Construction
There are many types of construction jobs and a dire labor shortage. With trillions of dollars flowing into infrastructure projects, meeting the demand for clean energy, grid modernization, access to reliable internet, clean drinking water and more, hundreds of thousands of construction workers will be needed nationwide.
From machine operators to bridge building to welding and everything in between, many states prefer to hire union contractors for public works projects because of their high-quality health and safety training and track record of completing large infrastructure projects on time. In Rhode Island, and many other blue states, workers on public infrastructure projects must be paid the prevailing wage for that job classification. The wages for residential construction can range from $15 / hour for painting and plastering and up to $60 / hour for more technical jobs like an elevator mechanic.
The foundational skills gained in the construction trades generally can be applied to clean energy. Turbines and solar panels are installed through welding, and turbines are painted with coatings to keep them from rusting. For turbines built at sea, underwater welders and commercial divers are also involved in the installation and maintenance with annual salaries around $80,000 – $100,000, or more if you’re willing to travel for the highest paying contracts. Turbines also have elevators inside of the tower to bring operations and maintenance workers from the base to the top where the blades and generator are located in the nacelle.
To enter the building trades, you must be 18 years or older, physically fit, have a high school diploma or GED, and once you finish training, have reliable transportation, and possess a driver’s license. You are paid while you train through a registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program, depending on your skill level. To learn more about career opportunities Rhode Island’s Building Trades, visit their website: https://www.buildingtradesri.com/careers
Engineering
Engineers have a passion for figuring out and understanding how things work. Engineering and computer science professionals are crucial for achieving clean energy goals and continued technological advancement. There are four main types of engineering careers: chemical, civil, mechanical, and electrical. Additionally, there are computer engineers who design software and computer systems and typically study computer science.
There are also environmental engineers whose focus is remediating pollution to protect the environment. Environmental engineers pull from a combination of these disciplines and use biology, chemistry, and mathematics to design, monitor, and maintain projects that prevent hazardous waste and provide mechanical or chemical solutions to clean up toxic sites. While much of this work is done in the office, oftentimes environmental engineers will have field work visiting the sites that they’re overseeing. These professionals also play a major role in writing reports and analysis to ensure projects comply with state and federal environmental standards and laws. To become an environmental engineer, you can get a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science or something related and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering.
Over the next ten years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be a large demand for engineer and computer-related employees with this field growing more rapidly than most others. The Bureau reports that the median annual wage for engineers is $100,640 and Michigan Technological University breaks down the mean annual salary and mean entry-level salary by engineering industry.
The minimum requirement to become an engineer is a bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, and for some jobs, an advanced degree is required. Coursework will include calculus, advanced algebra and statistics, physics, chemistry, geology, and biology but will vary based on your area of focus.
Electrician
Electricians do the important work of keeping the lights on. When it comes to clean energy, these industrial or commercial electricians install large transport cables; maintain the electrical grid; and install, inspect, maintain and repair substations. Some electricians work primarily on solar panels, installing and maintaining the electrical components, linking panels together, and connecting them to the grid. Residential electricians complete wiring on new construction, installation, general electric services, and emergency electric repairs.
Similar to careers in construction, electricians can work for trades unions and receive paid training through apprentice and pre-apprenticeship programs. Rhode Island’s Building Futures pre-apprenticeship program provides a hands-on five-week training covering the basic skills needed in any trade that equips you with a 200-hour certification from the RI State Apprenticeship Council and from the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum. If you have core skills in the crafts, you may be able to go right into an apprenticeship program with the IBEW union, in their training program for outdoor electrician work, or the training program to become an inside wireman. In 4-5 years you can earn your Journeyman’s license, and eventually become a master electrician. Once you become a master electrician, you can work without supervision, leading to more flexibility and higher pay, while also being able to supervise other apprentices and electricians who are not yet licensed. In both programs, you are paid while you train, with your wages increasing as you build up your certifications each year.
While unions provide additional benefits and protections that not all employers provide, including free training, you can also pay to receive training to become an electrician at CCRI or the New England Institute of Technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the employment of electricians will increase faster than average. The median annual wage for electricians was $60,240 in May 2022, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $102,300. Outdoor electricians who install and repair power lines can earn even more, with the mean annual wage at $82,340 in May 2022 and the highest paid 10 percent earning more than $114,590.
Supply Chain Management
Also called logisticians, supply chain managers are logistics heroes. They work in the background to make sure the products and materials needed to complete a project arrive on time, at the appropriate quality, and at the right price point. For large renewable energy or infrastructure projects, these folks might oversee dozens of contracts from suppliers worldwide, coordinating transport, delivery, and storage of costly materials in high demand.
Many experts in the offshore wind industry say the hardest part of building these massive infrastructure projects out at sea is the logistics. Logisticians manage a product’s life cycle from design to disposal; direct the allocation of materials, supplies, and products; develop business relationships with suppliers in clients; review logistical functions and identify areas for improvement; and propose strategies to minimize the cost or time required to transport goods.
Logisticians work in almost every industry and the median salary is $77,520 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics also projects employment of logisticians will grow 18 percent from 2022-2032, far more than other occupations. And, according to Bloomberg, big firms are bulking up their supply chain management, especially after all of the supply chain issues we saw during the pandemic and that continue to impact the industry today.
Supply chain management typically requires a business degree and a specialized master’s of business administration in supply chain management specifically. The Association of Supply Change Management provides a breakdown of supply chain management career pathways on their website.
Advocacy & Government
Since our energy systems and infrastructure were built to run on fossil fuels, transitioning to clean energy requires policy change and government action. This work can involve working for a state or federal agency within the government; working for a non-profit organization as an advocate that works closely with government agents, elected officials, and policymakers; or working as a government liaison within a clean energy or utility company.
To do this type of work, there are many educational options but typically a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required. If you want to focus on issues related to climate change, you could study environmental policy. Depending on what area you want to work in, you could alternatively earn a bachelor’s in public administration, political science, public policy, economics, business administration, public health, or international relations.
Since climate change is a global issue, a degree in international relations could support employment in an international nonprofit, the United Nations, or the U.S. department of State. However, to do international work, a graduate degree is often required. Since government action is driven by economics, a degree in environmental economics, or economics while also earning a minor or taking courses in environmental policy, would well-position you to conduct research and serve as an advisor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of economists work for the federal, state, or local government and the median annual wage is $113,940. Political scientists (studying political science, public administration, or public policy) earn a similar median wage, $128,020, and like economists, many earn a master’s degree although in some jobs a bachelor’s degree will suffice. Employment in both political science and economics is expected to grow faster than average. Learn more about this type of career here.
Manufacturing
Last but not least, jobs in manufacturing are greatly needed to support a resilient transition to clean energy while ensuring that companies in the U.S. have access to the goods and materials needed to build, operate, and maintain clean energy projects and modernize our infrastructure. Many of the skills and interests of those who pursue employment in manufacturing overlap with the abovementioned careers. Manufacturing careers can involve the engineering of machinery and the design of products, the oversight and logistical roles involved in supply chain management, and even finish work that sometimes can overlap with jobs in the construction trades.
Manufacturing careers involve some of the base level skills that engineers require, without the need for advanced education in math and science. Most people that work in manufacturing have a high school diploma or GED. Duties typically include reading and understanding schematics and blueprints; positioning or aligning component parts either manually or with hoists; using hand tools or machines to assemble parts; and conducting quality control checks. At the base level, an assembly line worker or fabricator has the median salary of $18.24 an hour, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $61,050 a year according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Some analysis estimates that recent federal investments in clean energy will spur nearly a million manufacturing jobs over the next decade. And, because the investments require employers to meet labor standards, they will require fair wages, quality training and safety. Some examples of jobs in clean energy manufacturing include manufacturing onshore and offshore wind turbines, batteries, electric vehicles, composites, and low-carbon building materials.
Need help navigating your career path?
Contact Nicole, our Director of Energy Justice for support at nicolelenadipaolo@gmail.com
