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Compare A Pipelayer ↔ B Solar Energy Installation Manager

Your route

3 moves

No pay difference shown for this route: electrical Apprentice: All Electricians (47-2111) at every experience level, the occupation apprentices are counted in (SOC Classification Principle 7). Mostly journeyman-level workers, so it is not apprentice pay and is never subtracted.

Gates on this route

  • Move 1, to Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
  • Move 2, to Solar PV Installer: license depends on the work (Texas: wiring a PV system on a building or premises is electrical work needing a TDLR electrician license (Apprentice or higher); TDLR lists no solar exemption. Mounting without wiring: not addressed).
  • Move 3, to Solar Energy Installation Manager: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
  1. Move 1 Transfer move to the side

    Pipelayer to Electrical Apprentice

    • Skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.82 (one of the 3 most similar occupations, r >= 0.6).
    • Gates: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
  2. Move 2 Transfer move to the side

    Electrical Apprentice to Solar PV Installer

    • Skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89 (one of the 3 most similar occupations, r >= 0.6).
    • Gates: license depends on the work (Texas: wiring a PV system on a building or premises is electrical work needing a TDLR electrician license (Apprentice or higher); TDLR lists no solar exemption. Mounting without wiring: not addressed).
  3. Move 3 Transfer move to the side

    Solar PV Installer to Solar Energy Installation Manager

    • O*NET lists Solar Energy Installation Managers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.76.
    • Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
    • Skills to build: Management of Personnel Resources, Negotiation, Instructing

Side by side

All Solar Energy Installation Managers: Texas median $74,520, $28,900 more a year than all Pipelayers ($45,620), every experience level.

Solar Energy Installation Manager: 62% work more than 40 hours a week, about 3.6 times the share for Pipelayer (17%).

Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k

A
B
$45,620+$28,900$74,520

Gates on the route: Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license; Solar PV Installer: license depends on the work (Texas: wiring a PV system on a building or premises is electrical work needing a TDLR electrician license (Apprentice or higher); TDLR lists no solar exemption. Mounting without wiring: not addressed).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +0.2% Texas, 480 openings a year

B +10.0% Texas, 8,780 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

A
B
17%+45 pts62%

Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first

3.1 / 5+0.23.3 / 5

  • High places+2.60High places: A 1.31, B 3.91
  • Hazardous conditions+1.59Hazardous conditions: A 2.14, B 3.73
  • Bending or twisting-0.87Bending or twisting: A 3.77, B 2.9
  • Cramped space-0.51Cramped space: A 3.42, B 2.91
  • Outdoors, all weather-0.48Outdoors, all weather: A 4.9, B 4.42

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 6% do).

License

A Texas: yard water lines and building sewers for 1-2 family homes are plumbing (TSBPE Residential Utilities Installer registration). Utility mains and most private site mains are exempt (1301.053, 1301.059).

B No license for this solar supervision title at TDLR; the installing company needs a TDLR Electrical Contractor license, and anyone doing the PV wiring needs a TDLR electrician license.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 19%).

B Most common related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 26%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 2

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Operations Monitoring

To build: 6

  • Management of Personnel Resources +1.75
  • Instructing +1.38
  • Persuasion +1.38
  • Monitoring +1.13
  • Negotiation +1.12
  • Service Orientation +1.12

Make this your goal

Save Pipelayer to Solar Energy Installation Manager as your goal. Each step then shows the hours you have logged toward it, your exam practice and your license, with the one thing to do next and the 6 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.

Share your route

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My route: Pipelayer to Solar Energy Installation Manager, 3 moves (on the Electrical Career Map). Gate: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license; license depends on the work.
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My route: Pipelayer to Solar Energy Installation Manager, 3 moves (on the Electrical Career Map). Gate: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license; license depends on the work.
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Not a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas or any U.S. state. Does not offer engineering services. Exam-prep education only.