- Facility Technician
- Financial Forecast Analyst
- Initial Site Assessor
- Installation Coordinator
- Marketing Coordinator
- Metrology Engineer
- PI Administrator
- Policy Analyst
- Pricing Analyst
- Project Manager
- Office Administrator
- Power Marketer
- Program Coordinator
- Project Analyst
- Project Engineer
- Project Specialist
- Sales Analyst
- Sales Support Specialist
- Settlement Analyst
- Shift Supervisor
- Site Manager
- System Engineer
- Technical Sales Manager
- Field Manager, solar installation
- SCADA Administrator (system management)
- Customer Service Representative
- SCADA Engineering Manager
- Waste Research Specialist
- Wind Technologist
Employers Who Hire Our Graduates
- ADM-Nebraska
- AEP Energy
- Ameren
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Clenera
- DNV GL
- DTE Biomass
- EDF Renewables
- Elevate Energy
- Energy Resources Center
- Eversource Energy
- Franklin Energy
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
- Illinois Green Business Association
- American Wind Energy Management
- Blue Northern Energy (biodiesel)
- Incobrasa Industries
- Invenergy
- Namaste Solar
- Nexant Emerson
- Next Era
- NextGrid
- Powin Energy
- REC Solar
- RES
- Rivian
- Rosvik Power Systems
- RWE
- Schneider Electric
- Solar City-Colorado
- Straight Up Solar
- Sun Africa
- SunPower
- SunRun
- Suzlon
- Tesla
- Titan Solar
- Transocean
- Trina Solar
- Vistra Energy
- Tri-State Generation and Transmission
- SECAD (Smart Energy Design Assistance Center)