Is First Solar a good company to work for?

First Solar has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 806 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 decreased by 1% over the last 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, 3.6 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) , 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 58 reviews)); "Good benefit and growth of the company" ((in 50 reviews)); "Good pay and days off" ((in 47 reviews)); "Good culture Friendly co" ((in 30 reviews)); "Good work life balance here" ((in 22 reviews))

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

"Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 10 reviews)); "Could have a better communication" ((in 10 reviews)); "Very biased , one sided and favoritism based on race." ((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)); "Managers discouraged input from qualified team members." ((in 9 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

(684 total reviews)

Mark Widmar

86% approve of CEO

62% 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

First Solar has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 684 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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

684 reviews

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.

3.0

May 15, 2026

Solid technology, but limited career growth and low pay

Development engineer iii

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good technology and solid financially

Cons

Poor career progression. Poor pay compared to industry standards, Always short staffed

First Solar Response

1mo

Thank you for sharing your feedback and for your continued contributions over the past several years. We’re pleased to hear that you value our technology and recognize the company’s strong financial foundation. We also appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective on career development and overall associate experience. Insights like yours are important as we continue working to evolve our programs and support our teams across all locations.

3.0

May 15, 2026

Great location and pay, but limited growth opportunities

Engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

great location to work, decent pay,

Cons

there is very less growth

First Solar Response

1mo

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear you’ve had a positive experience and found the compensation to be competitive. We also appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective on opportunities for development and organizational support. Feedback like this is valuable as we continue working to strengthen our teams and enhance the associate experience across all locations. If you’d like to share additional insights, we encourage you to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

Viewing 157 - 159 of 684 Reviews

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Jobs at First Solar

Production Operator (Nights)

Administrative Assistant II

Manager– Marketing & Marketing Operations

Manager- Brand and Creative

Production Operator (Night Crew)

First Solar

First Solar reviews

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Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Cutting edge tech but pay lags due to competition

Solid technology, but limited career growth and low pay

Great location and pay, but limited growth opportunities

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