Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.
Also called: Installer · Solar Energy Technician · Solar Hot Water Installer (SHW Installer) · Solar Installer · Solar Maintenance Technician · Solar System Installer
Median pay (national)
$62,970
$40,670–$105,150 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
455,940
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.5%
~44,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for solar thermal installers and technicians shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $105,150 versus $40,670 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $62,970 leaves roughly 67% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 44,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Illinois pays the most for this role (median $96,200, +53% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $27,690 — a 247% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
- Install flat-plat, evacuated glass, or concentrating solar collectors on mounting devices, using brackets or struts.
- Install solar thermal system controllers and sensors.
- Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.
- Install heat exchangers and heat exchanger fluids according to installation manuals and schematics.
- Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.
- Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.
- Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.
- Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
- Oracle Java
- Salesforce software
- 1CadCam Unigraphics
- Computer-aided drafting or design software
- Cost estimating software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Inventory control system software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- PTC Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire
- Work scheduling software
- Microsoft Excel
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Design
- Public Safety and Security