Is First Solar a good company to work for?

First Solar has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 805 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months. 70% of employees would recommend working at First Solar to a friend and 62% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about First Solar have been left by employees working as Manufacturing Engineer , Development Engineer and Manager .

Does First Solar pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, First Solar employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.4 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at First Solar. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at First Solar?

70% of First Solar employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated First Solar 3.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.7 for culture and values and 3.3 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at First Solar?

Engineer (24) , Manufacturing Engineer (21) , Manager (17) , Technician (13) , Development Engineer (11) , Intern (9) , Development Engineer II (8) , Internship (8) , Manufacturing Associate (8) , Project Manager (8) , Production Operator (7) , Analyst (6) , Director (6) , Coater Technician (5) , Human Resources Generalist (5)

What are the pros of working at First Solar according to real employee reviews?

"People are understanding of mistakes and it's great as a first full time corporate job." ((in 59 reviews)); "Good benefit and growth of the company" ((in 57 reviews)); "Good pay and days off" ((in 44 reviews)); "Innovative culture and great co" ((in 33 reviews)); "Work life balance is good" ((in 22 reviews))

What are the cons of working at First Solar according to real employee reviews?

"Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 11 reviews)); "Poor communication and coordination throughout the organization" ((in 10 reviews)); "Favoritism is very high there." ((in 10 reviews)); "Cultural challenges given the number of spread out offices and difficulty establishing a common culture; stock price volatility reducing the value of equity compensation, a number of silos which resulted in "us vs them" mentality (EPC versus Project Development); recent layoffs given shift in the market away from historically subsidized markets in Europe" ((in 9 reviews)); "Hectic, stressful, and bad leadership" ((in 8 reviews))

What are employees saying about First Solar layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about First Solar layoffs and their outlook for job security at First Solar in 2026.

What are the top reviewed First Solar locations?

Perrysburg , Tempe , Toledo , Santa Clara , Trinity , Phoenix , Bridgewater , Walbridge , San Francisco , Columbus , Sunnyvale , New York , Mesa , Palmdale , Oakland , New Iberia , Tampa , Butler , Bound Brook , Jersey City , Lumberton , Decatur , Farmington , Chandler , Tucson , Portland , Elm City , Austin , Dallas , Houston

First Solar reviews

3.7

70% would recommend to a friend

(683 total reviews)

Mark Widmar

86% approve of CEO

62% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (683 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

First Solar has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 683 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The First Solar employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Manufacturing industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

683 reviews

3.0

Jul 8, 2026

Good learning opportunities, but low pay and office politics

Manufacturing engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good opportunity to grown and learn

Cons

Very less salary not worth it also lot of politics in team

First Solar Response

1d

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for your contributions to First Solar over the past several years. We're pleased to hear that your experience has provided valuable opportunities for learning and professional growth. We also appreciate your perspective regarding compensation and team dynamics. Creating an environment where associates feel valued, respected, and supported is important to us, and we continuously evaluate our programs and practices to remain competitive and foster a positive workplace culture. We appreciate your input and wish you continued success in your career. If you'd like to share additional insights, we encourage you to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

2.0

Jun 2, 2026

Laid back environment but terrible pay and raises

Materila handler/production

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Laid back work environment with good technology

Cons

AWFUL PAY and Raises . Low balling employees

First Solar Response

1mo

Thank you for sharing your feedback and for your contributions over the past year. We’re sorry to hear your concerns regarding compensation, as supporting the wellbeing of our associates and ensuring they feel valued and cared for is a top priority for us. Feedback like yours is important as we continue to evaluate how we support and recognize our team. If you’d like to share additional insights, we encourage you to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

4.0

May 23, 2026

Cutting edge tech but pay lags due to competition

Manufacturing engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Cutting edge technology and fast paced company

Cons

Competition with Asian markets makes pay a bit underwhelming

First Solar Response

1mo

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear you value our cutting-edge technology and fast-paced work environment. Both are key to how we continue to innovate and grow. We also appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective on the broader associate experience. Feedback like this helps inform how we continue to evolve and remain competitive across our industry. If you’d like to share additional insights, we encourage you to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 683 Reviews

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Jobs at First Solar

Production Operator (Nights)

Production Operator (Night Crew)

Production Operator (Days)

Production Operator (Day Crew)

First Solar

First Solar reviews

Company ratings over time

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Good learning opportunities, but low pay and office politics

Laid back environment but terrible pay and raises

Cutting edge tech but pay lags due to competition

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at First Solar