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Boston Career Explorer

Construction and Extraction

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.

Also called: Journeyman Electrician PV Installer (Journeyman Electrician Photovoltaic Installer), PV Installation Tech (Photovoltaic Installation Technician), PV Installer (Photovoltaic Installer), Solar Designer, Solar Electric Installer, Solar Installer

Median pay in Greater Boston
$59,400
$28.56/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
380
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$46,150$46,810$59,400$73,740$76,500

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
  • Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
  • Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
  • Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
  • Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
  • Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure20 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 19
  • Language-model AIOE 16
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 25

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is low, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools might help a bit with reading plans and picking good panel locations. Installing panels, wiring checks, and spotting safety hazards on a roof still depend on people on site.

Likely to change

  • Reading schematics and drawings for installs
  • Choosing array locations by sun and area

Still relies on people

  • Assembling and bolting panels and supports
  • Spotting electrical and safety hazards on site

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

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    Your electrical safety and hazard awareness carry over. This move offers a much higher median Boston pay ($111,490) and 13.3% projected growth in Massachusetts.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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