Six-Figure Jobs: Business Development Manager, Solar Energy

• Salary for Top Earners: $100,000+
• Projected Job Growth: 26 percent this year
• Additional Training Required: Online certificates in green energy management can usually be earned within a year at various colleges. Further experience can be gained through accredited training programs.

The solar power industry is poised to take off and business development specialists are needed to target new clients and develop potential partnerships. And sliding your skill set from another field, such as construction, is eminently possible, says Peter Beadle, CEO of greenjobs.com, a recruitment service for the renewable energy industry. “I’ve seen people transition from sales and marketing in other industries, even real estate if there is land acquisition involved,” Beadle says. The hottest of the hot? Solar power jobs in California, due in part to the state’s Solar Initiative rebate program.

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