Size up the site
Recheck measurements, roof or ground condition, array direction and sunlight, and match equipment spots to the drawings.
Career profile
Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Solar photovoltaic installers turn drawings and loose parts into working rooftop or ground arrays.
From the first site measurement to the test that shows the finished system runs safely, you build the frame, set panels and seal every hole.
A day in the life
Build the racking first
Measure, cut and assemble the racking or other support frame, and attach it before any module goes on.
Mount, wire and seal modules
Fasten modules, run interconnect wiring, add labels and seal holes, with electrical duties varying by project and state.
Power up and prove it runs
Switch the system on and check wiring, polarity, grounding, voltage and inverter setup against plan and required standards.
Service it and log changes
Inspect equipment, track output, fix problems from the install, do routine upkeep and log each change.
Quick facts
High school diploma
United States
$53,140
United States · May 2025
37% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school diplomaA diploma or equivalent is typical. On-the-job training commonly lasts from 1 month to 1 year.
Pay
$53,140National median annual wage—not a starting wage or guaranteed offer.
Outlook
37% growthProjected employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,200 openings per year on average. Local hiring may differ.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like building something physical from measurements, drawings, and a clear sequence.
- You can stay exact while using hand and power tools.
- You are comfortable coordinating closely with a crew.
- You can follow safety rules even when the work is repetitive or time-pressured.
Things to weigh
- Rooftop work can mean ladders, heights, repeated climbing, awkward positions, and carrying equipment.
- Much of the job is outdoors, and some projects involve heat, cold, bright light, attics, or crawl spaces.
- Falls, electrical shock, and hot equipment are real hazards, so protective gear and careful procedures are part of the work.
Where AI may help
Scheduling, estimating, drawings, electronic records, and inverter or control interfaces can help crews plan work and check system performance.
What people still lead
People still judge site conditions, spot hazards, handle and align materials, seal the installation, coordinate the crew, and decide whether test results meet requirements.
What we can’t predict yet
Newer tools may change planning and system checks, but how much they will change the installer’s hands-on task mix is uncertain.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national figures as context, not as a quote for your first job. Location, industry, experience, overtime, and benefits can change an offer.
National median
The median was $53,140: half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. The median hourly wage was $25.55.
The national spread
In May 2025, the 10th-percentile annual wage was $41,600 and the 90th-percentile wage was $79,970. These are wage percentiles, not starting and senior salaries.
Industry medians differ
Among selected major employing industries, medians ranged from $47,100 in temporary help services to $58,570 for electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors.
Getting started
Learn with an experienced installer
Commonly 1 month to 1 year of on-the-job training
- What the route involves
- Join an installation crew and learn jobsite safety, tools, mounting methods, system components, and testing procedures from experienced workers.
- What it can lead to
- You build competency in the employer's equipment and workflow while doing supervised installation work.
- What to check
- Hiring requirements vary, and employers may require a driver's license because crews travel to jobsites.
Take a technical or community-college course
Often a few days to several months, depending on the course
- What the route involves
- Study basic safety, photovoltaic equipment, installation practices, and sometimes system design.
- What it can lead to
- You gain foundational knowledge to bring to installer applications, while employer-specific training still normally follows.
- What to check
- Completing a course is not a universal license, certification, or promise of employment.
Bring related construction experience
- What the route involves
- Build skills in roofing, carpentry, construction labor, or electrical work, or add photovoltaic modules within a related apprenticeship.
- What it can lead to
- Existing construction skills may shorten the training needed for basic jobsite duties.
- What to check
- Related experience does not make these occupations interchangeable; electrical connections may still require an electrician or another authorized worker.
There is no single national credential sequence. Employers set hiring standards, some states require licenses, and electrical-work boundaries vary by jurisdiction and project.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
After entry, learn the employer's safety procedures, tools, components, and installation sequence while working with experienced installers.
Build range
Take on more of the layout, racking, sealing, testing, maintenance, and documentation while staying within assigned electrical-work limits.
- Manufacturer training can add product-specific installation knowledge.
Lead projects
With trade experience, you may coordinate crews and move toward project-supervisor or project-manager work.
- Installation experience can also support a move into solar sales.
Where you can work
Residential rooftops
Travel between homes, work on sloped or flat roofs, and sometimes enter attics or crawl spaces. Heights, weather, and protecting the building from leaks shape the day.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Travel
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Ground-mounted solar sites
Build larger arrays outdoors at ground level. The work avoids residential roof height but still involves weather, material handling, precise layout, and crew coordination.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Travel
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
At a table, draw a roof rectangle, arrange paper panel shapes, measure their spacing, number the installation sequence, and make a final checklist for alignment, fasteners, labels, and weather sealing. Notice whether precise measuring and rechecking feel satisfying or tedious.
Stay safe: Keep the exercise on paper or cardboard.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Solar Photovoltaic Installers. Accessed 2026-09-18.
- O*NET OnLine. 47-2231.00 — Solar Photovoltaic Installers. Accessed 2026-09-18.