Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.
31,350 people do this job in the US. $53,140 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 27%
- 0%
- 73%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 16%. Today's estimate: 19%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 26 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.Done daily by most who do it. | 14% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | Stays with people | |
| Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.Done daily by most who do it. | 14% | 1.3 work days3.3 h to 3.1 work days | Stays with people | |
| Install active solar systems, including solar collectors, concentrators, pumps, or fans.Done daily by most who do it. | 14% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h50 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Diagram layouts and locations for photovoltaic (PV) arrays and equipment, including existing building or site features.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h38 min to 3.3 h | 80%Half by now | |
| Determine photovoltaic (PV) system designs or configurations based on factors such as customer needs, expectations, and site conditions.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 5% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | 32%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Determine materials, equipment, and installation sequences necessary to maximize installation efficiency.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Identify methods for laying out, orienting, and mounting modules or arrays to ensure efficient installation, electrical configuration, or system maintenance.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | 65%Half by now | |
| Examine designs to determine current requirements for all parts of the photovoltaic (PV) system electrical circuit.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 50 min25 min to 1.7 h | 99%Half by now | |
| Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 50 min25 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).