Solar Photovoltaic Installers
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.
- O*NET-SOC code
47-2231.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$53,140
Employment, U.S.31,350
Median hourly wage$25.55
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $41,600 | $46,700 | $53,140 | $62,870 | $79,970 |
By state (32)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1,280 | $51,160 | 1.96 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 | ||
| California | 6,830 | $60,600 | 1.86 |
| Colorado | 620 | $49,730 | 1.07 |
| Connecticut | $55,590 | ||
| Florida | 2,980 | $50,550 | 1.49 |
| Georgia | $47,790 | ||
| Hawaii | 420 | $70,370 | 3.29 |
| Illinois | $59,630 | ||
| Indiana | 490 | $46,140 | 0.76 |
| Iowa | 180 | $56,740 | 0.58 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | ||
| Maine | 60 | $61,210 | 0.49 |
| Maryland | 670 | $45,430 | 1.20 |
| Massachusetts | 620 | $59,180 | 0.85 |
| Michigan | 310 | $47,080 | 0.35 |
| Nevada | 100 | $67,810 | 0.33 |
| New Jersey | 1,880 | $78,950 | 2.17 |
| New Mexico | 340 | $48,490 | 1.93 |
| New York | 1,230 | $56,160 | 0.63 |
| North Carolina | 710 | $43,860 | 0.71 |
| Ohio | 70 | $62,400 | 0.06 |
| Oregon | 360 | $66,320 | 0.91 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,210 | $47,760 | 0.99 |
| South Carolina | $50,490 | ||
| South Dakota | 50 | $42,380 | 0.51 |
| Texas | 5,270 | $48,240 | 1.86 |
| Utah | 770 | $49,980 | 2.19 |
| Vermont | 250 | $49,490 | 4.02 |
| Virginia | $49,190 | ||
| Washington | $61,630 | ||
| Wisconsin | 90 | $49,770 | 0.15 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | 3 | 0.970 |
| 2 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 3 | 0.970 |
| 3 | Helpers--Electricians | 1-2 | 0.966 |
| 4 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 3 | 0.964 |
| 5 | Weatherization Installers and Technicians | 1-2 | 0.962 |
| 6 | Millwrights | 1-2 | 0.961 |
| 7 | Carpenters | 1-2 | 0.957 |
| 8 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 3 | 0.955 |
| 9 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 3 | 0.955 |
| 10 | Sheet Metal Workers | 1-2 | 0.955 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Solar Photovoltaic Installers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherization Installers and Technicians | Service Orientation | 0.88 | 0.962 |
| Carpenters | Coordination | 0.88 | 0.957 |
| Rail Car Repairers | Repairing | 1.38 | 0.928 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Solar Photovoltaic Installers, excluding software Solar Photovoltaic Installers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Construction Business Forms | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| IBM Maximo Asset Management | 3 of 20 | 17.3x |
| Computerized maintenance management system CMMS | 3 of 20 | 4.6x |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | 7 of 20 | 1.9x |
| Microsoft Windows | 7 of 20 | 1.3x |
| Database software | 3 of 20 | 0.8x |
| SAP software | 5 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Web browser software | 5 of 20 | 0.5x |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 7 of 20 | 0.5x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.25 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.25 | 2.88 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.38 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Building and Construction | 4.80 | 5.59 |
| Engineering and Technology | 4.38 | 4.65 |
| Mechanical | 4.29 | 5.29 |
| Design | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Administration and Management | 4.11 | 4.55 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.98 | 3.96 |
| Mathematics | 3.95 | 4.15 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.76 | 3.97 |
| Education and Training | 3.72 | 4.28 |
| Production and Processing | 3.42 | 3.32 |
| English Language | 3.26 | 2.70 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.10 | 3.31 |
| Telecommunications | 2.99 | 2.60 |
| Transportation | 2.91 | 2.92 |
| Administrative | 2.75 | 3.08 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.46 | 2.66 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.45 | 1.99 |
| Physics | 2.22 | 2.38 |
| Law and Government | 2.20 | 1.85 |
| Psychology | 2.14 | 1.65 |
| Communications and Media | 2.14 | 1.48 |
| Chemistry | 1.99 | 2.38 |
| Geography | 1.90 | 1.38 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.74 | 1.02 |
| Foreign Language | 1.71 | 1.36 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.47 | not rated |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.42 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.38 | 0.65 |
| Biology | 1.30 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.29 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.21 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.16 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.11 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Near Vision | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Visualization | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Information Ordering | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Static Strength | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Trunk Strength | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Oral Expression | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Control Precision | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 3.38 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Written Comprehension | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 2.88 | 2.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Written Expression | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Time Sharing | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Stamina | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Depth Perception | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.38 | 2.50 |
| Originality | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Number Facility | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Spatial Orientation | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Reaction Time | 2.12 | 2.75 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.12 | 2.50 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.12 | 2.25 |
| Response Orientation | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Sound Localization | 2.12 | 1.50 |
| Memorization | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Peripheral Vision | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Rate Control | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Night Vision | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.75 | 1.50 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.62 | 1.12 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.12 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Extensible markup language XML hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Salesforce software hot
- Cost estimating software
- Work scheduling software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 1,700 | 12.23 | $26,860 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 370 | 5.43 | $56,990 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 100 | 4.15 | $61,020 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 330 | 3.72 | $69,940 |
| Ogden, UT | 190 | 3.42 | $48,290 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 200 | 3.31 | $59,950 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 700 | 3.23 | $59,930 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 830 | 3.18 | $50,580 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 100 | 2.52 | $59,960 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 100 | 2.51 | $61,810 |