Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $63,800 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 465,840. Wage data is published for 442 locations.
Occupation description
Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.
O*NET code
47-2152.04
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$63,800
Hourly median
$30.67
Employment
465,840
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$44,150
10th
$50,190
25th
$63,800
Median
$85,110
75th
$108,420
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | 4.75 | 4.12 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.
- Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.
- Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
- Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.
- Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.
- Install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.
- Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.
Technology
- 1CadCam Unigraphics
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer-aided drafting or design software
- Cost estimating software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Inventory control system software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
- Microsoft Word
Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in CAMedian $72,830 · Employment 47,660
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in TXMedian $59,840 · Employment 44,090
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in FLMedian $52,910 · Employment 29,260
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in NYMedian $77,490 · Employment 23,210
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in New York, NYMedian $78,610 · Employment 21,040
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in ILMedian $99,950 · Employment 16,750
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in OHMedian $63,330 · Employment 16,390
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $71,110 · Employment 15,690
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in NCMedian $57,080 · Employment 14,510
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in MIMedian $80,190 · Employment 14,120
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in VAMedian $60,470 · Employment 13,780
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Salary in PAMedian $68,080 · Employment 13,620
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- Weatherization Installers and TechniciansNational median not published
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- Electrical EngineersNational median $120,630
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersNational median $56,210
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarNational median $122,930
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.