Compare careers

Factual side-by-side attributes from the imported O*NET and BLS OEWS datasets. No career is ranked or recommended.

Career A (or your current career)

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Career B (or your target career)

Mechanical Engineers

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Comparison table

MetricSolar Photovoltaic InstallersMechanical Engineers
National median salary$53,140$104,110
Local median salaryNot publishedNot published
National employment31,350296,810
Typical educationPost-Secondary CertificateBachelor's Degree
Job zone24
Important skillsInstallation, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Science, Mathematics
Related careersPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Wind Energy Engineers, Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersElectromechanical Equipment Assemblers, Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers, Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Career transition: skill overlap

Skill overlap

58%

11 of 19 target skills

Target-only skills

8

Current-only skills

2

Skill overlap compares O*NET skills rated at importance 3.0 or above for each occupation. It is a measure of listed skill overlap, not a probability of getting the job.

Shared skills

  • Reading Comprehension+1.8 level
  • Active Listening+1.0 level
  • Critical Thinking+0.6 level
  • Complex Problem Solving+1.5 level
  • Judgment and Decision Making+1.2 level
  • Active Learning+1.3 level
  • Monitoring+1.1 level
  • Operations Monitoring+0.7 level
  • Quality Control Analysis+0.8 level
  • Coordination+0.4 level
  • Time Management+0.4 level

Only in Mechanical Engineers

  • Science
  • Mathematics
  • Operations Analysis
  • Speaking
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Systems Analysis
  • Writing
  • Technology Design

Only in Solar Photovoltaic Installers

  • Installation
  • Troubleshooting