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?

"Good benefit and growth of the company" ((in 54 reviews)); "People are understanding of mistakes and it's great as a first full time corporate job." ((in 53 reviews)); "Good pay and work with top tallent peers" ((in 51 reviews)); "Good culture Friendly co" ((in 30 reviews)); "good work / life balance" ((in 22 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 12 reviews)); "Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 10 reviews)); "Poor communication and coordination throughout the organization" ((in 10 reviews)); "Managers discouraged input from qualified team members." ((in 10 reviews)); "senior management is incompetent and lazy" ((in 5 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

5.0

Nov 6, 2025

First Solar Review

Development engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

People are awesome Not overloaded with work

Cons

Bad at promotions and raises.

First Solar Response

8mo

Thank you for sharing your feedback and for your contributions over the past several years. We appreciate your positive comments about our team culture and work-life balance. We also take your input on career development seriously, as it’s an area we continually strive to improve. If you’d like to share more details or discuss your experience further, please reach out to us at jobs@firstsolar.com. Your perspective is valuable in helping us grow and enhance opportunities for our associates.

2.0

Oct 23, 2025

Poor management and low pay

Manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Not much other than you have a job.

Cons

Bad management. High pressure and stress for low pay. Poor training program. No work life balance.

First Solar Response

8mo

Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience and take concerns around management, compensation, and training seriously. We're working to improve in these areas and welcome additional insights. If you're open to sharing more, please reach out to us at jobs@firstsolar.com. We appreciate your time with us and wish you the best in your career.

4.0

Oct 15, 2025

Review

Manufacturing engineering technician ii

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to work. Not that difficult work for decent pay at the very least.

Cons

Some poor leadership and communication.

First Solar Response

9mo

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for being a valued member of the First Solar team for over five years! We're glad to hear you find the work rewarding and appreciate the pay and overall environment. We appreciate your perspective and are always looking for ways to grow and improve. If you'd like to share more, please feel free to reach out to us directly at jobs@firstsolar.com.

Viewing 172 - 174 of 684 Reviews

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Jobs at First Solar

Production Operator (Days)

Digital Marketing and AI Intern (Fall 2026)

Production Operator (Nights)

Production Operator (Night Crew)

Production Operator (Day Crew)

First Solar

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