Solar Installer
Energy
Installation is physical and local, though the work can be sensitive to incentives and construction cycles.
- BLS median pay
- $51,860 (May 2024)
- Job outlook
- 42% growth, 2024-34
- Training path
- On-the-job or certificate, under 1 year
- Entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Physical demand
- High
- Category
- Energy
- AI resilience
- Moderate
Why This Role Is More Resilient
This career has moderate AI resilience. Some aspects may be affected by automation over time, but physical presence, local trust, or licensing still provide meaningful protection.
Best For
People who want fast entry into energy work and can handle roofs and outdoor labor.
Avoid If
You need high starting pay, indoor work, or stable hours from day one.
First Step to Research
Find local installers hiring helpers and compare NABCEP-aligned training options.
How to Start: First Jobs, Common Mistakes, and Fit
Distilled from how working people and job postings describe the entry path. Use it for direction, then verify licensing, pay, and program details locally.
First job titles to search
Entry roles often aren't posted under "Solar Installer." Search and apply under these titles too:
- Solar installer
- PV installer
- Solar apprentice
- Solar electrician helper
- Roof crew solar installer
- Solar service technician
- PV maintenance technician
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
- Searching only "Solar Installer" and missing the real beginner titles: Solar installer, PV installer, Solar apprentice, Solar electrician helper.
- Paying for training before verifying local employer demand and official eligibility.
- Assuming national wage data equals local first-year pay.
- Buying tools, products, equipment, or supplies before receiving a real list.
- Ignoring schedule, commute, physical strain, and first-setting realities.
Signs this could be a good fit
- You can tolerate weather, travel, heights, roofs, or remote sites.
- You like hands-on technical infrastructure work.
- You care about safety culture.
- You can use the role as a bridge into maintenance, electrical, or utilities.
Warning signs it may not be
- You cannot tolerate travel, heights, roofs, weather, or rotation schedules.
- Training providers promise jobs without employer evidence.
- Local demand depends heavily on incentives or construction cycles.
- You want predictable indoor work.
What This Pays in Your State
Solar Installer salary & licensing by state
Real state and metro wages, license steps, and where to train as a solar installer in every state we cover:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Sources and Verification
Pay, education, training, and outlook data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Solar photovoltaic installers. Verified 2026-06-09. Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 47-2231 / Occupational Information Network (O*NET) 47-2231.00.
View BLS Occupational Outlook · View O*NET Profile
National median pay is a starting point only. State licensing, local wages, training costs, clinical placement rates, and local employer demand vary. Always verify with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, state licensing boards, and local training providers before making a decision.