What Does A Solar Installer Do

Work Environment For Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Solar photovoltaic installers hold about 11,800 jobs. The largest employers of solar photovoltaic installers are as follows:

Because photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity, most PV installation is done outdoors. Residential installers work on rooftops but also sometimes work in attics and crawl spaces to connect panels to the electrical grid. PV installers who build solar farms work at ground level.

PV installers may work alone or as part of a team. Installation of solar panels may require the help of roofers and electricians.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost

How much does it cost to go solar? Is it worth it? And is solar right for your home? All very good questions!

Ive been working in the field of solar well before solar panels went vogue, so I thought it would be a good idea to address some of the most common questions with a series of articles. To start with, Im going to talk about how much solar panels cost as of 2022, by that I mean the cost of going solar including the installation.

The cost of going solar will depend on a few factors, however the average costs of a solar panel installation ranges from $15,000 to $30,000 after the solar tax credits have been applied. Ive seen other estimates online where they average the cost of solar between $11,000 and $15,000 but for the average home, Ive not seen that to be the case.

In 2022, the federal solar tax credit will deduct 26 percent of the cost of a system for eligible residential and commercial taxpayers. This percent changes each year and at one point may disappear altogether. So as a disclaimer I will say that you should double check with your solar installer to get the present information and to ensure you will be able to apply the credit.

The below graphs show the increased popularity of solar, compared to the decreasing cost of installing solar over time:

Solar costs have dropped more than 70% over the last decade, according to the Department of Energy.

What Skills And Talents Do Solar Installers Need

When you decide to pursue any profession, you need to assess whether it suits your skillset and working preferences. Lets take a look at what abilities you need to be a solar installer so that you can consider if you fit the bill and also if the job will provide you with the rewards and satisfaction youre looking for.

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What Does Solar Installer Do And What Are The Prospects In Ukraine

Solar energy is developing rapidly in our country, and therefore, new professions associated with this field of activity are becoming increasingly popular.

What does solar installer do?

The Solar installer is engaged in the assembly, installation and support of the state of the systems of photovoltaic panels located on the roof of houses or other objects. Solar installers are still refer to as PV installers.

What is the working environment?

Preferably, the installation of solar panels is carry out under open-air conditions. Sometimes the solar installer works in an attic or slider condition properly install the panels. The PV installers go to the installation site.

What kind of education should a solar installer have?

It all depends on the employers requirements. Most PV installers have higher education, certified by appropriate diplomas. Such training can take place without interruption from the main work. Duration about 12 months. Other institutes have an education program at college or college and for full-fledged activities in their niche. It is enough for them.

What is the pay?

It all depends entirely on the company in which the solar installer works. Specialists recommend that vacancies be considered, taking into account the quantitative indicators of solar radiation in the region where the workplace is provided. After all, the more the sun is in a particular area, the more people install solar panels. In addition, earnings solar installer directly depends on it.

Installing A Solar Thermal

A Solar Thermal installation is a relatively straight forward installation that works alongside your existing heating system. By mounting solar collectives on your rough , the heat generated from the panels can be used to keep your hot water topped up during the day. When more heat is required, your boiler will kick-in to top up your water heat, which will be stored in a solar cylinder.

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How Much Do Solar Technicians Make

Solar technicians salaries depend on experience, education, location, and additional skills. PayScale notes four categories of this professionsolar energy system installer, solar installer, solar panel installer, and solar technicianand salaries range between $12 and $27 per hour. Those with team leadership skills and experience earn more on average.

The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the 11,080 solar photovoltaic installers across the U.S. earned an average annual salary of $46,850 with the following percentiles:

• 10th percentile: $31,600
• 75th percentile: $55,680
• 90th percentile: $63,880

For entry-level employees , PayScale indicates that salaries range from $20,000 to $51,000, according to reports from 179 energy system installers. The data also shows that entry-level workers earn three percent less than employees with solar energy/solar power skills, and two percent less than employees with roofing materials installation skills.

Like all jobs, as solar technicians gain experience, their salaries increase. Payscale reports that mid-career solar energy system installers earn 23 percent more than average and employees with more than ten years experience make 73 percent more than average.

Work Experience In A Related Occupation For Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Experience in construction may shorten a new employee’s training time. For example, workers with experience as an electrician, roofer, carpenter, or laborer typically already understand and can perform basic construction duties.

In addition, those with knowledge of electrical work, such as electricians, are highly valued by contractors.

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Solar Installer Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a Solar Installer is “should I become a Solar Installer?” You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, Solar Installer careers are projected to have a growth rate described as “much faster than average” at 63% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a Solar Installer by 2028 is 6,100.

A Solar Installer annual salary averages $39,394, which breaks down to $18.94 an hour. However, Solar Installers can earn anywhere from upwards of $24,000 to $62,000 a year. This means that the top-earning Solar Installers make $38,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

Once you’ve become a Solar Installer, you may be curious about what other opportunities are out there. Careers aren’t one size fits all. For that reason, we discovered some other jobs that you may find appealing. Some jobs you might find interesting include an Electro-Mechanical Solar Technician, Solar Panel Technician, Solar Technician, and Window Installer.

Injuries And Illnesses For Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Solar photovoltaic installers risk falls from ladders and roofs, shocks from electricity, and burns from hot equipment and materials while installing and maintaining PV systems. To reduce the risk of injury, PV installers must wear safety equipment, such as harnesses, gloves, and hard hats.

Get the education you need:Find schools for Solar Photovoltaic Installers near you!

There are multiple paths to becoming a solar photovoltaic installer, often called a PV installer. Most workers need a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training lasting up to 1 year. Other candidates take courses at a technical school or community college. Some PV installers learn to install panels as part of an apprenticeship.

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Tips On How To Become A Solar Panel Installer

Home solar is a fast-growing industry and offers some promising career opportunities. By 2019 just over 2 million American homes had installed solar panels but this figure is expected to double by 2023. More than 250,000 Americans already work in the solar industry and this number is also growing fast. It seems that now is a fantastic time to consider a career in solar power.

So Ive been looking into home solar career opportunities and finding out how to become a solar panel installer. Perhaps thats a job that interests you too? Its a promising and rewarding career opportunity so let me tell you all about what you need to do to get started.

Enroll In Postsecondary Education

Apply to community colleges or trade schools for solar installation if you want to further your education. These schools teach safety skills to use when you’re working with specific tools. Classes in system design and PV knowledge assist you in understanding solar panel concepts and working to install panels onto structures. Classes vary based on the state you live in, but they can last weeks or months depending on how extensive the course’s content is.

You may also have the option to enroll in online courses if you’re more comfortable doing so. It’s an easier path for you if you have previous experience in construction or as an electrician. You may also enroll in an apprenticeship program to become an electrician, since most states allow electricians to connect PV systems to an electric grid.

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How A Solar Technician Compares

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.

Let’s now take a look at the Solar Technician profession. On average, these workers make higher salaries than Solar Installers with a $19,309 difference per year.

Using Solar Installers and Solar Technicians resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as “Hand Tools,” “Customer Service,” and “Safety Hazards,” but the other skills required are very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from Solar Installer resumes include skills like “Document Completion,” “Efficient Installation,” “Crew Members,” and “Structural Analysis,” whereas a Solar Technician might be skilled in “QC,” “Safety Standards,” “Solar Panels,” and “Solar Installation. “

Solar Technicians typically study at similar levels compared with Solar Installers. For example, they’re 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master’s Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Become Licensed And Certified

There are many states that do not require a Solar Panel Installer to be licensed, but for that states that do require it, there are some important steps to follow.

In many states, the requirements to gain authorization to become a licensed Solar Panel Installer include:

• At least four years of experience as a Solar Panel Installer
• Experience in designing, planning, and installing solar panel modules
• Experience with supervising construction activities

Some states even require that Solar Panel Installers gain a separate, specialized license.

Its important to take a look at your states licensing map to learn more about the credentials you need in order to work as a Solar Panel Installer legally.

Whether or not your state requires a license, there are some certifications that can be obtained in order to show competency in the field.

These are also voluntary certifications, but many employers look for extra qualifications in order to gain the best employees.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners is a nationally recognized certification board for Solar Panel Installers.

Some of the certifications that the NABCEP holds include:

• PV Installation Professional
• PV Systems Inspector
• PV Installer Specialist

Each of these certifications requires a training program as well as the passing of an exam in order to become certified.

Depending on where you gain the certification, the training program length can vary-however most of them are around 12-16 weeks.

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The Benefits Of An Solar Hot Water Installation

Up until the end of August 2021, you could apply to the Green Homes Grant Scheme to fund the full cost of a Solar Hot Water installation. If you installation a system before the end of March 2022, you will be eligible to receive income from the RHI

Installing a solar hot water system will help towards reducing your carbon footprint. Similar to Heats Pumps, Solar PV, Ground Source and Biomass systems, a solar thermal installation is a renewable energy technology.

It is very possible that a solar thermal system could last as long as twenty years or more and they have been known to last up to thirty years without replacing any parts. This makes is a fit and forget renewable energy system

Installing an solar hot water system can save you around £90 a year on your hot water bills.

What Is A Solar Installer

A solar installer is a professional who installs solar photovoltaic panels onto a structure’s rooftop, which provides electricity from the sun. An installer assembles and maintains solar panels. They establish a plan for the installation on each owner’s property based on the customer’s preferences.

A solar installer needs to make proper measurements during installation, ensuring the panels fit on the roof and remain in compliance with the area’s building codes. They must also connect solar panels to the building’s electrical wiring system so they can function properly. Solar installers perform testing and activate the solar panel once it’s connected and apply a weather sealant to give it extra protection from the elements.

Installers use tools such as drills and saws to connect and wire the panels to a structure. Some solar installers may only install a panel because the property owner calls an electrician to fix the panel’s wiring.

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How To Become A Solar Installer

You may need at least a high school diploma to gain an entry-level position as a solar installer. From there, you would learn how to assemble, install, and maintain solar panel systems on-the-job over the course of a year. If you dont get hired to learn on-the-job, you might find a community college or vocational school that offers courses or even look for an apprenticeship program.

States That Have The Highest Pay

The BLS reports the following states as having the highest average annual pay for solar photovoltaic installers:

• Oregon: $58,180
• Massachusetts: $53,180
• Arizona: $51,840

The higher wages in these states are generally attributed to their primary industries. They all have economies based on tourism, government or military presence, and high-tech industries.

Please note that only twenty-three states and Puerto Rico have reported employment and wage statistics for solar technicians. Twenty-two cities and metropolitan divisions, and three non-metropolitan areas are all that have detailed employment and wage statistics. The states and cities that have not reported may have significantly higher or lower averages.

The reported salaries do not necessarily reflect the economic status of individuals because the numbers do not account for the differences in the cost of living. For example, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center , the cost of living index for Hawaii was 191.8. That is the highest cost of all the states, which some attribute to the Jones Act, and it means that Hawaiians paid $191.80 for what cost $100 in other states.

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How Do I Become A Solar Photovoltaic Installer Training Certification Involved

The first step is to get educated. There are many paths to becoming a solar PV installer, but generally speaking, a high school diploma and at least some specialized training is recommended either through a technical school, community college, or certification program. Many technical schools and community colleges offer programs and certification tailored in solar energy technology/technician preparation that may be helpful and can be completed in as little as one year. On the job training can also be attained through apprenticeships or job shadowing.

If you already work in construction, the leap to solar PV installer may feel more like a light hop, as many of your skills will be needed to succeed in your new career. Whatever angle youre approaching the job from, its important to educate yourself about the terrain before diving in head first.

Heres a short list of a few resources to kickstart your career as a solar PV installer:

• Each state has different licensing requirements for general contractors, as well as solar PV installers. You can check on what your state requires here.

• Checkout The Solar Foundation to get an overview of the solar job opportunities in every state.

Duties Of Solar Photovoltaic Installers

PV installers typically do the following:

• Plan PV system configurations based on customer needs and site conditions
• Measure, cut, and assemble the support structure for solar PV panels
• Install solar modules, panels, and support structures in accordance with building codes and standards
• Connect PV panels to the electrical system
• Apply weather sealant to equipment being installed
• Activate and test PV systems
• Perform routine PV system maintenance

Solar PV panels convert sunlight to electricity, and PV installers put these systems in place. PV installers use a variety of hand and power tools to install PV panels. They often use drills, wrenches, saws, and screwdrivers to connect panels to frames, wires, and support structures.

Many new PV installers begin by performing basic tasks, such as installing support structures and placing PV panels or PV shingles on top of them. Once the panels are in place, more-experienced installers usually perform more-complex duties, such as connecting electrical components.

Depending on the job and state laws, PV installers may connect the solar panels to the electric grid, although electricians sometimes perform this duty. Once the panels are installed, workers check the electrical systems for proper wiring, polarity, and grounding, and they also perform maintenance as needed.

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