What does a solar installer do?
A solar installer is responsible for installing solar panels on building and household locations, ensuring that the methods and tools adhere to safety regulations and practices. Solar installers manage the maintenance and repair of the solar panels, requiring them to perform fieldwork and travel often. They also identify the measurement and compatibility of solar panels to the clients' locations before the installment proper. A solar installer must have excellent knowledge of the solar services to respond to the clients' inquiries and concerns accurately and resolve complaints.
Solar installer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real solar installer resumes:
- Attain skills to do sheeting, lay shingles, mounting and setting solar panels.
- Manage telecommunications, data and CCTV equipment.
- Do all electrical from ac to DC.
- Ensure the safe installation of ladders on single and multilevel homes in accordance with OSHA regulations.
- Install framing, wiring (including wire management) and PV modules for the commercial system.
- Maintain OSHA regulations while on roofs, and on the ground, preventing injury, while ensuring timely system installation.
- Promite to lead``QC ''
- Assure everyone are safe and wearing proper PPE
- Route all DC wire and splice connections.
- Train and run crews in solar installation.
- Install PVC pipe underground, running to panels.
- Dig trenches and also install solar panels at DMAFB.
- Design review, QC, site audit & structural analyze.
- Disconnect high risers and rebuild them as a new connector.
- Build solar panels, drill holes, dig trenches and electrical.
Solar installer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Solar Installers are proficient in Renewable Energy, Ladders, and Hand Tools. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Mechanical skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Solar Installers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Renewable Energy, 18%
Designed renewable energy systems and projects.
- Ladders, 13%
Load and unload tools, ladders, equipment into and out of work van.
- Hand Tools, 9%
Have experience on rooftops, in attics, pulling weight up the later, and with many hand tools.
- Customer Service, 9%
Perform customer service while being the face of the company throughout the duration of the project.
- Roofing, 7%
Used knowledge of electrical construction (preferred), roofing construction, general construction and/or NEC codes.
- Safety Hazards, 6%
Identify and resolve any environmental and safety hazards associated with solar assembly.
Most solar installers use their skills in "renewable energy," "ladders," and "hand tools" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential solar installer responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a solar installer to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "pv installers need to convey information effectively to clients, team members, and other workers." Additionally, a solar installer resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "coordinated the planting of one million trees in los angeles analytical and communication skills: system installation. "
Mechanical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling solar installer duties is mechanical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "pv installers work with complex electrical and mechanical equipment in order to build support structures for solar panels, connect the panels to the electrical system, and troubleshoot problems." According to a solar installer resume, here's how solar installers can utilize mechanical skills in their job responsibilities: "connected dc wiring on panels.accomplishmentsi learned about different types of mechanical and frame work for panels.skills usedverbal skills, mechanical skills"
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for solar installers to perform their duties. For an example of how solar installer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "pv installers must carefully follow instructions to ensure that the system works properly." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a solar installer: "oriented solar arrays for optimum efficiency and quality aesthetics. ".
Physical strength. For certain solar installer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical strength." The day-to-day duties of a solar installer rely on this skill, as "pv installers must lift heavy equipment and materials weighing up to 60 pounds." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what solar installers do: "measured television signal strength at utility pole, using electronic test equipment. "
The three companies that hire the most solar installers are:
- GPAC47 solar installers jobs
- SunPower23 solar installers jobs
- Aerotek23 solar installers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable solar installer resume templates
Build a professional solar installer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your solar installer resume.
Compare different solar installers
Solar installer vs. Photovoltaic technician
A solar technician fits solar panels. They read blueprints and schematics to correctly conduct installations. They also troubleshoot equipment issues. This position requires stamina, physical strength, and expertise with power tools.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, solar installer responsibilities require skills like "renewable energy," "ladders," "customer service," and "roofing." Meanwhile a typical photovoltaic technician has skills in areas such as "safety standards," "ac-dc," "iec," and "battery storage." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, photovoltaic technicians reach higher levels of education than solar installers. Photovoltaic technicians are 11.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Solar installer vs. Electro-mechanical solar technician
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, solar installer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "renewable energy," "ladders," "hand tools," and "customer service." Meanwhile, an electro-mechanical solar technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "electro mechanical," "electronic equipment," "mechanical systems," and "test equipment." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, electro-mechanical solar technicians achieve similar levels of education than solar installers. They're 2.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Solar installer vs. Solar panel technician
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from solar installer resumes include skills like "renewable energy," "customer service," "roofing," and "safety equipment," whereas a solar panel technician is more likely to list skills in "control panels," "switches," "ac," and "plc. "
Most solar panel technicians achieve a similar degree level compared to solar installers. For example, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Solar installer vs. Solar technician
Types of solar installer
Updated January 8, 2025
