Is First Solar a good company to work for?

First Solar has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 808 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months. 71% of employees would recommend working at First Solar to a friend and 64% 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 decreased by 1% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at First Solar?

71% 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, 3.6 for culture and values and 3.4 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) , Project Manager (9) , Development Engineer II (8) , Internship (8) , Manufacturing Associate (8) , Analyst (7) , Production Operator (7) , 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 57 reviews)); "Good benefit and growth of the company" ((in 56 reviews)); "Good pay and days off" ((in 44 reviews)); "Innovative culture and great co" ((in 36 reviews)); "good work / life balance" ((in 24 reviews))

What are the cons of working at First Solar according to real employee 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 11 reviews)); "Poor communication and coordination throughout the organization" ((in 11 reviews)); "Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 10 reviews)); "Hectic, stressful, and bad leadership" ((in 8 reviews)); "Favoritism is very high there." ((in 7 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

71% would recommend to a friend

(107 total reviews)

Mark Widmar

81% approve of CEO

64% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.0

Diversity & inclusion

3.7

Work/Life balance

3.6

Culture & values

3.4

Senior management

3.4

Compensation and benefits

3.4

Career opportunities

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

107 reviews

Reviews about "Work Life Balance"

Return to all reviews

4.0

Jul 14, 2026

Great work-life balance with growth opportunities, but can feel lost

Network engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The work-life balance is great! The company will provide opportunities for professional growth.

Cons

Being on the corporate team, you kinda get lost in the flow of the day-to-day.

First Solar Response

1w

Thank you for your feedback and for being part of First Solar for more than three years. We're glad to hear that you've enjoyed a strong work-life balance and opportunities for professional growth. Creating an environment where associates can grow and thrive is something we value greatly. We also appreciate your thoughts on recognition and visibility. Feedback like yours helps us continue improving the associate experience and ensuring associates' contributions are recognized across the organization. Thank you again for sharing your perspective. If you'd like to provide additional insights, we encourage you to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

2.0

Apr 17, 2026

Good for new grads, but disorganized with low pay

Manufacturing engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

If you are a new grad, this is a good place to fill out your resume. You will be able to talk about any topic in future interviews. Cafe was pretty nice.

Cons

There is a huge disconnect between the office workers and floor workers. As an ME, you will not get promoted if you do not look like the CMO. Disorganized, pitiful pay, long hours, in the middle of no where.

First Solar Response

3mo

Thank you for sharing your feedback and highlighting the early‑career opportunities at First Solar. We’re glad you found value in the hands‑on experience our teams offer. As we continue to grow, we regularly review our practices and investments to support our associates and long‑term success. We appreciate feedback as it informs ongoing improvements across our sites. If you have any further thoughts, please feel free to reach out to us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

2.0

Dec 2, 2025

Commodity Manager

Global commodity manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits, travel, connections, and room for growth

Cons

Flexibility, Management, Workload, Politics, Drama

First Solar Response

7mo

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you valued the benefits, travel opportunities, and connections during your time with us, as well as the potential for growth. We appreciate your honesty regarding areas for improvement, and we take these insights seriously as we strive to create a supportive and collaborative environment for all associates. If you're interested in sharing more about your experience, please reach out to us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 107 Reviews

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Siemens

3.8★Compensation & Benefits

Samsung Electronics

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

Eaton

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

Broadcom

4.2★Compensation & Benefits

Jobs at First Solar

Clerk- CMMS and Spare Parts I USA (Crew C)

Engineer- Manufacturing I USA

Manager- Engineering Manufacturing USA

Clerk- CMMS and Spare Parts I USA (Crew A)

Technician- Manufacturing Engineer I USA (Crew A)

First Solar

First Solar reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Reviews about "Work Life Balance"

Great work-life balance with growth opportunities, but can feel lost

Good for new grads, but disorganized with low pay

Commodity Manager

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at First Solar

First Solar reviews FAQs

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

Bowls

Followed companies

Job searches

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

First Solar reviews FAQs

Jobs at First Solar