Top 15 Best Paying Jobs In Energy (Updated 2024)

Do you want to work in the energy industry and earn a good living? Many positions in the energy sector provide skilled people competitive compensation.

The world runs on energy, so it will come as no surprise that there is an ever-growing variety of job opportunities in the sector, but what are the top 15 best paying jobs in energy? What roles are paying the most today?

If you’re looking to find the highest paying jobs in the energy industry, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is An Energy Job?

A career in energy can mean a wide variety of different jobs, but it’s all about harnessing and distributing the power that makes the world work. It’s about the electricity that drives every device in your home, and the fuel that runs machines across the globe.

The field encompasses thousands of different professional positions in any number of different settings. There are office jobs, administration roles, engineers, technicians, scientists, analysts, and much more besides.

There are so many different roles available in energy that most people won’t even have heard of half of them. You will find prospects for almost any skill set, and many of them are specialized and unique to the area.

Are Energy Jobs a Good Career Path?

Energy has been an expanding sector for many years, and it involves providing one of the fundamental necessities of modern life – we can’t live without energy, so there will always be energy jobs available.

Technology and society continue to advance ever more rapidly, and energy is one of the sectors that is spearheading that change. If you want to be working in a field with a lot of potential, some of the best opportunities are right here.

Working in this area can also be highly lucrative, as there is a lot of money in the industry – as well as a lot of room for growth and professional development.

Top 15 Best Paying Jobs In Energy

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1.Petroleum Engineer

Median Salary: $130,850

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 8%

One of the highest-paid roles that you can find in the energy sector is that of a petroleum engineer. Essentially, working in this position means that you are responsible for the safe extraction of hydrocarbons, like oil and natural gas.

This job entails assessing the deposits that are available and planning and managing their extraction. It does require quite a high level of education, and many petroleum engineers will have a PhD before taking on the role. There are also several additional qualifications that you would obtain as you progress. Thus, one of the top-paying jobs in integrated oil companies.

Petroleum engineers tend to be technically highly competent and team players, with excellent problem-solving skills and an ability to work well under pressure. The lowest 10% in the field earn less than $78,390 and the highest ten percent earn more than $208,000.

2. Environmental Engineer

Median Salary: $92,120

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 4%

Environmental engineering is a field that looks to protect the environment and minimize the harm caused by the extraction and utilization of natural resources to produce energy. Working in this role, you would be designing technologies and processes that would limit the production of pollutants and improve the cleanup of contaminants.

This is another specialized engineering role (of which there will be several more at the top of this list), and most people move into this career after having achieved a degree in an area like chemical, environmental, or civil engineering.

You need to be a technical person that is good at handling data to excel as an environmental engineer, and you need to be highly organized. The role includes site visits, assessments, audits, impact evaluations, data analysis, designing solutions, and making recommendations. 

The highest-paid 25% in this role make over $118,000 per year, while the lowest-paid 25% make around $70,000.

3. Civil Engineer

Median Salary: $88,570

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 7%

In general, civil engineers are responsible for planning, designing, and managing large construction projects. In the energy sector, this can mean anything from power plants to wind farms to offshore oil rigs, and a huge number of other projects in between.

Civil engineers need to ensure these construction projects are carried out in the most efficient and effective way, that minimizes risk to the environment as much as possible. They carry out surveys and tests, and utilize maps and computer modeling software to create blueprints and generate plans.

Building and construction knowledge is essential for working in this field, as are design and communication skills. Working in this role requires a high level of communication and adaptability. The highest-paid 25% in this role make $115,000 or more, while the lowest-paid 25% make around $69,000.

4. Architectural Engineer

Median Salary: $86,265

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 2%

The last of the engineering positions on our list is that of an architectural engineer – another specialist assisting in the completion of construction projects. Architectural engineering is a specific role within the wider category of civil engineering, but it is more focused on evaluating and testing building systems and construction designs.

In energy, architectural engineers analyze the plans put forth by architects and look for ways to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with codes and regulations. It is often an office-based role that mostly consists of reviewing blueprints, but it includes site visits and assessments as well.

Entry-level positions as an architectural engineer tend to start at around $70,000 per year, but more experienced people in the field make upwards of $115,000.

5. Geoscientist

Median Salary: $83,680

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 5%

Geoscientists study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the earth. In energy, this role involved discovering and analyzing sources of fuel, like natural gas or petroleum, as well as cleaning up and preserving the environment. Most jobs in this field are created by oil and gas extraction companies.

Working as a geoscientist entails communicating with a wide variety of people in a number of different roles, surveying and acquiring accurate data, and providing expert geological advice to many departments. Geoscientists carry out a large number of different projects as well, which require the efficient management of a junior team.

You need to be very adept with data and analysis in order to excel as a geoscientist, but you also need excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The lowest-paid 10% in the field earn $48,880 annually, but the highest-paid 10% earn more than $172,490 per year.

6. Financial Analyst

Median Salary: $83,660

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 9%

There are financial analysts in almost every sector that you can imagine, but positions in energy are particularly lucrative. The job involves analyzing financial data, tracking business metrics, and creating accurate forecasts, models, and reports for the future of the company.

It is a highly critical and in-depth role that requires a lot of technical knowledge. Financial analysts will use many different pieces of software to look for trends and patterns, and they will need to constantly stay abreast of any new information or developments within the industry.

This position requires a strong work ethic and excellent data gathering and analytic skills. You are also expected to be highly proficient in Excel formulas and functions. The highest-paid 25% in the field make around $112,460, while the lowest-paid 25% make around $63,670.

Also Read: Best Paying Jobs In Major Banks

7. Power Plant Operator

Median Salary: $80,850

Education: High School Diploma

Projected Growth: -15%

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers are technical professionals that manage the day-to-day operations of a power plant facility. They are in charge of maintaining and controlling the systems that keep a plant functioning and ensuring that it is both safe and operational.

Every power plant operator will need to have specialized knowledge of the workings of the plant that they run, as every power plant is very different. The role includes managing the equipment, ensuring the facility is cleaned and maintained, monitoring output, and performing safety checks.

While there are projected to be fewer roles for power plant operators available over the next decade, more than 3,000 positions are still available on average every year. Entry-level operators start at around $45,000 per year, while more experienced operators earn more than $97,000. You don’t need an undergraduate degree to get started, although there are many on-the-job qualifications that help you progress.

8. Power Line Installer

Median Salary: $78,310

Education: High School Diploma

Projected Growth: 6%

This is another position that does not require a university-level education, and it is very well paid. Unlike many of the other job roles on this list, power line installation is highly physical and you will spend the majority of your time outdoors.

Power line installers are responsible for installing, maintaining, and testing electrical power grid systems in order to ensure that the delivery of electricity to residential homes and businesses is optimized.

You will need to climb and inspect towers and poles, create detailed wiring and electrical diagrams, and build out systems like transformers, distribution boxes, transducers, etc. Although you do not need many qualifications to start with, you will receive a lot of on-the-job training and specialized certifications.

9. Land Acquisition Specialist

Median Salary: $78,187

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 33%

A land acquisition specialist is someone who oversees the process of obtaining land for a specific project or business. In energy, most of these roles are related to developments for sites like wind and solar farms.

People in this role work alongside lawyers, engineers, specialists, and scientists in order to determine the right sites for a project, and throughout the purchase and/or leasing process that follows. A large responsibility of the position is negotiating contracts and liaising between the business or organization and various government agencies.

You need to be an excellent communicator and have strong decision-making and negotiating skills in order to excel as a land acquisition specialist, and there is a lot of specialist knowledge to learn and understand.

10. Project Manager

Median Salary: $77,264

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 7%

As with some of the other jobs on this list, there are project managers in almost all fields. When it comes to energy, project managers will be planning, managing, and overseeing energy initiatives in their entirety – and they are present in every organization within the industry.

Project managers need to acquire resources and distribute them to the right areas in order to ensure that a project is completed efficiently and effectively, and they are almost always in charge of a large number of people. They carry out feasibility studies and site visits, prepare and manage budgets, and produce many reports to explain the trajectory of their strategies.

To be a project manager, you need to have very good interpersonal and organizational skills, and you need to be able to lead and manage others. Project manager positions often start at around $60,000 per year, but can go up to more than $100,000.

11. Environmental Scientist

Median Salary: $76,530

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 5%

Environmental scientists can do a wide variety of different things within the energy industry, but most of them work with developers/companies to ensure that they comply with environmental regulations and are protecting the natural environment as much as possible.

The role of an environmental scientist generally involves conducting environmental impact studies and making recommendations for mitigation strategies. Extensive knowledge of the natural sciences is essential, as well as a strong understanding of human behavior, and a graduate degree is often preferred.

In order to be successful, you need to have good analytical and critical-thinking skills, and you need to be an effective communicator. At an entry-level, environmental scientists earn around $53,910 per year but can earn more than $100,000.

12. Renewable Energy Consultant

Median Salary: $56,000

Education: Bachelor’s

Projected Growth: 10%

Renewable energy consultants carry out audits and surveys in order to give accurate and effective advice about the implementation of renewable energy projects and initiatives. They work in every renewable energy field, including solar, wind, tidal, hydro, bioenergy, and more. This role is also sometimes referred to as a “sustainability consultant”.

A lot of the work of a renewable energy consultant entails carrying out surveys and feasibility studies, analyzing technical data, and advising. They work with private and government clients and are responsible for consulting on the best practices for improving energy efficiency, as well as reducing environmental impact.

You need a very strong understanding of the renewable energy market to take on this role, and you should be an effective manager and communicator. Entry-level positions start at around $50,000, while the highest-paid professionals can earn more than $100,000.

13. Oil and Gas Service Unit Operator

Median Salary: $48,410

Education: High School Diploma

Projected Growth: 10%

Oil and gas service unit operators run, maintain, and monitor the machinery and technology required to produce petroleum and natural gas. This role generally involves working on rigs and/or derricks, and is also referred to as a pulling unit operator, rig operator, or service operator.

They are in charge of maintaining and performing safety inspections on equipment and tools, operating the controls for rigs and derricks, and observing functioning in order to identify faulty operations or unusual conditions.

You do not need an academic qualification to start out in this role, but you do need to be highly responsive and attentive, and a very effective problem-solver. Starting positions for this role can earn around $31,000, while more senior operators make about $79,750 per year.

14. Solar Photovoltaic Installer

Median Salary: $47,670

Education: High School Diploma

Projected Growth: 27%

Installing solar panels is an increasingly in-demand job role, and it does not need a specific level of education in order to get started. Solar photovoltaic installers are responsible for setting up and maintaining solar panels on roofs, structures, and land. They also need to ensure that the wiring systems are safe and efficient.

The role involves assessing locations, measuring and adjusting for installation, and installing and maintaining solar panels. There are many apprenticeship programs and certifications that can get you into the business, but some level of electrical qualification is generally required to work independently.

The lowest-paid 10% of solar photovoltaic installers earn $36,320 or less, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $72,080.

15. Hazardous Materials Removal Specialist

Median Salary: $46,300

Education: High School Diploma

Projected Growth: 18%

Working in any position with an implied level of risk almost always means higher financial rewards, and removing hazardous waste is definitely no exception. In energy, this usually means the removal and disposal of waste oil, contaminated soil, and/or radioactive materials.

The general duties of this job involve identifying potentially hazardous materials, assessing the risks, and then removing, packing, transporting, and disposing of them in a safe way. More jobs are becoming available in hazardous waste removal every year, and you do not need a high level of education to get started.

The lowest-paid specialists tend to earn around $30,000, but more senior specialists can expect $75,000 or more per year.

Summary: Top 15 Best Paying Jobs In Energy

After taking a look at the top 15 best paying jobs in energy, you’ve hopefully found a career in this industry that suits you and your skills. Don’t forget, there are many more positions in this sector with highly competitive salaries, and new roles are appearing every year.

FAQs

Is the energy sector high paying?

There are some very high paying roles within the energy sector, and salaries tend to be highly competitive – even for roles that are similar to those in other industries. More specialized positions with a greater qualification requirement tend to pay the most. The average hourly income for skilled energy roles is 34% more than the national median average.

What energy makes the most money?

There is not a significant difference between the amount of money available in different sources of energy. Oil, gas, wind, etc. tend to have a large number of high-paying roles available, however, solar energy is slightly more lucrative for employees, statistically.

Do renewable energy jobs pay well?

There are a lot of very well-paid jobs in renewable energy, and that is likely to increase in the future as the world becomes more reliant on renewable energy sources. It is an area where there is a lot of investment and there are a number of roles available that pay upwards of six figures.