Solar Photovoltaic Installer

Working Schedule
 

• Expect full-time work with occasional ebbs and flows. Most workers in this field are employed by contract businesses or are self-employed. Self-employed PV Installers will spend unpaid time advertising and marketing their services, as well as potentially needing to bid on jobs that they may not get hired to do. In emergencies, they may be called to respond during irregular hours. 

Typical Duties

• Assess buildings for PV system suitability
• Use hand and power tools to perform manual work 
• Take measurements of roofs and other areas
• Cut and install solar panels
• Review options for angled mounting structures when needed for flat roofs 
• Install mounts as required
• Run voltage tests; perform maintenance on installed systems
• Identifying electrical elements within the building to ensure compatibility 
• Wiring modules and arrays into building electrical systems, as allowed by job specifics and state requirements 

Additional Responsibilities

• Weatherproof systems as applicable 
• Perform other electrical checks
• Measure performance to ensure systems are functioning within expected parameters
• Maintain records of tests and maintenance

Soft Skills
 

• Ability to objectively monitor and assess performance of people, systems, and equipment
• Ability to teach and train others
• Commitment to quality assurance
• Cost-conscious  
• Critical thinking
• Customer service skills
• Detailed-oriented
• English proficiency
• Inquisitive and creative
• Safety-minded
• Sound judgment and reasoning 
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills
• Teamwork
• Visualization

Technical Skills

• Comfortable working at elevated heights
• Normal (or correctable) vision
• Physical fitness and dexterity
• Steady hands; good hand-eye coordination
• Familiarity with tools such as hex keys, multimeters, pipe/tube cutters, drills, files, screwdrivers, and wire strippers 
• Ability to understand blueprints, technical plans, and drawings
• Able to work with raw materials 
• General familiarity with basic engineering principles as they apply to the job
• Aptitude for math, including algebra, geometry, calculus, and stats
• Computer-aided design 
• Software for CRM, email/office, and project management 

• Contract businesses in solar
• Self-employed
• Utility companies

Clearly this isn’t an “office job!” Solar Photovoltaic Installers work both indoors and outdoors. Building assessments, measurements, and installations are all done outside, naturally, while design and prep may be in an office or bay area. They may also need to access attics or small interior spaces to perform electrical wiring work, when permitted to do so by state law. 
 
Some solar panels are installed at ground level, but typically they’re placed on rooftops. Installers are susceptible to falling risks, as well as electric shocks, dehydration, exposure to too much sun, and other hazards. Thus workers are expected to know and practice several safety precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment, as needed. 

This is still a small profession, yet job growth is expected to explode in the coming decade. The national average job growth for all jobs is only 5%, compared to 63% for Solar Photovoltaic Installers. As homeowners and private businesses strive towards energy efficiency, state and federal legislation continue to push for greener energy solutions. 
 
The cost of panels is going down, leasing options are becoming more popular, and some cities are offering financial incentives to people willing to invest in the technology. Solar is one of the easiest alternative energy solutions to incorporate into nearly any structure, so the demand for highly-qualified installers may outstrip the supply. Now is the perfect time for workers who’ve been displaced from previous careers to retrain into this growing field. Roofers, carpenters, and other types of construction workers will have a particular advantage when it comes to shifting careers. 

One more trend to consider is floating solar panels, a new twist on the idea of installing systems on bodies of water versus buildings. 

As a labor-intensive career field, PV Installers likely enjoyed physical activities and being outside a lot. They may have assisted with construction projects, liked working in farming environments, or simply loved the Great Outdoors. Of course, there’s also a strong element of math and science involved, which is why they were probably good in such academic areas during high school. Since solar is a green alternative energy solution, many workers may have been environmentally-conscious or at least mindful of the effects of pollution on nature. Others may simply have been interested in exciting “niche” business opportunities where there was a lot of potential but not much competition yet.