Engineering Technology - Clean Energy - AAS-T
Note: This program will not be accepting new students starting in Spring 2023.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, global energy consumption has significantly increased and is expected to continue rising through 2035 (Energy Outlook, 2012). The energy industry is working to increase energy efficiency and looking toward innovative technologies to meet the growing demand. Prominent energy companies like BP and Phillips 66 are starting new departments focused on alternative energy and investing in technology development and production.
New energy technology career categories are emerging at an unprecedented pace, and skill sets associated with energy technology cut across both traditional and emerging industries. The number of green jobs in Washington rose 32% in the last few years, and these trends are expected to continue as the demand for energy increases and resources decrease. In Whatcom County alone, there are over 3,600 green jobs (Source: WA Employment Security Department, 2010). Many emerging green energy jobs will be technical jobs that require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree.
Employment Information
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
83% BTC graduate placement rate1
$55,424 starting annual wage2
$69,892 average annual wage2
$83,584 potential annual wage2
- Employment and Wage Data Sources
1Employment data come from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and reflect WA/OR employment for students enrolled at BTC between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Students are included in the employment rate if they left with a credential. Rates are not shown for programs with fewer than 10 students meeting the above criteria.
2Whatcom County and WA State wage data come from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates and reflect 2018-21 employment. Wage data represent occupations that BTC faculty have identified as the most relevant career paths for program graduates. Note that these wages reflect employees with varying educational levels/credentials. For cases in which multiple occupations have been identified by faculty, a weighted percentile is calculated using each occupation’s percentile wage and employment size estimate. Wages are not shown for programs for which occupations do not meet the ESD’s minimum thresholds for publishing. If the program has wage data from the Washington SBCTC that involves shift work, these ESD wages reflect the same number of hours used in the annual wage calculation. Starting wage = 25th percentile, median wage = 50th percentile, wage potential = 75th percentile.
Estimated Program Costs