Solar Energy Installation Managers
Overview
Solar Energy Installation Managers has a national median salary of $79,920 per year, with +5% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.
Description
Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.
Work Values
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
Work Styles
Responsibilities
Tasks
- Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
- Supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
- Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
- Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Detailed Work Activities
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
T-A-S-K
Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge
Technology Skills
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Presentation software
- Project management software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Operating system software
Abilities
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
Skills
- Coordination
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Monitoring
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Mechanical
Education
Education Levels of Current Workers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.
Certificates
Certifications applicable to Solar Energy Installation Managers:
| Certificate name | Certifying Organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| PV Installation Professional (PVIP) | North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners | D |
| PV System Inspector (PVSI) | North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners | D |
| Solar Heating Installer (SHI) | North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners | D |
| Energy Risk Professional (ERP) | Global Association of Risk Professionals | I |
Income & Employability
Income Percentile
The median (50th percentile) is the middle wage; 10% earn less than the low figure and 10% earn more than the high figure.
| Low (10%) | $53,280 |
| Median (50%) | $79,920 |
| High (90%) | $128,260 |
Income by Experience
How pay typically grows from entry level (0–2 yrs) to expert (8+ yrs).
Experience data not available.
Employability
There are currently 913,300 jobs in this career path (2025). That number is projected to grow to 959,400 by 2035, a +5% change.
+5% growthVideo Resources
Training Programs
2 programs at 1 school on Career School App prepare students for a career as Solar Energy Installation Managers, including Construction Management (2).
Related Careers
This site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Certification, licence and career video information is sourced from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Wage, employment and outlook figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and the Employment Projections program. Figures describe the occupation, not any particular program or graduate.
Career cluster definitions are from Advance CTE.
Pay-by-experience bands are from Lightcast (as recent as July 2025).