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Energy Auditors: Career Overview
Conduct energy audits of buildings, building systems, or process systems. May also conduct investment grade audits of buildings or systems.
What Do Energy Auditors Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of energy auditors cover:
- Identify and prioritize energy-saving measures.
- Prepare audit reports containing energy analysis results or recommendations for energy cost savings.
- Identify any health or safety issues related to planned weatherization projects.
- Identify opportunities to improve the operation, maintenance, or energy efficiency of building or process systems.
- Calculate potential for energy savings.
- Inspect or evaluate building envelopes, mechanical systems, electrical systems, or process systems to determine the energy consumption of each system.
- Analyze technical feasibility of energy-saving measures, using knowledge of engineering, energy production, energy use, construction, maintenance, system operation, or process systems.
- Examine commercial sites to determine the feasibility of installing equipment that allows building management systems to reduce electricity consumption during peak demand periods.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful energy auditors rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Building Performance Consultant
- Building Science and Energy Specialist
- Building Scientist
- Commercial Energy Auditor
- Commercial Energy Rater
- Energy Advisor
- Energy Analyst
- Energy Audit Advisor
How Many Energy Auditors Are There?
The U.S. employs around 357,145 energy auditors working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.1% over the projection horizon.
Energy Auditors Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,726 |
| Hourly median | $32.08 |
| 10th percentile | $37,266 |
| 25th percentile | $51,996 |
| 75th percentile | $81,456 |
| 90th percentile | $96,186 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Energy Auditors Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $101,160 |
| Alaska | $94,030 |
| District of Columbia | $91,630 |
| Washington | $89,360 |
| Connecticut | $87,290 |
| Minnesota | $83,890 |
| Oregon | $82,220 |
| New Jersey | $82,210 |
| Massachusetts | $79,220 |
| Colorado | $78,940 |
| New York | $78,570 |
| Nevada | $76,560 |
| North Dakota | $74,970 |
| Illinois | $73,050 |
| Arizona | $73,040 |
| Rhode Island | $72,790 |
| Maryland | $71,990 |
| Utah | $71,040 |
| Ohio | $70,890 |
| Nebraska | $70,730 |
| Wisconsin | $70,700 |
| Virginia | $69,960 |
| Michigan | $69,890 |
| Hawaii | $69,560 |
| Louisiana | $69,150 |
| New Hampshire | $66,750 |
| Vermont | $66,130 |
| North Carolina | $65,830 |
| Idaho | $65,720 |
| Maine | $65,670 |
| Florida | $65,340 |
| Delaware | $64,990 |
| Georgia | $64,290 |
| Iowa | $63,830 |
| Kentucky | $63,770 |
| Indiana | $63,750 |
| South Dakota | $63,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,180 |
| New Mexico | $62,470 |
| Missouri | $62,230 |
| Texas | $62,110 |
| Kansas | $61,850 |
| Alabama | $61,500 |
| Montana | $60,500 |
| Wyoming | $60,320 |
| South Carolina | $60,050 |
| Tennessee | $59,850 |
| Oklahoma | $58,810 |
| West Virginia | $57,240 |
| Arkansas | $52,970 |
| Mississippi | $49,750 |
| Guam | $48,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,430 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for energy auditors differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $95,637 | 14.9% | 0.89 |
| New England | $77,516 | 4.8% | 1.08 |
| Middle Atlantic | $75,376 | 19.5% | 1.35 |
| Rocky Mountains | $73,965 | 4.4% | 1.17 |
| Great Lakes | $70,046 | 9.3% | 0.67 |
| Plains States | $68,208 | 4.5% | 0.68 |
| Southeast | $64,673 | 26.2% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $63,650 | 15.9% | 1.26 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Energy Auditors
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $129,160 | 1,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $125,150 | 2,430 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $113,030 | 270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $109,070 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $103,480 | 3,730 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $102,380 | 1,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $102,000 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $100,330 | 1,630 |
Which Industries Hire Energy Auditors
The largest employers of energy auditors work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 51,270 | $73,980 |
| Construction | 12,900 | $66,340 |
| Utilities | 3,300 | $107,480 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2,680 | $50,950 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,000 | $63,130 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,010 | $55,340 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 940 | $49,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 870 | $53,450 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Energy Auditors Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft .NET Framework (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of energy auditors reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Typical energy auditors positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Primary-Long)
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Supplemental)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Wind Energy Development Managers (Primary-Short)
- Sustainability Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring energy auditors typically earn programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-4011.01 (Construction and Building Inspectors).
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