# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-thermal-installers-and-technicians
- SOC code: 47-2152.04
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $63,800 (10th percentile $44,150, 90th percentile $108,420)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.8%
- Openings a year: 42,000
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters".

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 28 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 12 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 44 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 74/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 72/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 68/100)
- Processing Information (importance 67/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 67/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 66/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 64/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 64/100)

## Skills

Installation, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Engineering and Technology, Education and Training, Design, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Production and Processing

## Also called

Heat Exchanger, Installer, Solar Boilers Technician, Solar Energy Technician, Solar Hot Water Installer (SHW Installer), Solar Installation Technician, Solar Installer, Solar Insulation Technician, Solar Maintenance Technician, Solar Pool Heating Installer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4605) (CIP 4605, 165 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | $94,410 | $93,701 | not reported |
| [New England Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-england-institute-of-technology-1845) | Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | $49,923 | $54,989 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Solar Photovoltaic Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-photovoltaic-installers): $53,140 median pay
- [Solar Energy Systems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-systems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers): $61,010 median pay
- [Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-floor-ceiling-and-wall): $49,120 median pay
- [Solar Energy Installation Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-installation-managers): $79,920 median pay
- [Insulation Workers, Mechanical](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-mechanical): $58,340 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.