Clean Edge Says Cleantech Jobs Are Everywhere

According to Clean Edge research, the top 15 metro areas in the U.S. for clean-tech job activity, based on an analysis of job postings, investment and patent activity, and other data, include the San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Boston/Southern New Hampshire, Denver/Northern Colorado, Austin-San Marcos, Texas and Detroit-Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“Unlike the early days of computers and IT, the clean-tech economy is a highly dispersed phenomenon, with no single place, industry, or professional demographic controlling the sector,” said Ron Pernick, co-founder and managing director of Clean Edge. “This is apparent in the formerly shuttered manufacturing facilities, often in hard-hit industrial areas, that are now opening their doors to make products like wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries. Similarly, clean-tech deployment and growth has become an economic cornerstone for nations looking to innovate and compete in the 21st century– from the likely suspects of Japan, Germany, and the U.S. to emerging powerhouses such as China, South Korea, and even oil-rich Abu Dhabi.”

The study reveals five major trends reshaping clean-tech jobs:

• Energy Efficiency—The Most Bang For Your Buck
• Aging Workforce, New Clean Technologies Transform Utility Industry Landscape
• Coming to a Campus Near You: Clean-Tech Career Training
• Clean-Tech Manufacturing Moves Near End-Use Markets
• The Next Big Thing in IT Jobs: Networking the Grid

Clean Tech Job Trends 2009 also provides a look into clean-tech compensation. The report overviews a range of positions and their median pay levels worldwide, from mid-level LEED-certified architect (US $58,700) and smart grid hardware design engineer ($87,700) to entry-level wind turbine technician ($52,600) and solar energy system installer ($40,000).

The survey is a coproduction of Clean Edge and PayScale. Click here to download a copy of the free report.