What Does a Solar Installer Do?

Most people only see the finished product: panels on a roof, quietly generating electricity. But someone has to put them there. Solar installers are the skilled workers who make it happen, and right now, there aren’t enough of them to meet demand in Southern Illinois.

If you’re considering a career change or looking for work that pays well without requiring a four-year degree, solar installation is worth a serious look. This article explains what the job actually involves so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Also See: What Do HVAC Technicians Do?

What Is a Solar Installer?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers assemble, install, and maintain the systems that convert sunlight into electricity. You might hear the job called “solar installer,” “PV installer,” or “solar technician.” They all describe the same core work.

The job is physical, skilled, and outdoors. You’ll work on rooftops and ground-mounted systems, use hand and power tools, and handle electrical connections. Most installers work as part of a crew, not alone.

Is This Job Right for You?

Before getting into the details, here’s an honest assessment. Solar installation isn’t for everyone, but for the right person, it’s steady work with room to grow.

This job might be a good fit if you:

• Prefer working with your hands over sitting at a desk
• Don’t mind being outdoors in heat, cold, or changing weather
• Can handle physical work: lifting up to 60 pounds, climbing ladders, and being on your feet for hours
• Are okay with heights, or willing to get comfortable with proper training and safety equipment
• Like seeing the results of your work at the end of the day
• Work well as part of a team
• Have a valid driver’s license (you’ll travel to different job sites)

This job probably isn’t for you if:

• You have physical limitations that prevent lifting heavy equipment or climbing ladders regularly
• You have a strong fear of heights that training won’t address
• You need a climate-controlled work environment
• You prefer working alone rather than on a crew

Not sure? That’s fine. Man-Tra-Con can help you figure out whether solar, HVAC, or another clean energy path makes more sense for your situation.

What You’ll Actually Do

Solar installation has multiple phases: site assessment, the physical install, and testing. But the bulk of the work is the installation itself. That’s where the jobs are, and that’s what you’ll spend most of your time doing.

The Physical Installation

Setting up the mounting system. Before panels go up, installers secure the racking, which is the metal framework that holds everything in place. This means locating roof rafters, drilling attachment points, and applying weather sealant to prevent leaks. On ground-mounted systems, you’re working with posts and frames instead of rooftops.

Installing panels. Once the racking is secure, panels get lifted into place and bolted down. This is teamwork. Panels are awkward to handle alone, and efficiency matters. A residential roof might take a crew a day or two. Larger commercial projects take longer.

Electrical connections. Panels need to be wired together and connected to an inverter, which is the equipment that converts solar power into electricity that a building can use. The inverter then connects to the main electrical panel. This is the technical core of the job, and it’s where attention to detail matters most.

Safety and code compliance. Throughout the process, installers manage fall protection equipment, ensure proper grounding, and verify that the work meets building and electrical codes. This isn’t optional. It’s how crews stay safe, and systems get approved for operation.

What Entry-Level Work Looks Like

Your first months on the job won’t involve every aspect of installation. You’ll start as part of a crew: carrying materials up to the roof, learning to set up racking systems, and watching how experienced installers handle electrical work.

As you gain experience, you take on more technical tasks. Most employers don’t expect you to show up knowing everything. They expect you to show up ready to learn and work hard.

A Typical Day

A typical day starts early, often with a team meeting to discuss the job, review the site, and go through safety checks. Then you load equipment and travel to the job site.

Once on site, the work varies depending on the project phase. You might spend the morning setting up racking and the afternoon mounting panels. Or you might be finishing electrical connections and running system tests on a project that’s nearly complete.

The work is physical. You’ll climb ladders, carry equipment, work in awkward positions, and spend hours on your feet. Weather is a factor, too. Installers work through heat and cold, though rain usually shuts things down.

At the end of the day, you can see what you built. That’s what many installers say they like most about the work.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Where you’ll work: Most installations are outdoors on residential rooftops, commercial buildings, and ground-mounted arrays. Some work happens in attics or crawl spaces when connecting systems to electrical panels.

Physical requirements: Installers regularly lift equipment weighing up to 60 pounds, climb ladders multiple times per day, and work at heights on roofs or lifts. Stamina matters. This isn’t a desk job.

Team environment: Solar installers usually work as part of a crew. You’re not on your own figuring things out. Experienced installers work alongside newer team members, and crews develop routines that make the work safer and more efficient.

A Note on Safety

Working at heights and with electrical systems involves real risks: falls, electrical shocks, and burns from hot equipment. That’s why safety training comes first, not as an afterthought.

OSHA 10 certification is part of the CEJA program, and professional installers use harnesses, anchors, and fall protection on every job. Crews take safety seriously because it’s how people go home at the end of the day.

If you’re nervous about heights, that’s normal. Most people adjust once they’ve trained with proper equipment. But if you’re not willing to work at heights even with training and protection, this probably isn’t the right career.

What You’ll Learn

You don’t need to walk in with these skills. That’s what training is for. But here’s what you’ll develop:

• Electrical basics: How solar systems generate and transfer power, how to make safe connections, how to test that systems work correctly
• Construction skills: Reading plans, using hand and power tools, working with mounting hardware
• Safety practices: Fall protection, electrical safety, proper use of protective equipment
• Applied math: Calculating measurements, angles, and layouts
• Problem-solving: Every roof is different, and installers learn to adapt to site conditions
• Teamwork: Coordinating with crew members and communicating clearly on the job site

Pay and Job Outlook

Compensation: The median annual wage for solar PV installers was $51,860 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Entry-level positions start around $39,000, while experienced installers and crew leads can earn $80,000 or more. Many installers also earn overtime, particularly on commercial projects with tight deadlines.

Many solar installation jobs are full-time W-2 positions with benefits including healthcare and retirement plans, not gig work or contractor arrangements.

Job growth: Employment of solar PV installers is projected to grow 42 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average. Nationally, about 4,100 openings are projected each year.

Local opportunity: Southern Illinois has 89.4 megawatts of planned solar projects in the pipeline, which translates to roughly 188 new jobs just from projects already in development. Perry, Jefferson, and Jackson counties lead the region in planned solar capacity. Coal-to-solar conversions are underway or planned at Baldwin, Coffeen, Newton, and the retired Joppa plant, places many Southern Illinois residents know well.

The clean energy workforce in Illinois is growing nearly five times faster than the state economy, and employers report difficulty finding enough qualified workers.

No special license required: Illinois doesn’t require a state license to work as a solar installer. Once you complete training and an employer hires you, you can start working.

Where This Career Can Lead

Solar installation isn’t a dead-end job. With experience, installers move into lead and crew supervisor roles, overseeing projects and mentoring newer workers. Some transition into project management, system design, or technical sales. Others start their own businesses.

The skills transfer, too. Someone who starts in solar can move into related fields like battery storage, EV charger installation, or HVAC as those areas grow.

How to Get Started in Southern Illinois

Man-Tra-Con operates the CEJA Workforce Hub for the Carbondale region, offering free training for Southern Illinois residents interested in solar installation and other clean energy careers.

What the program includes:

• 12 to 16 weeks of training, with classes meeting about 4 hours daily
• Training locations throughout Southern Illinois, so you won’t have to travel far
• OSHA 10 certification, First Aid/CPR, and industry credentials included
• No tuition, no cost for materials, no experience required
• Paid stipends during training, so you earn while you learn
• Support services for transportation, childcare, emergency expenses, and other needs
• Job placement assistance, connecting you with employers after you complete the program
• Follow-up support for 12 months after completion

Job placement: When you complete the CEJA clean energy training, Man-Tra-Con’s team works with you to connect with employers across the region. No training program can guarantee a specific job, but the industry is actively hiring and struggling to find qualified workers. This program helps you be ready when those opportunities come.

Who qualifies: If you live in Southern Illinois, there’s a good chance you’re eligible. The program serves residents across the region, with priority for those facing barriers to employment. Not sure if you qualify? Man-Tra-Con can answer that quickly.

Ready to learn more? Check out these resources:

• Learn more about the CEJA program
• Call 618-428-4460
• Visit the main CEJA office at 401 S. Illinois Avenue in Carbondale (inside the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station)

---

Solar installation is one of several career paths available through the CEJA program. Not sure whether solar or HVAC is a better fit? Check out our comparison of solar and HVAC careers or learn more about the full program. Man-Tra-Con can help you explore your options, and the training is free.