Workforce training and education is crucial to supporting the growing energy industry in Texas. According to the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (PDF), in 2022 there were 936,477 energy workers in Texas: 64,570 in electric power generation; 302,744 in fuels; 203,777 in transmission, distribution and storage; 164,470 in energy efficiency; and 200,916 in motor vehicles. Texas energy workers represent 11.5 percent of all U.S. energy jobs.1 This is a significant increase in energy employment from one year to the next; in 2021 Texas had 880,692 energy workers (PDF), a 55,000 or 6.3 percent increase.2
Energy-related occupations vary greatly in terms of qualifications, such as required education, certifications/licensing and training necessary for each position. Educational requirements range from a high school diploma or equivalent to post-secondary degrees and non-degrees such as certificates and training programs. In addition to formal education, training can include apprenticeships and on-the-job trainings.
The Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Report on Texas Growth Occupations (PDF) lists the education, experience and training requirements for energy-related utility occupations. This report, required by Texas statute, directs the TWC to gather, study and report information relating to existing and projected shortages in high-wage, high-demand occupations in Texas.3 Of these listed occupations, 11 require a high school diploma (or less) and nine of those offer a median wage of more than $50,000 per year (Exhibit 1).
Exhibit 1 Education, Training and Experience Requirements for Utility-related Occupations with Median Wages, 2020
Occupation
Education
Training
Experience
Annual Median Wage (2020)
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
High School Diploma or Equivalent
On-the-Job Training
None
$63,973
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
High School Diploma or Equivalent
On-the-Job Training
None
$68,589
Wind Turbine Services Technicians
Postsecondary Non-degree Award
On-the-Job Training
None
$56,177
General and Operations Managers
Bachelor’s Degree
None
5 years or more
$119,770
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers
High School Diploma or Equivalent
None
Less than 5 years
$77,389
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
High School Diploma or Equivalent
On-the-Job Training
None
$53,810
Electrical Engineers
Bachelor’s Degree
None
None
$107,472
Electricians
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Apprenticeship
None
$65,081
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant System Operators
High school Diploma or Equivalent
On-the-Job Training
None
$41,716
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Bachelor’s Degree
None
None
$76,080
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas and Mining
No Formal Educational Credential
On-the-Job Training
None
$59,171
First-Line Supervisors of Productions and Operating Workers
High School Diploma or Equivalent
None
Less than 5 years
$72,955
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
Associate Degree
None
None
$78,097
Accountants and Auditors
Bachelor’s Degree
None
None
$77,328
Supervisors of Construction and Extraction Workers
High School Diploma or Equivalent
None
$68,199
Operations Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
High School Diploma or Equivalent
On-the-Job Training
None
$41,914
Financial Managers
Bachelor’s Degree
None
5 years or more
$145,676
Electrical and Electronic Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation and Relay
Postsecondary Non-degree Award
On-the-Job Training
Less than 5 years
$71,060
Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Apprenticeship
None
$50,186
Management Analysts
Bachelor’s Degree
None
Less than 5 years
$93,140
Source: Texas Workforce Commission Report on Texas Growth Occupations (Utilities)
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
ERCOT provides training to energy market participants and the public on transmission systems operations, as well as wholesale and retail marketspace operations.4 ERCOT offers these development programs to provide a foundation of learning and hands-on experience to individuals to become engineers, system operators or grid and market solutions developers. ERCOT also offers internships to college students interested in working in the utilities market.
Oil and Gas, Liquified Petroleum (Propane) and Coal
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates the exploration, production and transportation of oil and natural gas in Texas and offers workshops and conferences to oil and gas and pipeline operators and other industry representatives.5 RRC’s Alternative Fuels Safety (AFS) department is charged with adopting and enforcing regulations for the safe storage, transportation and use of LP gas (propane) in the state of Texas.6 The RRC website contains resources for the types of training course(s) needed for various certifications related to oil and gas jobs.7 The Surface Mining and Reclamation Division (SMRD) within the RRC regulates blasting at surface coal minesand provides training, examination and certification of blasters at these mines.8
Nuclear
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a federal agency, licenses all individuals who either supervise or operate the controls of a commercially owned nuclear power reactor or test/research (i.e., non-power) reactor in the United States.9
Wind, Solar and Biomass (Renewables)
O*NET, an online database of occupational characteristics in the U.S., lists the specific vocational preparation (SVP) necessary for renewable energy occupations. Texas leads the nation in clean power development (by percent of projects under construction or in advanced development) according to a study by the American Clean Power Association.10 This increased development requires a well-trained and experienced workforce that can keep up with sustained growth. While Texas does not have specific licensing or certification for solar or wind installation technicians, there are general electrician and plumbing licensing requirements as well as the aforementioned SVPs for renewable energy occupations (Exhibit 2).
Exhibit 2 Education and Training Needed for Texas Renewable Energy Occupations
Occupation
Education
Specific Vocational Preparation Needed
Geothermal Production Managers
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Biofuels Production Managers
Bachelor’s Degree
2-4 years
Biomass Power Plant Managers
Bachelor’s Degree
2-4 years
Hydroelectric Production Managers
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
Bachelor’s Degree
2-4 years
Wind Energy Operations Managers
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Wind Energy Development Managers
Bachelor’s Degree
2-4 years
Wind Energy Engineers
Bachelor’s Degree
2-4 years
Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Bachelor’s Degree
2-4 years
Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Solar Energy Installation Managers
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Solar Photovoltaic Installers
High-school Diploma
3-12 months
Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Geothermal Technicians
High School Diploma
3-12 months
Biomass Plant Technicians
High School Diploma
3-12 months
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Vocational School, Related on-the-job Experience or an Associate Degree
1-2 years
Biofuels Processing Technicians
High School Diploma
3-12 months
Source: O*NET
Educational Training Programs
Texas offers numerous educational and training programs for individuals interested in energy careers. Community colleges, trade schools, four-year universities and graduate schools across the state offer programs to individuals who want to learn and prepare for jobs in both renewable and non-renewable energy. Most Texas colleges and universities offer a range of basic and advanced courses in engineering, chemistry, physics, basic business management and other areas that can prepare students for careers in the energy sector. Programs are also available at all levels to train students specifically for renewable energy-related occupations. Training opportunities for jobs in the energy sector provided by institutes of higher education, technical schools and other private entities are listed in the Texas Workforce Commission’s database of training programs.11
Community Colleges
Community colleges throughout Texas offer a number of options for obtaining an associate degree or certificate aimed at preparing individuals for employment in the energy industry. There are currently more than 25 different energy-related educational programs offered at Texas community colleges, with a majority offering two-year associate degrees (Exhibit 3).
Exhibit 3 Texas Community College Energy-related Programs
Individuals in Texas can also pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree in energy-related topics. Across 31 Texas public universities, there at least 99 different bachelor’s degree programs ranging from general energy (applicable to multiple fields of energy) to more specific programs such as hydro, oil and gas, petroleum, renewables and more.
In addition to community colleges and universities, technical colleges such as Texas State Technical College (TSTC) offer workforce training — both through certificate and associate degree programs — in energy industries such as general energy, solar, wind and oil and gas (Exhibit 4).
Exhibit 4
Texas Public Universities, Community Colleges and Tech Schools with Energy Training Programs
Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Workforce Training and Licensing
Besides programs offered through colleges and universities, some energy companies have on-the-job training programs. For example, Quanta Services, a Houston-based infrastructure solutions company that works in the electric power, pipeline, industrial, and communications industries, also provides specialized training programs focused on developing a skilled workforce to tackle infrastructure construction issues. Quanta’s internal training facility, Lazy Q Ranch, is located in La Grange and provides state-of-the-art training across the sectors it serves. Its external facility, Northwest Lineman College, is located in Denton and provides both pre-apprenticeship and apprentice programs in skilled trades relevant to construction in the energy sector. Quanta’s training vision focuses on safety and world-class instruction across all the energy sectors, and their facilities simulate real-world scenarios and offer hands-on training in more than 142 applicable job skills.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) oversees the implementation of Texas statutes, rules and regulations that govern electricians, all of whom must be licensed to perform electrical work in Texas.12 TDLR offers a variety of licensing opportunities. The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Management and Employee Level Certification renewals are by far the most obtained licenses at TDLR and provide more than $390,000 in revenue to the state from licensing fees (Exhibit 5). In total, licensing from various energy-related licenses issued by TDLR contributed more than $1.5 million in revenue from licensing fees in 2021 according to a Report on Occupational Licenses Required by the State of Texas.
Exhibit 5 The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Energy Industry Licensing, 2021
License
Number of Active Licenses
State Revenue from Fees (Fiscal Year 2021)
LPG Management and Employee Level Certification Renewals
11,210
$391,151
LP-Gas Portable Cylinder Exchange
5,296
$316,840
LP-Gas Employee Level Certification
4,006
$200,186
LPG and CNG Exemption Registration (Renewal)
3,755
$79,670
CNG Management and Employee Level Certification Renewals
755
$17,375
LPG and CNG Exemption Registration (New)
707
$29,994
LP-gas Service Station and Cylinder Filling
564
$50,805
LNG Certification Renewals
516
$7,785
LP-Gas General Installers and Repairmen
400
$34,749
LP-Gas Retail and Wholesale Dealer
376
$129,450
LP-Gas Management Level Certification
311
$22,890
LP-Gas Recreational Vehicle Installers and Repairmen
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Outlook
Workforce training not only supports the energy industry but also provides employment opportunities to people across the state. To ensure a strong energy workforce, the RRC has created an energy education workforce initiative, whereby it meets with representatives from the Texas Legislature, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and others to ensure the future energy workforce is adequately recruited.13 This initiative also provides energy education resources to K-12 educators in an effort to educate Texas students on the importance of energy, paving the way for future employment opportunities for those interested in the industry.
