Solar Thermal Installer
E-09E Other Energy, solar and power lines jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 47-2152.04
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $59,840
- work over
40 h a week - 40%
- load index
from O*NET data - 3.3/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +8.9%
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: Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians (47-2152), Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000047215213 (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 44,090 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000047215201).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000047215213 (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 44,090 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000047215201).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians, 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
- +8.9% jobs · about 4,220 openings a year (45,260 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +4.5% jobs · about 44,000 openings a year (504,500 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 07/2015, n = 16 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 07/2015, n = 16 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 14% · irregular 73% · seasonal 12%
Physical load 3.3 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (3.16, 6 measures) and an exposure index (3.37, 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 (3.16, 6 measures) and an exposure index (3.37, 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
- Standing3.68
- Kneeling or crawling3.31
- Climbing ladders3.16
- Keeping balance2.99
- Bending or twisting2.97
- Walking or running2.86
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather4.17
- High places3.95
- Very hot or cold3.46
- Cramped space3.36
- Hazardous equipment3.1
- Hazardous conditions3.08
- Protective gear2.47
Getting in
- License
- Texas: piping that supplies or circulates a building's water is plumbing under Occ. Code 1301.002(7) and needs a TSBPE license; TSBPE pages read do not name solar water heating.
- Degree
- 22% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Experience
- None of related experience is the most common answer (29% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 3 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- E3 Solar PV Installer O*NET lists Solar Photovoltaic Installers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.90.
- B HVAC Technician O*NET lists Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86. License gate: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician registration (TDLR), Certified Technician (TDLR, voluntary), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (TDLR, Class A or B), EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (Type I, II, III or Universal).
- B Solar Energy Installation Manager O*NET lists Solar Energy Installation Managers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.72.
- B Plumber O*NET lists Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.83. License gate: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE).
What the work is 6 core tasks
Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- 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.
- Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
- Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.
- Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Installation
- Quality Control Analysis
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Speaking
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000047215213, 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), 47-2152.04 Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians, 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.
