Quick answer
Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers turn a system plan into an operating array. They prepare structures, mount panels, connect components, test the installation, and work with electricians and other trades where required. It is physical, safety-sensitive work, often on rooftops or at outdoor sites. The role has one of the highest projected growth rates in the U.S., but the 2026 residential market shows why a long-term forecast is not a current hiring report.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers turn a system plan into an operating array. They prepare structures, mount panels, connect components, test the installation, and work with electricians and other trades where required. It is physical, safety-sensitive work, often on rooftops or at outdoor sites. The role has one of the highest projected growth rates in the U.S., but the 2026 residential market shows why a long-term forecast is not a current hiring report.
Pay and projected growth
U.S. labor market measure | Latest figure |
|---|---|
Median annual wage, May 2025 | $53,140 |
25th–75th percentile annual wages | $46,700–$62,870 |
10th–90th percentile annual wages | $41,600–$79,970 |
Employment in 2025, projections series | 31,100 |
Projected employment in 2035 | 42,400 |
Projected change, 2025–2035 | +11,300 |
Average annual openings, 2025–2035 | 4,200 |
Percentage growth looks dramatic partly because this is a relatively small occupation. The 4,200 projected annual openings include people leaving the occupation, so they are not 4,200 new jobs each year. Wages are national employee estimates, not a quote for an independent installer or a specific project. See the BLS detailed occupation table and occupation profile.
The practical skill set
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education, along with moderate-term training on the job. Technical school, community college, and apprenticeship routes can also prepare workers. The useful portfolio is tangible: safe roof and ladder practices, mechanical assembly, electrical awareness within one’s permitted scope, reading plans, checking system quality, and explaining a problem to a crew lead or customer.
SmartBid’s O*NET 31.0 occupation ratings put installation, quality control analysis, operations monitoring, troubleshooting, and coordination among the relevant transferable skills. Critical thinking and monitoring also matter. A crew that can detect an installation fault before handover protects both output and safety. These are occupational skill ratings; they do not establish which certificates a particular employer requires. O*NET occupation profile.
The 2026 demand wrinkle
In Reuters’ February 2026 reporting on U.S. rooftop solar, residential installers described layoffs and restructurings after the expiration of a homeowner tax credit. That is an important counterweight to the BLS decade-long forecast. Residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects are distinct hiring markets; a national projected growth rate does not tell you which local segment is recruiting now.
Before switching trades or choosing a training provider, check the actual employers near you. Compare active projects, installation backlog, travel expectations, safety training, and whether your employer supplies consistent work when projects pause. If you already install solar, quality assurance, troubleshooting, crew leadership, and adjacent electrical training can broaden the kinds of work you can take, subject to local licensing rules.
What to take away
The occupation is projected to expand substantially from 2025 to 2035. The near-term experience may vary sharply by market and project type. Use the long-range data to see the direction of the trade, then use local project pipelines to make the immediate career decision.
Compare roles and skill paths in SmartBid’s occupation explorer.
Method and sources
SmartBid queried national BLS 2025–2035 projections (`fct_bls_occupation_projection`, SOC 47-2231), canonical May 2025 OEWS wages (`fct_bls_oews_occupation_market`), and O*NET 31.0 skills (`mart_skill_linked_career_opportunity`) on September 26, 2026. One occupation; U.S. scope. Wages and projection employment are separate series; projections are not current vacancies. External reading: BLS occupational profile; Reuters on the residential downturn.