Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
Construction and Extraction
Installs solar collectors on tile, asphalt, shingle, or gravel roofs, then runs copper or plastic pipe and circulating pumps so the system can heat and move water. The work includes weather-sealing roof penetrations, testing mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems, and walking owners through start-up, shut-down, and maintenance. Hazards around plumbing, wiring, and the roof itself have to be spotted and handled before the job is finished. Suits people who like precise, hands-on plumbing and electrical work and who are comfortable working on rooftops following set procedures.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$63'800
Median Wage Market Position
$63'800
What you might do
- Install solar collectors on roof mounts
- Fasten collector mounts to tile or shingle roofs
- Run copper or plastic water piping
- Fit circulating pumps into the pipe runs
- Test plumbing, electrical, and control systems
- Seal roof openings with flashing and caulk
Skills that matter
- Mounting collectors on roof hardware
- Testing pumps, piping, and controls
- Sealing roof penetrations against weather
- Demonstrating start-up and safety steps to owners
- Reading specs for collector and pipe layout
- Spotting plumbing and electrical site hazards
AI & the future of this role
Rooftop and mechanical installs require safe hands-on mounting, plumbing connections, and troubleshooting that stay hard to automate. Planning tools could streamline sizing or routing, yet field work and rising clean-energy demand still tend to support the role.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details