Careers / Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$63,800
United States, 2025
Employment
465,840
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$44,150
25th percentile
$50,190
75th percentile
$85,110
90th percentile
$108,420
Most important skills
- Installation4.8
- Reading Comprehension3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Active Listening3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Troubleshooting3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 16 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
16
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | 4.8 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Solar Thermal Installers and TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $107,560 | 3,830 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $103,380 | 12,750 | 2025 |
| Bellingham, WA | $102,750 | 540 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $101,630 | 6,730 | 2025 |
| DC | $101,020 | 1,010 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $101,010 | 4,600 | 2025 |
| IL | $99,950 | 16,750 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,130 | 840 | 2025 |
| OR | $97,050 | 5,370 | 2025 |
| Bloomington, IN | $96,980 | 320 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $96,760 | 9,200 | 2025 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $96,670 | 200 | 2025 |
| Champaign, IL | $95,530 | 390 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $95,230 | 6,350 | 2025 |
| MN | $94,410 | 10,720 | 2025 |
| Springfield, IL | $94,370 | 220 | 2025 |
| Rockford, IL | $94,230 | 440 | 2025 |
| AK | $93,920 | 1,200 | 2025 |
| MA | $93,880 | 13,460 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $93,600 | 640 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.