Occupation

Solar Energy Installation Managers

Human Advantage 74%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.6 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.

Also Known As: Commercial Field Manager, Commercial Solar Superintendent, Commercial Subcontractor, Installation Manager, Photovoltaic Subcontractor, Piping Supervisor, Residential Field Manager, Residential Field Supervisor +12 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
  2. Supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
  3. Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
  4. Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
  5. Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.
  6. Coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.
  7. Perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.
  8. Identify means to reduce costs, minimize risks, or increase efficiency of solar installation projects.
  9. Assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.
  10. Assess potential solar installation sites to determine feasibility and design requirements.
  11. Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.
  12. Visit customer sites to determine solar system needs, requirements, or specifications.
  13. Purchase or rent equipment for solar energy system installation.

Supplemental Tasks (2)

  1. Develop and maintain system architecture, including all piping, instrumentation, or process flow diagrams.
  2. Evaluate subcontractors or subcontractor bids for quality, cost, and reliability.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
53%
Less than a High School Diploma
19%
Some College Courses
10%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
9%
Bachelor's Degree
6%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
3%
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Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
  • Procore software
  • SAP software
  • Salesforce software
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro

Software (30)

  • Bentley STAAD
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • Cost estimating software
  • Customer relationship management CRM software
  • Esri ArcGIS
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Mapping software
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
  • Minitab
  • Oracle Primavera Systems
  • PVsyst
  • Prolog
  • Real time operating system RTOS software
  • Work scheduling software

Tools & Equipment (58)

  • Acetylene torches
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Caulking equipment
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Charging pumps
  • Cordless drills
  • Crimping lugs
  • Desktop computers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital refractometers
  • Directional compasses
  • Drill bit sets
  • Extension ladders
  • Filter masks
  • Forklifts
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • Hacksaws
  • Handheld calculators
  • Hole cutters
  • Impact drills
  • Inclinometers
  • Jig saws
  • Laptop computers
  • Large pipe wrenches
  • Medium pipe wrenches
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Pair of dykes
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Pipe taps
  • Protective gloves
  • Putty knives
  • Rat tail files
  • Reciprocating saws
  • Right-angle drills
  • Safety glasses
  • Small pry bars
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Solar analysis systems
  • Solarimeters
  • Soldering equipment
  • Steel measuring tapes
  • Stud locators
  • Tin snips
  • Torpedo levels
  • Total stations
  • Trenchers
  • Tubing benders
  • Tubing cutters
  • Utility knives
  • Utility work machines
  • Video probe systems
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Volt-ohm meters VOM
  • Wire cutters
  • Work vans

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Skilled Trades Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Plasterers and Stucco Masons 78% match
Zone 2
Solar Photovoltaic Installers 93% match
Zone 3
Solar Energy Installation Managers You are here

Construction Planning & Development Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Solar Energy Installation Managers You are here
Zone 4
Construction Managers 92% match
Zone 5
Urban and Regional Planners 75% match

Utilities Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners 75% match
Zone 2
Solar Photovoltaic Installers 93% match
Zone 3
Solar Energy Installation Managers You are here
Zone 4
Solar Energy Systems Engineers 80% match
Zone 5
Architectural and Engineering Managers 77% match

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Related Occupations

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Solar Photovoltaic InstallersClosely Related First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersClosely Related Project Management SpecialistsClosely Related Solar Sales Representatives and AssessorsClosely Related Construction ManagersClosely Related Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Wind Energy Development Managers Construction and Building Inspectors
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Real Talk

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