Solar Photovoltaic Installers: Job Description
Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.
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What Do Solar Photovoltaic Installers Perform?
The core tasks performed by solar photovoltaic installers cover:
- Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
- Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
- Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
- Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
- Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
- Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
- Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.
What Solar Photovoltaic Installers Need to Know
Effective solar photovoltaic installers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Solar Photovoltaic Installers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Electro-Mechanical Solar Technician (Electro-Mechanical Solar Tech)
- Installation Technician (Installation Tech)
- Installer
- Journeyman Electrician PV Installer (Journeyman Electrician Photovoltaic Installer)
- PV Fabrication Technician (Photovoltaic Fabrication Technician)
- PV Fabrication and Testing Technician (Photovoltaic Fabrication and Testing Technician)
- PV Installation Tech (Photovoltaic Installation Technician)
- PV Installer (Photovoltaic Installer)
Job Outlook
There are roughly 345,486 solar photovoltaic installers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +4.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Solar Photovoltaic Installers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $32,563 |
| Hourly median | $15.66 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $26,230 |
| 75th percentile | $38,897 |
| 90th percentile | $45,230 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Solar Photovoltaic Installers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $103,880 |
| Nevada | $66,090 |
| New Jersey | $64,670 |
| Vermont | $64,230 |
| Hawaii | $62,740 |
| California | $60,790 |
| Oregon | $58,720 |
| Maryland | $58,420 |
| Kansas | $57,200 |
| Massachusetts | $55,010 |
| Michigan | $54,860 |
| Ohio | $53,640 |
| New York | $53,070 |
| Colorado | $51,740 |
| Arizona | $50,310 |
| South Carolina | $49,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,000 |
| Arkansas | $48,910 |
| Wisconsin | $48,440 |
| Virginia | $48,280 |
| Utah | $47,960 |
| North Carolina | $47,220 |
| New Mexico | $46,260 |
| Florida | $46,130 |
| Texas | $45,870 |
| Illinois | $44,890 |
| Indiana | $38,660 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,540 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for solar photovoltaic installers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $64,230 | 0.2% | 1.05 |
| Far Western US | $60,905 | 35.9% | 2.64 |
| Middle Atlantic | $59,195 | 8.9% | 1.22 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,024 | 4.4% | 1.46 |
| Southeast | $47,186 | 15.4% | 1.10 |
| Southwest | $46,752 | 25.5% | 2.13 |
| Great Lakes | $42,857 | 4.3% | 0.76 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $24,540 | 5.3% | 8.29 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | NV | $76,530 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $72,900 | 440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $70,390 | 1,140 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $67,440 | 70 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $66,070 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $64,030 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $62,650 | |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $62,300 | 260 |
Top Industries Employing Solar Photovoltaic Installers
The largest employers of solar photovoltaic installers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 17,730 | $58,460 |
| Utilities | 3,630 | $50,120 |
| Wholesale Trade | 410 | $55,160 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 100 | $64,470 |
| Manufacturing | 80 | $57,030 |
Below are examples of industries where solar photovoltaic installers work:
Software Solar Photovoltaic Installers Use
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for solar photovoltaic installers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
Most solar photovoltaic installers positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar (Supplemental)
- Wind Energy Engineers (Supplemental)
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers (Supplemental)
- Lighting Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors (Supplemental)
- Solar Energy Installation Managers (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring solar photovoltaic installers commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2231.00 (Solar Photovoltaic Installers).
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