Summary 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
- 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.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Ladders — Extension ladders; Fiberglass extension ladders |
| Locking pliers — Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers |
| Pipe wrenches — Large pipe wrenches; Medium pipe wrenches |
| Power drills — Cordless drills; Impact drills; Right-angle drills |
| Wire cutters — Pair of dykes |
Technology used in this occupation:
| 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) |
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.