How to hire solar photovoltaic installers

Job description template

Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.

[Job title] at [Company name]
[City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range]

About the role
[Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.]

What you will do
• Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
• Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
• Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
• Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
• Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
• Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
• Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
• Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.

What you bring
• [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any]
• [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent]
• Strong critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, active learning and reading comprehension skills
• Working knowledge of building and construction, engineering and technology, mechanical and design
• [Anything else you would really turn someone away for]

Pay and benefits
[Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $25.55 an hour ($53,140 a year).
[Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.]

How to apply
[Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]

Copy the template Check your finished job post

Interview questions for solar photovoltaic installers

Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.

1. Tell me about a time you had to apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
2. Tell me about a time you had to assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
3. Tell me about a time you had to check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
4. Tell me about a time you had to identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
5. Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
6. Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
7. How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
8. Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?

Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.

What solar photovoltaic installers do

• Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
• Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
• Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
• Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
• Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
• Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
• Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
• Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.

Skills that matter most

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringActive LearningReading ComprehensionBuilding and ConstructionEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalDesign

Education, experience and outlook for solar photovoltaic installers

• Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
• Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
• Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
• Job outlook: +36.5% over ten years, much faster than average · about 4,200 openings a year (BLS)

What to pay solar photovoltaic installers

Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:

See solar photovoltaic installers pay in every state

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Job duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.