← Back to all jobs
Solar Panel Installer
Green EnergyYou'll spend your days on rooftops bolting down solar panels and wiring them into electrical systems. It's physical, outdoor work with a side of electrical engineering. The views are great, the sunburns are real, and you're literally building the future of energy — one panel at a time.
Salary Range
Low
$39k
Median
$52k
High
$80k
10-Year Growth
42%
US Workers
29K
Education
High school diploma + on-the-job training (NABCEP certification helps)
Environment
outdoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Photovoltaic system design & layout
- ▸Electrical wiring & conduit installation
- ▸Inverter configuration & commissioning
- ▸Multimeter & electrical testing equipment
- ▸Racking & mounting system installation
- ▸NEC code compliance (Article 690)
- ▸NABCEP certification standards
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Physical stamina
- ▸Attention to detail
- ▸Teamwork
- ▸Safety awareness
- ▸Problem solving
- ▸Communication
What you'll actually do
- 01Install solar panels on residential and commercial rooftops
- 02Wire panels to inverters and electrical systems
- 03Measure and cut racking and mounting hardware
- 04Read blueprints and follow installation plans
- 05Perform electrical testing while the homeowner watches and asks if it's 'almost done'
- 06Climb ladders and work at heights all day
- 07Explain to homeowners how their system works (repeatedly)
Career Path
Where this role sits in the bigger picture — and where it can take you.
Solar Installation Helper
Entry·0–6 mo·OSHA 10 + basic tools
$32k–$38k
Solar Panel Installer
YOU ARE HEREMid-Career·1–3 yrs·On-the-job training complete
$39k–$52k
Lead Installer / NABCEP Certified
Senior·3–6 yrs·NABCEP PV Installation Professional
$55k–$75k
Solar Project Manager / System Designer
Leadership·6+ yrs·PV design software + project management
$75k–$110k+
Related Shifts
Think this could be you?
Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.
Take the Quiz