Is First Solar a good company to work for?

First Solar has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 804 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 5% over the last 12 months. 69% 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 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at First Solar?

69% 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 (20) , 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 59 reviews)); "People are understanding of mistakes and it's great as a first full time corporate job." ((in 58 reviews)); "Good pay and days off" ((in 47 reviews)); "Innovative culture and great co" ((in 36 reviews)); "Work life balance is good" ((in 21 reviews))

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

"Poor communication and coordination throughout the organization" ((in 11 reviews)); "favoritism, poor management skills, bloated management team, little opportunity for career development, too frequent re" ((in 11 reviews)); "poor demand planning and several layoffs on an ongoing basis, especially in EPC" ((in 9 reviews)); "Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 8 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 First Solar locations have received the highest employee ratings?

Toledo , Phoenix , Perrysburg , Tempe , San Francisco , Walbridge

First Solar reviews

3.7

69% would recommend to a friend

(682 total reviews)

Mark Widmar

86% approve of CEO

62% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.1

Diversity & inclusion

3.7

Culture & values

3.7

Work/Life balance

3.4

Senior management

3.4

Compensation and benefits

3.3

Career opportunities

First Solar has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 682 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

682 reviews

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

1w

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

2w

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

2w

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.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 682 Reviews

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Jobs at First Solar

Production Operator (Nights)

Production Operator (Days)

Material Handler I USA

Production Operator (Days)

First Solar

First Solar reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Laid back environment but terrible pay and raises

Cutting edge tech but pay lags due to competition

Solid technology, but limited career growth and low pay

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