Summary Report for:
47-1011.03 - Solar Energy Installation Managers
Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
Tasks
- Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
- Supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Assess potential solar installation sites to determine feasibility and design requirements.
- Assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.
- Coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.
- Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.
- Perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.
- Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, and mechanical systems.
- Visit customer sites to determine solar system needs, requirements, or specifications.
- Develop and maintain system architecture, including all piping, instrumentation, or process flow diagrams.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Locking pliers — Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers |
| Pipe wrenches — Large pipe wrenches; Medium pipe wrenches |
| Pitch measuring instruments — Inclinometers |
| Power drills — Cordless drills; Impact drills; Right-angle drills |
| Power saws — Jig saws; Reciprocating saws |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Customer relationship management CRM software |
| Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook |
| Network conferencing software — Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS |
| Project management software — Cost estimating software; Microsoft Project |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
Work Values
| Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
| Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
| Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers.
Employment data collected from First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers.
Industry data collected from First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers.
| Median wages (2012) | $28.70 hourly, $59,700 annual |
| Employment (2010) | 559,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) | 
Faster than average (20% to 28%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) | 259,700 |
| Top industries (2010) |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
