Construction & Extraction
Solar Energy Installation Managers
Also called: Commercial Field Manager, Commercial Solar Superintendent, Installation Manager, Residential Field Manager
US median pay
$79,920
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
67,000
913,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
- Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
- 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.
- Coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.
- Perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.
- Identify means to reduce costs, minimize risks, or increase efficiency of solar installation projects.
- Assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.
- Assess potential solar installation sites to determine feasibility and design requirements.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.8/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Persuasion3.4/5
- Instructing3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
Knowledge
- Building and Construction4.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Administration and Management3.7/5
- Design3.5/5
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Transportation3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma53%
- Less than high school19%
- Some college10%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.