Career Library · Sourced profile
Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Plan system configurations, measure and assemble supports, install panels and wiring, test systems, and maintain or repair equipment.
Sources reviewed 2026-10-23
Daily responsibilities
Plan PV system configurations and measure or assemble support structures.
Install solar panels and wiring; test systems after installation.
Maintain and repair installed systems.
Work setting
Environment
Work includes outdoor job sites, rooftops, attics, and crawl spaces; travel between sites may be required.
Schedule
The supplied brief does not state a typical schedule pattern; hours should be verified with each employer.
People and work demands
Human interaction
The sources reviewed do not specify the amount of day-to-day interaction.
Emotional intensity
The supplied brief does not describe emotional intensity for this role.
Physical reality
This is physically demanding work that can involve outdoor job sites, heights, rooftops, attics, crawl spaces, and travel between sites.
Compensation evidence
Estimated U.S. median: $53,140 per year · May 2025
Scope: Solar photovoltaic installers. U.S. occupation median for May 2025, not apprentice pay, a starting wage, local quote, or guarantee. Starting pay and licensing depend on location and employer.
The amount is an occupation-level national median sourced from the cited BLS evidence; it is not a starting wage or guarantee.
Education and credentials
Typical entry path
A high school diploma or equivalent is typical. Technical courses can help; on-the-job training usually lasts one month to one year, and some workers train through an apprenticeship. Training length is not a promise of employment.
Credentials
Some states require a license. Employers may require a driver's license for travel to jobsites. Certification is not generally required for employment, although some states require it for projects to qualify for solar-related subsidies.
What still needs local verification
Check the rules for the specific state and project, including electrical or contractor licensing, any incentive program's certification conditions, fall protection, driving, and actual starting pay.
Transferable skill prompts
Potentially reusable evidence includes measuring, assembling components, basic wiring, testing, repair, and maintenance. These are skill-mapping prompts and do not establish trade qualification.
Other titles to search
Employers do not all use the same title. Try these terms when you research the work and its requirements.
Solar photovoltaic installer
Solar panel installer
Practical tradeoffs
This is physically demanding field work that can involve heights, rooftops, attics, crawl spaces, outdoor exposure, and travel.
The cited BLS profile does not define a typical weekly schedule; ask local employers about hours, weather delays, and overtime.
State licensing and any certification tied to a project or subsidy depend on location and project rules.
A practical first step
Review state licensing rules and compare local employer descriptions for training, fall protection, travel, schedule, and starting pay. No particular opening is represented here.