Solar PV Installer
E3-01E3 Solar construction · Start level · O*NET 47-2231.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $48,240
- work over
40 h a week - 26%
- load index
from O*NET data - 3.9/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +43.1%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
Whole occupation: all Solar Photovoltaic Installers, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000047223113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 5,270 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000047223101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000047223113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 5,270 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000047223101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Solar Photovoltaic Installers, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +43.1% jobs · about 730 openings a year (5,050 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +42.0% jobs · about 4,100 openings a year (28,600 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2024, n = 24 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2024, n = 24 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 40% · irregular 60% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 3.9 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (3.66, 6 measures) and an exposure index (4.14, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (3.66, 6 measures) and an exposure index (4.14, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing4.27
- Keeping balance4.08
- Kneeling or crawling3.58
- Bending or twisting3.55
- Climbing ladders3.35
- Walking or running3.12
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather4.69
- High places4.55
- Hazardous conditions4.25
- Hazardous equipment4.24
- Very hot or cold4.08
- Cramped space3.69
- Protective gear3.49
Getting in
- License
- 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.
- Degree
- 15% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Post-Secondary Certificate
- Experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years of related experience is the most common answer (37% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Solar Photovoltaic Installers, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Start: O*NET Job Zone 2 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior). Rung 1 of 4 on 'Solar construction'.
Next stop E3 Solar Installation Crew Foreman +$26,280 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
Gates checked: No degree or experience gate in O*NET 31.0. 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.
Moves to the side 6
- E Solar Thermal Installer O*NET lists Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.90.
- E Hydroelectric Plant Operator O*NET lists Hydroelectric Plant Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80. License: depends on the work.
- B 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.
- E4 Wind Turbine Technician O*NET lists Wind Turbine Service Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.75. License: depends on the work.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.
- Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
- Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
- Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
- Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
- Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Installation
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Active Learning
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000047223113, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 47-2231.00 Solar Photovoltaic Installers, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
