Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Also called: PV Installer (Photovoltaic Installer), Solar Installer, Solar PV Installer (Solar Photovoltaic Installer), Solar PV Integrator (Solar Photovoltaic Integrator)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.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 6 of its 26 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 36.5% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 11.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 12.8 hires for every 10 job openings in construction, which employs about 67% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.12.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $51,160 | $45,300 to $60,500 | 1,280 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 | $44,820 to $49,150 | not published |
| California | $60,600 | $50,140 to $72,660 | 6,830 |
| Colorado | $49,730 | $48,930 to $56,280 | 620 |
| Connecticut | $55,590 | $45,240 to $59,430 | not published |
| Florida | $50,550 | $46,180 to $56,160 | 2,980 |
| Georgia | $47,790 | $47,790 to $57,880 | not published |
| Hawaii | $70,370 | $54,920 to $81,050 | 420 |
| Illinois | $59,630 | $47,890 to $70,800 | not published |
| Indiana | $46,140 | $39,670 to $47,890 | 490 |
| Iowa | $56,740 | $52,760 to $60,650 | 180 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | $43,280 to $56,370 | not published |
| Maine | $61,210 | $58,050 to $61,300 | 60 |
| Maryland | $45,430 | $44,720 to $58,860 | 670 |
| Massachusetts | $59,180 | $49,550 to $70,400 | 620 |
| Michigan | $47,080 | $44,650 to $57,720 | 310 |
| Nevada | $67,810 | $55,910 to $83,690 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $78,950 | $61,150 to $102,050 | 1,880 |
| New Mexico | $48,490 | $46,040 to $61,560 | 340 |
| New York | $56,160 | $49,290 to $58,700 | 1,230 |
| North Carolina | $43,860 | $39,710 to $48,460 | 710 |
| Ohio | $62,400 | $51,200 to $66,030 | 70 |
| Oregon | $66,320 | $60,380 to $87,370 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,760 | $45,630 to $52,940 | 1,210 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,860 | $23,210 to $27,750 | 1,890 |
| South Carolina | $50,490 | $47,760 to $59,270 | not published |
| South Dakota | $42,380 | $41,600 to $67,180 | 50 |
| Texas | $48,240 | $40,260 to $59,220 | 5,270 |
| Utah | $49,980 | $48,290 to $56,670 | 770 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | $48,210 to $59,330 | 250 |
| Virginia | $49,190 | $47,700 to $58,940 | not published |
| Washington | $61,630 | $50,450 to $61,630 | not published |
| Wisconsin | $49,770 | $47,880 to $65,340 | 90 |
Nationally: $53,140. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 6 of its 26 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions. | Not published |
| Not much | Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified. | Not published |
| Not much | Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation. | Not published |
| Not much | Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms. | Not published |
| Not much | Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations. | Not published |
See all 26 tasks
| Not much | Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays. | Not published |
| Not much | Determine materials, equipment, and installation sequences necessary to maximize installation efficiency. | Not published |
| Not much | Identify and resolve any deficiencies in photovoltaic (PV) system installation or materials. | Not published |
| AI + software | Install required labels on solar system components and hardware. | Not published |
| Not much | Visually inspect and test photovoltaic (PV) modules or systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Examine designs to determine current requirements for all parts of the photovoltaic (PV) system electrical circuit. | Not published |
| AI + software | Diagram layouts and locations for photovoltaic (PV) arrays and equipment, including existing building or site features. | Not published |
| AI + software | Identify methods for laying out, orienting, and mounting modules or arrays to ensure efficient installation, electrical configuration, or system maintenance. | Not published |
| Not much | Test operating voltages to ensure operation within acceptable limits for power conditioning equipment, such as inverters and controllers. | Not published |
| Not much | Activate photovoltaic (PV) systems to verify system functionality and conformity to performance expectations. | Not published |
| Not much | Program, adjust, or configure inverters and controls for desired set points and operating modes. | Not published |
| Not much | Demonstrate system functionality and performance, including start-up, shut-down, normal operation, and emergency or bypass operations. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure and analyze system performance and operating parameters to assess operating condition of systems or equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Determine appropriate sizes, ratings, and locations for all system overcurrent devices, disconnect devices, grounding equipment, and surge suppression equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Compile or maintain records of system operation, performance, and maintenance. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Perform routine photovoltaic (PV) system maintenance on modules, arrays, batteries, power conditioning equipment, safety systems, structural systems, weather sealing, or balance of systems equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine connection interfaces for additional subpanels or for connecting photovoltaic (PV) systems with utility services or other power generation sources. | Not published |
| Not much | Select mechanical designs, installation equipment, or installation plans that conform to environmental, architectural, structural, site, and code requirements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine photovoltaic (PV) system designs or configurations based on factors such as customer needs, expectations, and site conditions. | Not published |
| Not much | Install active solar systems, including solar collectors, concentrators, pumps, or fans. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 26 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 26 tasks fall under 13 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #37 Determine operational methods or procedures
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Install energy or heating equipment | |||
| Evaluate green technologies or processes | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems |
Show all 13 activities
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Apply protective solutions or coatings | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Install commercial or production equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report38%
- Configuration or infrastructure16%
- An analysis or summary13%
- Data or a spreadsheet6%
- Advice or a recommendation3%
How they worked with Claude
79% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for solar photovoltaic installers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,181 moves out
- 1 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 15%
- 2 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers High -3.3% 7%
- 3 Electricians Moderate +9.2% 6%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Where people moved in from
of 1,026 moves in
- 1 Electricians Moderate +9.2% 6%
- 2 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers High -3.3% 6%
- 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 4 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 5%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers High +5.4% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 11% less than high school
- 34% high school
- 37% postsecondary certificate
- 3% associate's
- 14% bachelor's
- 1% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 14% less than high school
- 52% high school
- 27% some college
- 4% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 181 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
3 programs: Solar Energy Technology/Technician, Roofer and Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/47-2231.00