Photo: Eneco Group (CC BY 2.0)
Job description
A typical engagement starts with assessing a customer's property (measuring roof space, checking orientation and shading) to determine whether solar is a good fit, then moves into designing a system and walking the customer through financing, incentives, and tax rebates before preparing formal quotes and design drawings. Reps often work with both individual homeowners and installation dealers, tailoring the pitch to each. Many representatives progress into sales management or specialize in commercial and utility-scale accounts, which involve more complex system designs and longer sales cycles.
Pros
- Very high upside earning potential, up to $200k, the highest ceiling in this batch
- Vocational training or associate's degree is enough to enter, no bachelor's required
- Growing field (27,200 jobs) tied to expanding renewable energy demand
Cons
- Above-average hours, more than a standard 40-hour work week
- Slower than average projected job growth (1.9%) relative to the pay ceiling's promise
- Commission-driven sales work means income can vary considerably month to month
A typical day
The first appointment is a 9am home visit: measuring the roof from the driveway with satellite imagery already loaded, checking the electrical panel, and asking about the family's power bills. Back in the truck, the design software turns that into a system layout and a savings projection before the next stop. The afternoon brings two consultations -- one homeowner ready to sign, one full of hard questions about payback periods and what happens when it hails. Evenings often hold a follow-up call or two, because that's when working families are home to talk.
Tasks at the job
- Provide customers with information, such as quotes, orders, sales, shipping, warranties, credit, funding options, incentives, or tax rebates.
- Assess sites to determine suitability for solar equipment, using equipment such as tape measures, compasses, and computer software.
- Take quote requests or orders from dealers or customers.
- Prepare or review detailed design drawings, specifications, or lists related to solar installations.
- Create customized energy management packages to satisfy customer needs.
- Demonstrate use of solar and related equipment to customers or dealers.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and most of the day is spent sitting at a desk.
You're expected to exercise significant independent judgment day to day. The work is highly structured, following set procedures. Almost all of the work is done as part of a team.
Education necessary or common
Vocational training, apprenticeship, or associate's degree
Licenses & certifications
- NABCEP PV Technical Sales
Career path
Related fields
Courses to take
- Algebra II -- financing, payback, and production math is the sales pitch
- Physics -- enough electrical fluency to answer real questions honestly
- Public speaking or debate electives -- persuasion is the job
- Environmental Science -- the why customers care about
- Business or marketing electives -- pipeline and follow-up discipline
Clubs, activities & competitions
- DECA -- sales and marketing competition built for this exact skill set
- Debate team -- thinking on your feet against objections
- Any customer-facing part-time job -- retail teaches more sales than most classes
- Environmental club -- authentic knowledge of the product's purpose
First steps you can take now
- Run your own house through the free PVWatts calculator and build a mock savings pitch
- Practice a five-minute solar pitch on a family member and take their objections seriously
- Shadow a door-to-door or in-home sales rep for a day
- Learn how net metering works in your state
