Solar Photovoltaic Installers Career, Salary and Skills
Solar Photovoltaic Installers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $53,140 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 31,350. Wage data is published for 82 locations.
Occupation description
Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.
O*NET code
47-2231.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$53,140
Hourly median
$25.55
Employment
31,350
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
- Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
- Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
- Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
- Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
- Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
- Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.
Technology
- Cost estimating software
- Extensible markup language XML
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Salesforce software
- Work scheduling software
Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in CAMedian $60,600 · Employment 6,830
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in TXMedian $48,240 · Employment 5,270
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in FLMedian $50,550 · Employment 2,980
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in New York, NYMedian $70,130 · Employment 2,190
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $59,600 · Employment 1,930
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in PRMedian $26,860 · Employment 1,890
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in NJMedian $78,950 · Employment 1,880
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in San Juan, PRMedian $26,860 · Employment 1,700
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in Houston, TXMedian $47,060 · Employment 1,620
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $48,350 · Employment 1,570
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in AZMedian $51,160 · Employment 1,280
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary in NYMedian $56,160 · Employment 1,230
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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.