Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians

Overview

Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians has a national median salary of $63,800 per year, with +6.8% 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

Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.

Work Values

• Support
• Achievement
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Thinking Creatively
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
• Processing Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• 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.
• Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

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 an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians:

Video Resources