The expanding solar industry offers careers in the residential, commercial, and utility-scale sectors for people of all levels of education and experience; this map explores 44. An ambitious worker could progress within any of these solar-related occupations, or seek the skills and credentials to advance between them. Click any dot to find out more.
Equipment Operators on solar installation sites are responsible for operating various types of construction equipment that are imperative to all aspects of a solar job, regardless of the size of the project.
Job DetailCarpenters with Solar Expertise are extremely important for maintaining structural and support for utility-scale, commercial and residential solar projects. By using materials including wood, metal, and concrete, carpenters ensure that solar installations are secure and meet quality standards.
Job DetailEnergy Storage Installers are the backbone of the solar-plus-storage market. They set up and maintain sophisticated battery storage equipment and wiring that connects to a residential, commercial, or utility-scale solar energy system.
Solar Construction Workers carry out physical labor tasks at utility-scale, commercial, and residential solar projects in compliance with system design schematics.
Job DetailIT specialists support clean energy’s cutting-edge digital tools for a wide range of solar industry applications, including PV system design and monitoring; solar investment, finance, and sales; project permitting; and service logistics.
Job DetailEntry-level installers assemble and mount photovoltaic systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with system design schematics for residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects.
Job DetailSolar Site Supervisors lead teams of PV Installers at a worksite. They motivate and coordinate, keep crews focused and on schedule, verify safety procedures and equipment, and provide quality assurance.
Job DetailSolar Project Managers coordinate all of the workers and materials involved in a solar installation, managing time and budgets, and translating between engineers, system designers, and installers in the field.
Job DetailSolar Fleet Managers identify, cultivate, and manage third-party vendors to service residential or commercial solar installations. They interact with multiple business interests to ensure service level agreements are met, and they oversee logistics coordination for existing and new solar installation equipment.
Job DetailSolar Instructors transmit the industry’s fundamental principles and best practices—in science, technology, craft, and safety—to students at every level. They are experts, teachers, and visionaries.
Job DetailSoftware Engineers design cutting-edge digital tools for PV system design and monitoring; clean energy investment, finance, and sales; field training, project permitting; and service logistics.
Job DetailHVAC Technicians install, service, and repair commercial solar thermal systems. They also manage whole-building systems, which is key to the future of residential solar energy.
Job DetailRoofers with Solar Expertise use best practices in roofing to install racking systems, mount photovoltaic panels or thermal collectors, and waterproof the flashing around installed components.
Job DetailLead PV Installers are the solid core of the solar industry. They set up and maintain the sophisticated equipment and wiring that connects a solar energy system to the electrical grid.
Job DetailResidential Service Technicians are quality assurance professionals who monitor, diagnose, optimize, and repair underperforming PV systems.
Job DetailSolar O&M Technicians perform operations and maintenance on large-scale photovoltaic systems. This involves highly technical performance monitoring with sophisticated instrumentation and controls.
Job DetailElectricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures for PV systems. They ensure that the work complies with electrical and building codes.
Job DetailA Solar Installation Contractor plans and directs solar installation projects–submitting bids, pulling permits, and managing material, labor, and equipment.
Job DetailSolar Site Assessors evaluate sites in-person or remotely to determine how much energy can be harvested at a given location, then make written and verbal system recommendations to potential customers.
Job DetailSolar Sales Representatives contact prospective customers to determine their solar energy and equipment needs. They evaluate and recommend systems, estimate cost benefits, provide written summaries, and follow up with customers.
Job DetailSolar Marketing Specialists analyze the promotional potential of a solar company and create outreach programs and advertising tools to drive business expansion.
Job DetailBuilding Inspectors examine solar-related structures using construction experience to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations.
Job DetailCode Officials examine plans for construction, alteration, or repair of buildings and associated solar equipment systems to ensure compliance with building and safety codes and regulations.
Job DetailIdeally a solar PV-trained electrician, the Electrical Inspector examines electrical systems and equipment to confirm that they are safe, functional, and conform to code.
Job DetailSolar Project Developers provide a critical link between engineering, procurement, and construction by using the best technologies to produce the most effective solar energy solutions for their clients.
Job DetailLawyers with Solar Expertise represent clients in regulatory and legal proceedings; draft legal documents and contracts; assist clients with project development and financing; and manage or advise clients on regulatory compliance matters.
Job DetailEngineering Technicians work with engineers in applying the theory and principles of engineering to plan, design, evaluate, and improve the performance of solar energy-related equipment, processes, and facilities.
Job DetailA residential PV System Designer devises small-scale photovoltaic systems—grid-tied and standalone—for individual homes and multifamily housing.
Job DetailA Utility Interconnection Engineer manages the interconnection of power generation equipment to the electric grid, a job that involves design, evaluation, and technical or material problem-solving.
Job DetailSolar Utility Procurement Specialists develop contracts for solar energy delivery and tactics to negotiate favorable terms. They build strategic relationships with new and existing solar producers and track related policy and energy markets.
Job DetailStructural Engineers are responsible for the design and/or analysis of structural support systems for solar projects. They may supervise the construction of Concentrated Solar Power plants, PV plants, and related structures.
Job DetailPower Systems Engineers are experts in the large-scale generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power. They provide the power system research, development, and analysis required to integrate solar energy and other renewable technologies into the grid.
Job DetailSolar Energy System Designers perform site-specific engineering analysis of commercial, industrial, or utility-scale solar projects and design large photovoltaic or solar thermal systems.
Job DetailCNC operators run, monitor, and can advance to programming computerized machinery to produce the precisely crafted component parts essential to a wide variety of solar technologies.
Job DetailAdvanced Manufacturing Technicians set up, test, and adjust plant machinery and equipment, using any combination of electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or computer technologies.
Job DetailInstrumentation and Electronics Technicians help develop, test, calibrate, and manufacture electrical and electronic equipment, including solar components or the machines that make them.
Job DetailQuality Assurance Specialists identify quality problems in solar component production and recommend and implement solutions.
Job DetailProcess Control Technicians improve solar manufacturing quality and efficiency by measuring and analyzing the design, integration, and operation of production systems, including hardware, software, and human capital.
Job DetailIndustrial Engineers increase solar manufacturing productivity through the management of people, the use of technology, and the introduction of more efficient processes in solar component production.
Job DetailElectrical Engineers research, design, test, and supervise the development and performance of equipment and components for solar PV systems.
Job DetailMechanical Engineers provide technical leadership and support for manufacturers in the design and development of new solar products, components, and equipment.
Job DetailEnvironmental Engineers use tools and principles from a variety of engineering disciplines and establish practices to prevent, control, and/or remediate environmental, health, and safety hazards in solar industry operations.
Job DetailMaterials Scientists study the structures and chemical properties of materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. They improve or invent new processes and materials for solar products.
Job DetailAlong the y-axis, jobs sit at three skill levels: Entry (pre-apprentice or apprentice-level, less than a 2-year post-secondary credential, 1-3 years experience), Mid- (journey or associate's level, 3-5 years experience), Advanced (master craft or bachelor's level and higher, 5+ years experience).
Along the x-axis, jobs fall into four broad sectors: Manufacturing, System Design, Project Development, Installation & Operations. There is much overlap and conversation between these linked segments of the solar value chain.
