Details Report for:
47-4099.02 - Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Wages & Employment
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.
- Perform routine maintenance or repairs to restore solar thermal systems to baseline operating conditions.
- Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.
- Assess collector sites to ensure structural integrity of potential mounting surfaces or the best orientation and tilt for solar collectors.
- Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.
- Determine locations for installing solar subsystem components, including piping, water heaters, valves, and ancillary equipment.
- Fill water tanks and check tanks, pipes, and fittings for leaks.
- Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.
- Install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.
- Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
- Install flat-plat, evacuated glass, or concentrating solar collectors on mounting devices, using brackets or struts.
- Install heat exchangers and heat exchanger fluids according to installation manuals and schematics.
- Install monitoring system components, such as flow meters, temperature gauges, and pressure gauges, according to system design and manufacturer specifications.
- Install plumbing, such as dip tubes, port fittings, drain tank valves, pressure temperature relief valves, or tanks, according to manufacturer specifications and building codes.
- Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.
- Install solar thermal system controllers and sensors.
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- Apply ultraviolet radiation protection to prevent degradation of plumbing.
- Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.
- Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.
- Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.
Tools & Technology Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Tools used in this occupation:
| Calculators or accessories — Calculators |
| Drill bits — Drill bit sets |
| Front end loaders — Utility work machines |
| Handheld refractometers or polarimeters — Digital refractometers |
| Ladders — Extension ladders; Fiberglass extension ladders |
| Locking pliers — Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers |
| Multimeters — Digital multimeters |
| Pipe wrenches — Large pipe wrenches; Medium pipe wrenches |
| Power drills — Cordless drills; Impact drills; Right-angle drills |
| Power saws — Jig saws; Reciprocating saws |
| Soldering irons or guns — Soldering equipment |
| Stud finders — Stud locators |
| Tape measures — Steel measuring tapes |
| Wire cutters — Pair of dykes |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Calendar and scheduling software — Work scheduling software |
| Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
| Project management software — Cost estimating software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Construction and Related Workers, All Other*.
Employment data collected from Construction and Related Workers, All Other.
Industry data collected from Construction and Related Workers, All Other.
| Median wages (2010) | $16.59 hourly, $34,500 annual |
| Employment (2008) | 60,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2008-2018) | 
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected job openings (2008-2018) | 26,600 |
| Top industries (2008) | Construction (38% employed in this sector)
Government (15%)
|
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010 wage data
and 2008-2018 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2008-2018). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.