How To Become A Solar Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a solar technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Solar technicians assemble, install, and maintain solar panel systems that provide solar power on rooftops or other structures. They take measurements to install each solar panel, cut panels to fit, perform tests, troubleshoot, and fix issues. They are also tasked with maintaining install solar panels as needed and meet with clients to discuss their needs for a solar energy system, explaining the installation and maintenance process, and following up with them to ensure that their system works properly.

Solar technicians earn an average salary of $52,000 annually or $25 per hour. They may install solar panels on homes or commercial buildings and parking rooftops. They must first identify the location and configuration of the panels and confirm the structural integrity of the building. They are able to read blueprints, schematics, and specifications and may need to confer with building inspectors occasionally.

Solar technicians typically hold a high school diploma or its equivalent and a valid driver's license. They are expected to have proven experience as a technician or a similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with excellent communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with co-workers, supervisors, and customers.

ScoreSolar TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $41,791

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.8

Growth Rate 27%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

0.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 5.79%

Black or African American 15.79%

Hispanic or Latino 36.32%

Unknown 6.32%

White 35.26%

Gender

female 5.18%

male 94.82%

Age - 27

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 27

Stress Level

6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.1

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a solar technician

Explore solar technician education requirements

Most common solar technician degrees

Associate

31.3 %

High School Diploma

30.8 %

Bachelor's

24.1 %

Start to develop specific solar technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.07%
Renewable Energy	13.33%
PV	11.38%
QC	10.92%
Hand Tools	8.75%

Complete relevant solar technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New solar technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a solar technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real solar technician resumes.

Research solar technician duties and responsibilities

Boom lifts, scissor stands etc.
Install inverter and EMT conduit.
Install all rack grounding and DC wiring.
Wire control panel's for multi-zone HVAC units.

Prepare your solar technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your solar technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a solar technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Solar Technician Resume templates

Build a professional Solar Technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Solar Technician resume.

Apply for solar technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a solar technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do solar technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

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1 Star

Solar Technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021

Cons

OSHA doesn’t keep up with the safety of billboards every day i risk my life 100+ft with no safety cables

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

Love taking something that can't be used and giving it life again...