Renewable energy jobs · Solar Installation

Solar Installation Jobs in Renewable Energy

Solar installation professionals design, mount, and wire photovoltaic systems on rooftops, ground-mounted arrays, and commercial structures - the physical work that converts engineering plans into functioning power plants. With solar energy now the world's fastest-growing electricity source, the sector employed roughly 280,000 workers in the US alone in 2025, while Europe's solar workforce reached 466,000 and is projected to exceed 1 million by the late 2020s.

What solar installers actually do

The job is more varied than the name suggests. At its core, installation involves mounting racking systems, placing and securing panels, running DC and AC wiring, and connecting inverters to the grid. But the work divides sharply by segment. Rooftop solar crews work on residential and small commercial buildings - smaller teams, faster turnarounds, and constant customer interaction. Utility-scale solar projects involve hundreds of workers on multi-month construction sites, with heavy equipment, pile driving, and detailed commissioning sequences. Both require electrical competence, but the daily reality differs enormously.

What distinguishes solar installation from general construction is the intersection of structural, electrical, and regulatory knowledge. Installers must understand load calculations for roofs, string sizing for PV arrays, local grid connection codes, and increasingly, battery storage integration. The best installers read single-line diagrams as comfortably as they handle a torque wrench.

Who is hiring

The employer mix reflects the market's segmentation. In residential solar, companies like Sunrun (10,000+ employees), Freedom Forever, and Momentum Solar dominate the US market with high-volume installation operations. In Europe, GOLDBECK SOLAR Group and IRISOLARIS focus on commercial and utility-scale projects. Octopus Energy has expanded into installation across the UK, blending retail energy supply with on-site solar deployment.

Mid-sized specialists like Venture Solar and Signal Energy fill the gap between residential installers and large EPC contractors, often handling commercial rooftop and community solar projects.

In-demand roles

Job titles in this space range from hands-on to supervisory. Solar Technician and Solar Installer positions form the backbone, but Electrician and Journeyman Electrician roles are equally common - many employers require or prefer licensed electricians. Roof Lead positions carry responsibility for crew safety and installation quality on residential projects. On the commercial side, Commissioning Engineer and Operations and Maintenance Tech roles bridge the gap between installation and long-term asset performance.

Solar Appointment Setter and Solar Consultant roles - the most frequently listed titles - sit on the sales side, reflecting the residential market's dependence on door-to-door and consultative selling.

The skills gap

Europe faces a well-documented shortage. SolarPower Europe estimates that installation accounts for 79% of total solar employment, yet the continent needs up to 400,000 additional trained workers by 2030 to meet its deployment targets. The European Solar Academy, launched by EIT InnoEnergy, aims to train 65,000 workers over two years - a start, but well short of the gap. Germany's apprenticeship model has been the most effective pipeline, and companies like Enpal have begun retraining workers from hospitality and logistics into installation roles.

In the UK, the solar workforce is expected to grow from roughly 7,000 positions in 2020 to 60,000 by 2035. Average installer salaries sit at approximately £35,900 - above the national median - and programmes like Solar Skills London are creating new entry points into the trade.

Where the field is heading

The convergence of solar with battery technology and EV charging infrastructure is reshaping what installers need to know. A growing share of residential and commercial projects now include storage, meaning installers who can handle both PV and battery systems command higher rates. Bifacial modules and higher-wattage panels are changing mounting requirements, while agrivoltaics is creating entirely new installation contexts on agricultural land.

For those entering the field, the combination of electrical certification and solar-specific training remains the strongest foundation. The work is physical, often outdoors, and project-based - but the demand trajectory is clear, and the skills transfer well across the broader solar O&M and EPC management career paths.