Solar panels are seen atop the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center with the Atlanta skyline in the distance.

Solar panels are seen atop the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center with the Atlanta skyline in the distance.

Credit: File photo

Georgia is now the third-fastest growing state for solar energy usage, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

With that growth comes career expansion, too, as “Georgia solar jobs grew 23 percent” in 2016. There are now more than 3,900 solar energy jobs in the state, and the trendline shows positive growth again in the near future.

In fact, there are currently solar energy careers open NOW. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for solar PV installers as of 2012 was $19.53 per hour and $40,620 annually.

The cost of solar panels has fallen 53 percent over the past five years, and in 2015 the “Georgia General Assembly passed legislation allowing commercial and residential property owners to finance the installation of solar panels at their homes or businesses instead of forcing them to pay up front,” according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The hope is this will spur more consumers to give solar panels a look as currently sales have been slower than expected. The SEIA is bullish on future investment, as over the next five years it projects Georgia “to install 2,132 MW of solar electric capacity, ranking the state tenth over that time span. This amount is more than six times the amount of solar installed over the last five years.”

Solar energy is growing rapidly in the U.S. and Georgia specifically. If interested in this industry, please visit your Local Workforce Area Service location to learn more about what, if any, opportunities might be available in your area.