Career profile for Solar Technician

What does a Solar Technician do?

Solar Technicians assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics.

In addition, Solar Technicians

may include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules,
may perform minor electrical work such as current checks.

What kind of tasks does a Solar Technician perform regularly?

Solar Technicians are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
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.
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.
Install active solar systems, including solar collectors, concentrators, pumps, or fans.
Perform routine photovoltaic (PV) system maintenance on modules, arrays, batteries, power conditioning equipment, safety systems, structural systems, weather sealing, or balance of systems equipment.
Activate photovoltaic (PV) systems to verify system functionality and conformity to performance expectations.
Measure and analyze system performance and operating parameters to assess operating condition of systems or equipment.
Demonstrate system functionality and performance, including start-up, shut-down, normal operation, and emergency or bypass operations.
Compile or maintain records of system operation, performance, and maintenance.

The above responsibilities are specific to Solar Technicians. More generally, Solar Technicians are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Handling and Moving Objects		Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities		Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials		Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting Information		Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings		Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Handling and Moving Objects

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Performing General Physical Activities

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

What is a Solar Technician salary?

The median salary for a Solar Technician is $46,470, and the average salary is $48,020. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Solar Technician salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Solar Technicians earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Solar Technicians earn less than $32,590 per year, 25% earn less than $37,860, 75% earn less than $55,760, and 90% earn less than $64,600.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Solar Technicians is expected to change by 51.7%, and there should be roughly 2,300 open positions for Solar Technicians every year.

Median annual salary: $46,470
Typical salary range: $32,590 - $64,600
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): 51.7%

What personality traits are common among Solar Technicians?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Solar Technician are usually higher in their Realistic and Conventional interests.

Solar Technicians typically have very strong Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Also, Solar Technicians typically have moderate Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Solar Technician tend to value Achievement, Support, and Working Conditions.

Most importantly, Solar Technicians moderately value Achievement. Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Second, Solar Technicians moderately value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Lastly, Solar Technicians moderately value Working Conditions. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Solar Technicians must consistently demonstrate qualities such as cooperation, dependability, and attention to detail.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Solar Technicians, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Cooperation		Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity		Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative		Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Cooperation

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Integrity

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Initiative

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

What education and training do Solar Technicians need?

Working as a Solar Technician usually requires a high school diploma.

Solar Technicians need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Solar Technicians

9.6% did not complete high school or secondary school
26.2% completed high school or secondary school
33.5% completed some college coursework
18.4% earned a Associate's degree
8.2% earned a Bachelor's degree
3.2% earned a Master's degree
0.9% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Solar Technicians

Solar Technicians may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as mechanical, building and construction, or design knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Solar Technicians might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Mechanical		Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Building and Construction		Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Design		Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Production and Processing		Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Important Abilities needed by Solar Technicians

Solar Technicians must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Solar Technicians need abilities such as problem sensitivity, visualization, and near vision in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Solar Technicians, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Problem Sensitivity		The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Visualization		The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Near Vision		The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering		The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Deductive Reasoning		The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Critical Skills needed by Solar Technicians

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Solar Technicians frequently use skills like installation, active listening, and critical thinking to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Solar Technicians, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Installation		Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Active Listening		Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking		Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring		Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension		Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Installation

Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Solar Technician

Solar Technician

Table of Contents

Would Solar Technician be a good fit for you?