Electricians to Solar Photovoltaic Installers

13 of the 13 skills that matter most for solar photovoltaic installers are already at or near the typical level of electricians; 0 need work. Whether it is realistic for you depends on your own experience, credentials and budget.

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What electricians do

Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem.
Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.
Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous.

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What solar photovoltaic installers do

Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
Perform routine photovoltaic (PV) system maintenance on modules, arrays, batteries, power conditioning equipment, safety systems, structural systems, weather sealing, or balance of systems equipment.
Activate photovoltaic (PV) systems to verify system functionality and conformity to performance expectations.
Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.

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Transferable skills

13/13important skills of Solar Photovoltaic Installers at or near your current occupation's typical level

0partial gaps

0larger gaps

100/100skill-level coverage index (not a probability)

Strengths you can carry over

Installation
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Operations Monitoring

Knowledge areas to learn

Engineering and Technology
Mechanical
Education and Training
Computers and Electronics
Building and Construction

All 13 important skills (target level vs. Electricians)

Solar Photovoltaic Installers typical level Electricians typical level (0–7)

InstallationAt or above

Critical ThinkingAt or above

Active ListeningAt or above

MonitoringAt or above

Operations MonitoringAt or above

Quality Control AnalysisAt or above

Judgment and Decision MakingAt or above

Reading ComprehensionAt or above

Active LearningAt or above

CoordinationAt or above

Complex Problem SolvingAt or above

TroubleshootingAt or above

Time ManagementAt or above

How this was calculated

A skill counts as important for Solar Photovoltaic Installers when its O*NET importance is 3 or more (scale 1–5).
Levels are typical O*NET levels (0–7) for each occupation.
Within 0.5 level points counts as near; up to 1.5 as partial; more as a gap.

Limits

Compares occupations in general: it does not show that you personally have a skill.
Does not cover credentials, licensing or employer requirements (see qualifications).
The coverage index is a summary of typical levels, not a probability of being hired or of a successful switch.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0) · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e1-skills-1.0.0

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education

Post-Secondary Certificate (36.9% of respondents)

Related experience

Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (36.9%)

On-the-job training

Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (22.1%)

Preparation level

O*NET job zone 2: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Licensing

Depends on state or role (national summary): Some states require a license for PV installers; certification is not required for employment but some subsidy programs require certified installers. source (checked 2026-10-25)

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections; State licensing authorities (curated, see evidence links) · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Pay comparison

Annual wages, U.S., May 2025
Occupation	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Electricians	$42,640	$49,430	$63,190	$83,940	$108,510
Solar Photovoltaic Installers	$41,600	$46,700	$53,140	$62,870	$79,970

Median difference: −$10,050 a year.

Limits

Wages are what current workers earn across all experience levels, not an offer for a career changer.
Entry pay after a switch is often nearer the lower percentiles.
Benefits, taxes and local costs are not included.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e4-salary-1.0.0

Paths to consider

Partial move: roles between the two, found with the alternatives finder.
Full switch: close the priority gaps above, check credentials in your state and test the cost with the cost calculator.
No change yet: if the issue is your workplace rather than the work, the stay or switch check helps separate the two.

Electricians are among the best prepared people for solar work. Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, install and maintain PV systems on roofs and other structures. The skills match is complete, but the pay data matter before switching.

Skills: 13 of 13

All 13 skills that O*NET rates as important for solar PV installers are at or above the typical level of electricians. Installation, critical thinking, active listening, monitoring and operations monitoring are strengths. In skills terms there is nothing to close.

The knowledge profile is different. Installers use more mechanical knowledge, knowledge of engineering and technology, and building and construction: racking, roof structures and mounting systems. Some of these show up as gaps against the electrician profile.

Licensing

The BLS notes that some states require a license for PV installers. Certification is not required for employment, but some subsidy programs require certified installers. Check your state's rules: where a license is needed for the electrical connections, an electrician license may already cover it.

Pay: the main trade-off

In May 2025 the national median wage was $53,140 for solar PV installers and $63,190 for electricians, about $10,050 less a year. The 75th percentile shows a similar pattern: about $62,870 for installers against $83,940 for electricians. Pay also varies by state, so compare your own state in the analyzer.

Who it can make sense for

Electricians who want to specialize in solar while keeping their license, for example in solar or energy storage roles at electrical contractors.
People who prefer this kind of project work and accept the pay trade-off.
Anyone weighing it should check local demand: installer employment is much smaller (about 31,350 jobs nationally) than electrician employment (about 757,220).

Electricians to Solar Photovoltaic Installers

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What electricians do

What solar photovoltaic installers do

Transferable skills

Strengths you can carry over

Knowledge areas to learn

Qualifications and licensing

Pay comparison

Paths to consider

Skills: 13 of 13

Licensing

Pay: the main trade-off

Who it can make sense for

Sources