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Role hub · Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Solar Installer: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

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Updated Nov 2, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
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Median percentile pay

Half of solar installers earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$53,140
Hourly
$25.55
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Solar Installers assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. The median pay is $53,140 a year ($25.55 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a post-secondary certificate (37% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$53,140
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
31,350
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 1-2 of 5
very little to some preparation
Most common education
Post-Secondary Certificate
37% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Solar Photovoltaic Installers (O*NET-SOC 47-2231.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

Key facts

Solar Installers at a glance

  • Solar photovoltaic installers in the United States earned a median annual wage of $53,140 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

  • In its 2025–35 employment projections, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for solar photovoltaic installers in the United States.

    Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35

  • BLS projects employment of solar photovoltaic installers in the United States to grow 36.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,200 openings a year on average, including replacement openings.

    Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35

  • BLS estimated that 31,350 people were employed as solar photovoltaic installers in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.

    Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

Explore the role

Every page for Solar Installers

SalarySolar Installer salary

Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.

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The work

What solar installers do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
  2. Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
  3. Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
  4. Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
  5. Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
  6. Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
  7. Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
  8. Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.
Where this career works

Industries that employ it

Data Share of all solar installer jobs in each industry, 2025 (BLS Employment Matrix).

  1. Specialty trade contractors50.5% of all jobs in this occupation · +35.5% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $61,690
  2. Administrative and support services17.9% of all jobs in this occupation · -2.2% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $48,230
  3. Utilities12.6% of all jobs in this occupation · +141.0% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $60,300
  4. Heavy and civil engineering construction10.9% of all jobs in this occupation · +7.1% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $52,740
  5. Construction of buildings4.4% of all jobs in this occupation · +4.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $64,170
  6. Management of companies and enterprises1.1% of all jobs in this occupation · +4.6% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $53,820

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

InstallationcoreCritical ThinkingcoreOperations MonitoringcoreQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningMonitoringCoordinationComplex Problem Solving

Knowledge areas: Building and Construction, Engineering and Technology, Mechanical, Design, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service.

Tools and technology

Software solar installers use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Extensible markup language XMLEnterprise application integration softwareHot technology
  • Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheet softwareIn demand
  • Microsoft Office softwareOffice suite softwareIn demand
  • Microsoft OutlookElectronic mail softwareHot technology
  • Microsoft WordWord processing softwareHot technology
  • Salesforce softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareHot technology
  • Cost estimating softwareProject management software
  • Work scheduling softwareCalendar and scheduling software

Also called: Journeyman Electrician PV Installer (Journeyman Electrician Photovoltaic Installer), PV Installation Tech (Photovoltaic Installation Technician), PV Installer (Photovoltaic Installer), Solar Designer, Solar Electric Installer.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the cosine similarity of the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level and subtract the average across all occupations, then compare the direction of the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 means unrelated or opposite (negative values are shown as 0). Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).

How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.