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Solar Photovoltaic Installers in Pennsylvania

Solar Photovoltaic Installers in Pennsylvania

Considering working as a Solar Photovoltaic Installers in Pennsylvania? Here’s what you need to know. 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. Excludes solar PV electricians who are included in “Electricians” (47-2111) and solar thermal installers who are included in “Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters” (47-2152).

What do Solar Photovoltaic Installers Make in Pennsylvania?

For a solar photovoltaic installers working in Pennsylvania, the median annual wage is $49,000 per year (or about $23.56/hour).Earnings range from $39,950 at the 10th percentile to $75,820 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $39,950 $19.21
25th percentile $45,480 $21.87
Median (50th) $49,000 $23.56
75th percentile $49,960 $24.02
90th percentile $75,820 $36.45
Salary ranges for Solar Photovoltaic Installers in Pennsylvania

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Pennsylvania compared to the national average — is 0.59, suggesting fewer solar photovoltaic installers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, solar photovoltaic installers earn a median of $32,563 per year ($15.66/hour), above the Pennsylvania median.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers earnings in Pennsylvania vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 345,486 solar photovoltaic installers in the U.S.. In Pennsylvania alone, around 650 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 540 solar photovoltaic installers.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers in Pennsylvania vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Top Pennsylvania Metros for Solar Photovoltaic Installers

These are the Pennsylvania metros with the most solar photovoltaic installers in Pennsylvania.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 380 $54,380
Lancaster, PA 80 $49,050

Top States for Solar Photovoltaic Installers Employment

These states have the highest employment of solar photovoltaic installers work.

State Number Employed
California 8,970
Texas 5,370
Florida 1,940
Puerto Rico 1,430
Arizona 1,360
New Jersey 1,280
Virginia 1,110
North Carolina 730
Indiana 660
Pennsylvania 650
Colorado 650
Utah 540
Maryland 490
Hawaii 370
South Carolina 270
Oregon 240
Wisconsin 230
Illinois 200
New Mexico 200
Nevada 170

Highest-Paying States for Solar Photovoltaic Installers

The highest-paying states for solar photovoltaic installers.

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

Skills

The most important solar photovoltaic installers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Installation  3.4 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.2 / 5
0
5
Operations Monitoring  3.1 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.1 / 5
0
5
Quality Control Analysis  3.1 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.1 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Building and Construction  4.8 / 5
0
5
Engineering and Technology  4.4 / 5
0
5
Mechanical  4.3 / 5
0
5
Design  4.1 / 5
0
5
Administration and Management  4.1 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.0 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for solar photovoltaic installers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Problem Sensitivity  3.8 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.8 / 5
0
5
Visualization  3.6 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  3.4 / 5
0
5
Manual Dexterity  3.2 / 5
0
5
Finger Dexterity  3.2 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, solar photovoltaic installers typically:

  • 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.
  • Diagram layouts and locations for photovoltaic (PV) arrays and equipment, including existing building or site features.
  • Determine materials, equipment, and installation sequences necessary to maximize installation efficiency.
  • Test operating voltages to ensure operation within acceptable limits for power conditioning equipment, such as inverters and controllers.
  • Determine appropriate sizes, ratings, and locations for all system overcurrent devices, disconnect devices, grounding equipment, and surge suppression equipment.

Work Activities

  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Getting Information
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Extensible markup language XML In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
  • Building Management & Inspection
  • Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

Other careers like solar photovoltaic installers include:

Also Known As

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), PV Panel Installer (Photovoltaic Panel Installer), PV Technician (Photovoltaic Technician), PV Testing Technician (Photovoltaic Testing Technician), Residential Solar Installer, Solar Designer, Solar Electric Installer, Solar Electric Practitioner.

References

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