How to Become a Solar Installer
Install and maintain rooftop and ground-mount solar systems in one of the fastest-growing green trades. It typically requires a postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $53,140 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$53,140/yr
Middle half
$46,700 to $62,870
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
4,100
Majors that lead here
Common majors include Solar Energy Technology, Electrical Technology, Construction Trades.
Key skills
- PV Installation
- Roof Work Safety
- Electrical Wiring
- System Testing
- Blueprint Reading
Helpful certifications
- NABCEP PV Associate/Installation Professional
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
0/100
Work-life balance
53/100
Stress level
66/100
Related careers
- Electrical Engineering Technician$78,190 median
- Mechanical Engineering Technician$74,510 median
- Civil Engineering Technician$64,950 median
- Wind Turbine Technician$64,120 median
- Plumber$63,800 median
- Electrician$63,190 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Solar Installer make?
The median pay for a Solar Installer is $53,140 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $46,700 and $62,870 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Solar Installer?
The usual entry point is a postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Solar Energy Technology, Electrical Technology, and Construction Trades.
Is Solar Installer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 4,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Solar Installer use most?
Common skills for this role are PV Installation, Roof Work Safety, Electrical Wiring, System Testing, and Blueprint Reading.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).