Solar installation careers: Growth, training, and local opportunity

BLS projects solar photovoltaic installer employment to grow 37% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,100 jobs in 2025. It estimates about 4,200 openings annually on average. The May 2025 median annual wage was $53,140, not a guaranteed starting wage. [Source 1: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025 wages and 2025–2035 outlook]

Use those figures to understand the occupation’s scale. A fast rate can attract attention without answering where the opportunities are or how employers select beginners. The next step is to compare the forecast with current requirements in an area where you could work.

BLS describes PV installers assembling, installing, and maintaining systems that convert sunlight into energy. Work often takes place outdoors and involves travel to jobsites. A high school diploma is typical for entry, with workplace training; some people also take technical or community college courses. [Source 1: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025 wages and 2025–2035 outlook]

Ask a prospective employer to distinguish the tasks in its installer role from work assigned to an electrician or another specialist. Do not assume that a general course authorizes every part of an installation. Confirm any licensing and task restrictions with the relevant authorities and employer before committing to training.

The Department of Energy points readers to a Solar Power Career Map covering different occupations, credentials, and possible progression routes. Installation is one occupation within a wider industry. Being interested in solar energy does not require choosing the first job title you encounter. [Source 2: U.S. Department of Energy: Energy career maps and solar career pathways]

You could compare practical installation with another role that fits your strengths, such as organizing work or supporting customers. Investigate each occupation’s actual requirements separately. A shared industry does not make the education, pay, or responsibilities the same.

For a particular opportunity, request information about the reporting location, travel, supervision, schedule, and what happens when planned work changes. Ask what a new employee learns first and how competence is assessed. Put the answers beside the starting compensation and any required expenses.

An illustrative planning exercise is to compare two advertisements with the same installer title. One may require relevant experience while another describes training for beginners. Record the differences instead of treating both as evidence that a course will qualify you for either job.

Before enrolling, ask a provider which local roles its program is intended to support. Request the practical content, total cost, and explanation of the qualification earned. Check those details against employer requirements, including anything the provider says graduates still need to complete.

The most useful outcome is a clearer route, rather than confidence based only on a growth headline. If solar installation fits your interests, research it seriously. If another energy-related occupation fits better, learning that early is also progress toward a more suitable career.