Solar Installer
Solar installers fit and wire the panels, inverters and batteries that let a home or business generate its own electricity.
- Median salary*
- $65,000
4.2%vs last year, before tax
- People employed*
- 18,500
1.1%vs last year
- Projected growth*
- +12.8%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Low
- automation risk
- Average hours*
- 40/wk
matches all-jobs average
- Shortage status*
- In shortage
national
Solar installers assemble, mount and wire rooftop and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, working from ladders and roof edges rather than a workshop bench. Most jobs now call for a full electrical licence as well as installer accreditation, because connecting a system to the switchboard and the grid is licensed electrical work rather than general trade labour. Installers usually work in a small crew led by a licensed electrician, and the work increasingly covers battery storage and monitoring systems alongside the panels.
How much do solar installers earn?
The median full-time salary for a solar installer is $65,000 per annum, before tax, up $13,600 since 2018.
Pay depends on the licence you hold and how you are engaged. Installers on a company payroll are usually covered by the electrical or construction award, with penalty rates for weekend and after-hours jobs and allowances for travel and working at heights, while many experienced installers subcontract and are paid per installation, so income moves with the number of jobs they get through. Accreditation for battery storage and larger commercial systems opens up work that carries more responsibility.
What does a solar installer do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Assessing roof structure and sun exposure before settling on a panel layout
- Carrying panels and mounting gear up ladders and across rooftops
- Running and connecting wiring between panels, inverters and the switchboard
- Testing the finished system for voltage, earthing and compliance before switch-on
- Walking customers through the new system and how to monitor its output
What skills do solar installers need?
Employers look for installation and maintenance, worksite safety management, building codes and standards, backed by Multimeter fluency and strong attention to detail.
Specialist skills
- Installation and maintenance
- Worksite safety management
- Building codes and standards
- Reading plans and specifications
- Plant and equipment operation
Software and tools
- Multimeter
- Torque wrench
- Crimping tool
- Roof safety harness
- CAD design software
General skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
Is the job growing?
About 18,500 people work as solar installers in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 12.8% over the decade to 2035. That's healthy, above-average growth, and the role should stay in solid demand.
How do you become a solar installer?
Here's the path most solar installers take, step by step.
- 1Complete an electrical apprenticeship
The usual route is a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820), a four-year apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job training with TAFE study. It is the qualification behind the electrical licence that solar work depends on, and you can start it straight from school.
- 2Get your electrical licence
After finishing the apprenticeship you apply for a licence through the electrical regulator in your state or territory, and the requirements differ between them. The licence is what allows you to connect a system to the switchboard and the grid.
- 3Add solar accreditation
Solar Accreditation Australia runs the installer accreditation scheme, with separate categories for design and installation. Accreditation is what lets you sign off grid-connected work and claim the federal rebate paperwork that goes with it, and most employers ask for it.
- 4Pick up the site credentials
A White Card is required to work on construction sites, and working at heights training is standard for roof work. Some jobs also call for a high risk work licence for elevating work platforms.
Ready to apply as a solar installer?
Whether you're working toward becoming a solar installer or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can a solar installer move to?
Moving into Powerline Worker typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $77,000 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerline Worker Solar installers bring electrical wiring and safety skills, and can retrain into linework and network distribution roles. | +$77,000 | 61% | reskill |
| Electrician Solar installers bring panel, inverter and battery wiring experience, and can move into general electrical work with further training. | +$48,900 | 61% | reskill |
| Cable Jointer Solar installers bring cable installation and electrical safety skills, and can retrain into underground cable jointing. | +$36,400 | 67% | reskill |
| Electrical Fitter Solar installers bring wiring and inverter skills, and can retrain into electrical fitting work on switchboards and motors. | +$26,000 | 61% | reskill |
| Data Cabler Solar installers bring cable installation and termination skills, and can add communications cabling through a short course. | +$15,600 | 70% | short course |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as a solar installer?
The typical solar installer is 35 years old; 92% are men, 92% work full-time, and full-timers average 40 hours a week.
- 35
- Median age
- 8%
- Female share
- 92%
- Full-time
- +0h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being a solar installer?
The work runs to a job schedule rather than a clock: crews usually start early, travel to one or two sites a day, and finish when the system is tested and the roof is clear, which means weather can wipe out a day with little warning. The physical side is steady, from lifting panels onto a hot roof to squeezing into a ceiling space to run cable, but the day ends with something visible and working. It suits people who would rather be outside solving problems on their feet than at a desk, and who do not mind a bit of travel.
What people like
- The job is finished and visible. You end the day with a system that switches on and a household that can watch it working through the monitoring app.
- Every site is different. Roof pitch, shading, roof material and the age of the switchboard change the plan on nearly every job, so the work rarely settles into one routine.
- A small crew. Most installers work in teams of two or three, which keeps the day social and decisions quick on site.
- The technology keeps moving. Batteries, monitoring platforms and electric vehicle chargers keep arriving, so there is usually a new part of the trade to learn.
What people find hard
- Summer roofs. Colorbond and tiles hold the heat, and the clearest, hottest part of the day is exactly when the panels have to go up.
- Weather delays. Rain, high wind and lightning stop roof work, and rescheduled jobs stack up at short notice.
- Long drives. Jobs are spread across suburbs and regions, so early starts and travel between sites are part of the week.
- Paperwork and compliance. Grid connection forms, compliance certificates and rebate documentation are attached to every job, and a mistake delays the customer's system.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ solar installers?
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services employs the largest share of solar installers, followed by Construction Services.
Top employing industries
- 1Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
- 2Construction Services
- 3Specialised Trades Services
- 4Residential Building Construction
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Certificate III/IV | 34% | |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 26% | |
| Bachelor degree | 20% | |
| Year 12 or below | 20% |
Will AI replace solar installers?
Solar installation sits among the less exposed trades. Software can size an array, model shading and produce a quote, but the bulk of the job is physical work on a roof and inside a switchboard, which no tool can do remotely. Accreditation and licensing also keep the responsibility with a person on site.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Mounting rails and fixing panels to the roofLayout software can plan the array, but positioning rails, sealing roof penetrations and clamping panels happens by hand on a slope with a torque wrench.35%low
- Wiring panels, inverters and batteries into the switchboardCable runs, terminations and isolator placement depend on what is actually inside the roof space and the switchboard, which the installer works out on the day.30%low
- Testing and commissioning the systemInverters and monitoring platforms log performance automatically, but the installer still tests voltage, earthing and insulation resistance and signs the compliance paperwork.20%moderate
- Sizing the array and quoting the jobDesign tools and satellite roof measurements now do much of the shading analysis and system sizing that used to be worked out by hand.15%high
Common questions about becoming a solar installer
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do solar installers earn?
Solar installers earn a median of $65,000 per year before tax. That is a median across full-time workers, so what you are offered will depend on whether you hold a full electrical licence, whether you are on wages or subcontracting, and how much battery and commercial work you do.
How do you become a solar installer?
Most installers start with a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820) apprenticeship, which takes about four years and is paid, then get their electrical licence and add accreditation through Solar Accreditation Australia. Without an electrical licence you can still find crew work mounting rails and panels, but connecting a system to the switchboard and grid is licensed work.
Are solar installers in demand?
Solar installers are currently in shortage nationally, and employment in the role is projected to grow 12.8% over the decade to 2035. For someone starting out, that means opportunities are spread across residential and commercial installation, and holding an electrical licence keeps the accredited work open to you.
Will AI replace solar installers?
Not much of the work, because the core of the job is physical: fixing rails, lifting panels and testing a live connection. Design and quoting software already handles system sizing and shading analysis, and inverters flag faults automatically, but mounting, wiring and sign-off still need someone on the roof.
What can solar installers move into?
With an electrical licence already in hand, installers can move into general electrical work, where an electrician earns $48,900 more and the skills overlap closely, or retrain into cable jointing and powerline work. Many experienced installers also start their own installation business or run a crew, which is often where earnings grow.
Do you need to be an electrician to install solar panels?
To connect a grid-connected system, yes. Wiring panels to an inverter and the switchboard is licensed electrical work, so the accredited installer on the job holds an electrical licence. Some crew roles involving rails and panel mounting are open to people without one, and these usually lead into the apprenticeship rather than becoming a long-term job.
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