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Residential Solar Installation
Sunrun, Tesla Energy, Freedom Forever
Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Solar photovoltaic installers spend most of the day on roofs, ladders, or ground racks, assembling panels, sealing out water, and wiring arrays so they connect safely to a building or the grid. The work is distinct because a job is not really done until the system powers up correctly and passes inspection. The tradeoff is simple: it offers hands-on work in a fast-growing field, but it also demands physical effort, careful electrical work, and comfort with weather, heights, and deadlines.
Also known as Solar InstallerSolar PV InstallerPhotovoltaic InstallerPV InstallerSolar Installation Technician
Median Salary
$51,860
Mean $57,380
U.S. Workforce
~28K
4.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+42.1%
28.6K to 40.6K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Solar Photovoltaic Installers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~28K workers, with a median annual pay of $51,860 and roughly 4.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 28.6 K in 2024 to 40.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Secondary Certificate, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Solar Installation Helper and can progress toward Solar Crew Foreman. High-value skills usually include Installation, Operations Monitoring, and Quality Control Analysis, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Judgment and Decision Making.
Core Responsibilities
- Put together solar panels, racks, and support frames on roofs or on the ground.
- Run wires and connect electrical parts so the array can feed power into the building or the utility system.
- Seal roof openings and weatherproof the equipment so rain does not leak through.
- Turn the system on, test it, and check that it starts, shuts down, and runs the way it should.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Put together solar panels, racks, and support frames on roofs or on the ground.
02 Run wires and connect electrical parts so the array can feed power into the building or the utility system.
03 Seal roof openings and weatherproof the equipment so rain does not leak through.
04 Turn the system on, test it, and check that it starts, shuts down, and runs the way it should.
05 Inspect panels, mounts, and wiring for damage, loose parts, or other problems before the job is handed over.
06 Keep records of what was installed, how it performed, and what maintenance was done.
Industries That Hire
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Commercial Electrical Contracting
Rosendin, Faith Technologies, M.C. Dean
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Utility-Scale Solar Development
NextEra Energy Resources, Invenergy, AES Clean Energy
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Roofing and Exterior Contracting
Baker Roofing, Erie Home, Flynn Group
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Renewable Energy Operations and Maintenance
SOLV Energy, Moss, EDF Renewables
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Demand is growing quickly: employment is projected to rise 42.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 4.1 thousand openings a year.
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You can enter the field without a college degree; the typical entry point is a high school diploma or equivalent plus moderate on-the-job training.
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Pay is decent for a hands-on trade, with a median annual wage of $51,860 and a mean of $57,380.
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The work is visible and concrete: you can see a roof or field array come online and verify that it produces power.
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The skills carry over to related work like electrical helper, roofing, and crew lead positions, so there is a path to move up.
Challenges
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The job is physically demanding, with frequent climbing, lifting, and working in awkward positions on roofs or ground racks.
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Weather can shut down or slow work, so heat, rain, snow, and wind can make schedules unpredictable.
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Mistakes are expensive and visible: poor sealing can cause leaks, and wiring errors can create safety problems or failed inspections.
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There is a real career ceiling if you stay only in installation; moving much higher usually means becoming a foreman, electrician, or project lead.
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The market can swing with tax incentives, permitting delays, utility interconnection rules, and project financing, which makes demand less stable than the growth rate suggests.
Career Progression
Solar Installation Helper
0-1 years
$34K-$42K
New workers carry materials, stage equipment, and learn safe roof and electrical practices while working under close supervision.
Solar Photovoltaic Installer
1-4 years
$46K-$60K
Installers assemble arrays, connect wiring, seal penetrations, and test systems, with enough skill to work independently on most jobs.
Lead Solar Installer THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$61K-$76K
Lead installers plan the sequence of work, check quality, solve field problems, and keep a small crew moving safely and efficiently.
Solar Crew Foreman
8-12 years
$77K-$92K
Foremen manage schedules, coordinate with electricians and inspectors, and handle the final push to get projects completed and approved.
Education Paths
Post-Secondary Certificate
The most common path, held by 36.91% of workers in this role, often built around solar installation, electrical, or trade coursework plus hands-on practice.
High School Diploma or Equivalent
A very common entry point, held by 33.71% of workers, usually followed by employer training or a short apprenticeship-style program.
Bachelor's Degree
An alternative path, held by 13.94% of workers, and it is more likely if you want to move into project management, engineering support, or sales.
Solar Installer Training or Apprenticeship Certification
Not captured in the distribution data, but a realistic alternative because employers often value moderate-term on-the-job training and industry credentials such as NABCEP-aligned training.
Key Skills
Technical
Installation 68%
Operations Monitoring 62%
Quality Control Analysis 62%
NEC Electrical Code, DC/AC Wiring & Solar Combiner Boxes 58%
Multimeters, Clamp Meters & Solar Test Equipment 56%
Solar Monitoring Software & Inverter Interfaces 54%
Weather Sealing, Flashing & Mounting Hardware 52%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingAttention to DetailCommunicationProblem Solving Job Outlook and Trends
+42.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 28.6K to 40.6 K over the next decade, representing 42.1% growth. Around 4.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.