Renewable Energy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are used or consumed \u2014 meaning they are sustainable sources. This type of energy is typically considered green or environmentally friendly as creating this energy creates far lower emissions than non-renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>>MORE: <\/strong>Looking to work for sustainable companies? Learn the top companies to work for<\/a> in the environmental space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of renewable energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s important to note that while renewable energy is a sustainable resource, the process of extracting this energy isn’t always environmentally friendly. For example, the infrastructure for hydropower can have adverse impacts on the environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t Research the challenges in financing and developing a renewable energy project, then provide advice to a client on potential actions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t6-7 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAnalytical thinking, attention to detail, commercial awareness, issue spotting, communication\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Non-renewable energy is energy that comes from sources that take many, many years to form \u2014 and are not replenished faster than they’re used. This means that these sources will eventually run out. Examples of non-renewable energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These resources are relatively inexpensive to extract and can be shipped all over the world. However, using these resources is not environmentally friendly; for example, burning coal releases pollutants into the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, energy is a good career path for the future \u2014 the industry is growing faster than the average job rate, with growth in both renewable and non-renewable energy fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, energy has been one of the U.S.\u2019s fastest-growing industries. While growth in this career path slowed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy sector has picked up again and grew nearly 4% from 2021 to 2022<\/a>, higher than the overall U.S. employment growth of 3.1%. As of 2022, the sector has recovered over 70% of jobs that were lost in 2020, with employment increasing among all major technology areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was particularly drastic growth in renewable energy technology fields. The energy industry with the highest increase in jobs from 2021 to 2022 was the battery electric vehicle industry. The 27% growth was almost 17 times faster than employment growth in gasoline and diesel vehicle employment. Other technologies with significant employment growth were hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (25%) and offshore wind (20%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t Help a hypothetical client, Fast Cars, with achieving net-zero emissions. Assess the costs, benefits, and risks of carbon reduction initiatives and research strategies to reduce Scope 3 emissions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3-4 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tData interpretation, emissions categorization, industry research, data analysis, risk identification\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t While all energy jobs are about powering the systems we use today, jobs in energy span multiple types of careers, from more skilled trades and engineering to sales<\/a> and law<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Engineering careers in energy are all about problem-solving to design, develop, test, and improve energy systems. For example, engineers in this career path might work on creating new power plants, finding ways to use cleaner fuels, or improving energy efficiency in different buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Job titles of engineering careers<\/a> in energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Help design and troubleshoot avionics systems as a part of the GE Aerospace team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3-4 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tElectrical system design, technical documentation, avionics systems analysis, systematic problem-solving\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Scientific careers in energy apply scientific knowledge in disciplines like chemistry, physics, and biology<\/a> to develop and improve energy technology. For example, a chemist might work on developing cleaner fuels and more efficient ways to burn them, or a geologist might work on how to find and extract fossil fuels in more environmentally friendly ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job titles of scientific careers in energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Installation and repair careers in energy are professionals who do the tangible work of implementing energy equipment. These jobs focus on building, installing, and fixing equipment like anything from solar panels to wind turbines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job titles for installation and repair careers include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Production careers in energy are focused on operating and maintaining facilities that deliver or create energy, such as a power plant, oil refinery, or wind farm. These are often highly technical roles that involve a combination of the work of operators and technicians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Job titles for production careers in energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guide a client through negotiations with a proposed operation and maintenance provider for a major offshore wind farm project.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1-2 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNegotiation, legal drafting, elevator pitch, networking\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Sales careers in energy focus on working with individuals and businesses to offer energy solutions for their properties. For example, an energy sales representative working for a solar panel company would help individuals figure out how solar power could work for their home, and sell them solar panels from their company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Job titles for sales careers in energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy production and use is all regulated by different laws, meaning there’s a need for lawyers who specialize in this type of law. These lawyers may ensure that companies comply with different regulations, help navigate legal issues related to energy projects, or review energy-related contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job titles for legal careers in energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research new climate-related laws that could impact clients, then advise them on how to approach climate change risks and challenges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t5-6 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tResearch, analysis, strategy, client communication, contract review, identifying legal issues\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Entry-level jobs in this sector are similar to the most common types of energy roles, just typically junior versions of the more advanced positions. Some entry-level positions will be more administrative or operational than their senior counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, an entry-level professional analyst working in renewable energy might focus on collecting data about energy use. The senior-level professional would then use this data to decide where to invest their company\u2019s efforts. Both professionals work with energy data, but the entry-level role is more functional and requires more junior data collection and analysis skills. At the same time, the senior level is focused on market trends and strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n >>MORE: <\/strong>Improve your data analytics<\/a> skills with Forage\u2019s free tech job simulations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entry-level job titles in energy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On average, wages for energy jobs are 34%<\/a> higher than the median wages in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy professionals are also more likely to be unionized, which can increase wages. According to the United States Energy and Employment 2023 Report, 11% of energy workers are represented by unions, collective bargaining agreements, or project labor agreements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, average pay varies greatly depending on what kind of energy work you do. For example, an electrical engineer earns an average salary of $114,050<\/a> a year, while a welder earns an average of $50,460<\/a> per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best-paying jobs in energy are typically those that involve engineering, science, or high-level operations. However, these jobs also require more advanced degrees and technical skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the best-paying jobs in energy, according to the BLS, are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting a job in energy requires narrowing down your focus, getting the proper training, and connecting with individuals in the field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With so many different aspects of the energy field \u2014 from engineering to installation \u2014 the best first step is to consider what type of role you want to pursue in the energy field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand what area you might want to focus on, get granular about your interests and strengths. For example, are you interested in renewable energy? Do your strengths lie in math and science? Are you more process-oriented? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many jobs in the energy career path require specific skill sets, especially if you’re taking on technical roles in engineering, science, installation, or production. Once you’ve narrowed your focus, you can start to work on the technical skills you’ll need to land these roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you’re interested in engineering, you might decide to major in this area to build skills like programming<\/a>, manufacturing, quality control, and design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t Understand how modern financial risk management combined with climate science can facilitate a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy in this free job simulation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFinancing Renewable Energy Projects<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Non-Renewable Energy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Is Energy a Good Career Path for the Future?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"BCG](\"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/BCG-150x100.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClimate & Sustainability<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Types of Energy Careers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Engineering Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"GE](\"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/GE-Aerospace-150x100.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore Electrical Engineering<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Scientific Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Installation and Repair Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Production Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSales Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Legal Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/clifford-chance-150x100.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClimate Change<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Entry-Level Jobs in Energy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Do Energy Jobs Pay?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10 Best-Paying Jobs in Energy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Role<\/strong><\/td> Average Salary<\/strong><\/td> Job outlook<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Architectural\/engineer manager<\/td> $163,310<\/td> 4% (as fast as average)<\/td><\/tr> Petroleum engineer<\/td> $142,800<\/td> 2% (as fast as average)<\/td><\/tr> Aerospace engineer<\/td> $127,090<\/td> 6% (faster than average)<\/td><\/tr> Chemical engineer<\/td> $117,820<\/td> 8% (faster than average)<\/td><\/tr> Geoscientist<\/td> $104,560<\/td> 5% (faster than average)<\/td><\/tr> Mechanical engineer<\/td> $100,820<\/td> 10% (much faster than average)<\/td><\/tr> Nuclear technician<\/td> $97,040<\/td> -1% (little or no change<\/td><\/tr> Atmospheric and space scientist<\/td> $93,610<\/td> 4% (as fast as average)<\/td><\/tr> Chemists<\/td> $90,530<\/td> 6% (faster than average)<\/td><\/tr> Power plant operator<\/td> $88,960<\/td> -10% (decline)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How to Get a Job in Energy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Narrow Your Focus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Develop the Right Skill Set<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOliverWyman Financial Services: Climate Change<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t