Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 11,800 people employed as solar photovoltaic installers in the United States. The median annual salary is $46,500. Entry level employees earn approximately $32,590 per year and senior employees earn approximately $64,600 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
• Determine appropriate sizes, ratings, and locations for all system overcurrent devices, disconnect devices, grounding equipment, and surge suppression equipment.
• Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
• Identify methods for laying out, orienting, and mounting modules or arrays to ensure efficient installation, electrical configuration, or system maintenance.
• Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
• Install active solar systems, including solar collectors, concentrators, pumps, or fans.
• Activate photovoltaic (PV) systems to verify system functionality and conformity to performance expectations.
• Demonstrate system functionality and performance, including start-up, shut-down, normal operation, and emergency or bypass operations.
• Measure and analyze system performance and operating parameters to assess operating condition of systems or equipment.
• Compile or maintain records of system operation, performance, and maintenance.
• Diagram layouts and locations for photovoltaic (PV) arrays and equipment, including existing building or site features.
• Select mechanical designs, installation equipment, or installation plans that conform to environmental, architectural, structural, site, and code requirements.
• Examine designs to determine current requirements for all parts of the photovoltaic (PV) system electrical circuit.
• Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
• Test operating voltages to ensure operation within acceptable limits for power conditioning equipment, such as inverters and controllers.
• Identify and resolve any deficiencies in photovoltaic (PV) system installation or materials.
• Program, adjust, or configure inverters and controls for desired set points and operating modes.
• Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
• Visually inspect and test photovoltaic (PV) modules or systems.
• Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.
• Determine photovoltaic (PV) system designs or configurations based on factors such as customer needs, expectations, and site conditions.
• Determine materials, equipment, and installation sequences necessary to maximize installation efficiency.
• Determine connection interfaces for additional subpanels or for connecting photovoltaic (PV) systems with utility services or other power generation sources.
• Perform routine photovoltaic (PV) system maintenance on modules, arrays, batteries, power conditioning equipment, safety systems, structural systems, weather sealing, or balance of systems equipment.
• Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
• Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.

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