AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 47-2231.00

Will AI replace Solar Photovoltaic Installers?

Solar Photovoltaic Installers: AI can already handle 3 of 26 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 26 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Solar Photovoltaic Installers, from most to least exposed. 3 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Install required labels on solar system components and hardware. 90 Estimated Standard 4.4
Activate photovoltaic (PV) systems to verify system functionality and conformity to performance expectations. 80 Estimated Standard 4.3
Measure and analyze system performance and operating parameters to assess operating condition of systems or equipment. 65 Estimated Standard 4.1
Examine designs to determine current requirements for all parts of the photovoltaic (PV) system electrical circuit. 50 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Determine photovoltaic (PV) system designs or configurations based on factors such as customer needs, expectations, and site conditions. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Select mechanical designs, installation equipment, or installation plans that conform to environmental, architectural, structural, site, and code requirements. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Compile or maintain records of system operation, performance, and maintenance. 40 Observed Efficient 3.8
Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.6
Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.6
Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays. 20 Estimated Standard 4.5
Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Determine materials, equipment, and installation sequences necessary to maximize installation efficiency. 20 Estimated Standard 4.3
Identify and resolve any deficiencies in photovoltaic (PV) system installation or materials. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Visually inspect and test photovoltaic (PV) modules or systems. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Identify methods for laying out, orienting, and mounting modules or arrays to ensure efficient installation, electrical configuration, or system maintenance. 20 Estimated Standard 4.1
Install active solar systems, including solar collectors, concentrators, pumps, or fans. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.9
Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified. 15 Estimated No tier 4.5
Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms. 15 Estimated No tier 4.4
Diagram layouts and locations for photovoltaic (PV) arrays and equipment, including existing building or site features. 15 Estimated No tier 4.4
Test operating voltages to ensure operation within acceptable limits for power conditioning equipment, such as inverters and controllers. 15 Estimated No tier 4.3
Determine appropriate sizes, ratings, and locations for all system overcurrent devices, disconnect devices, grounding equipment, and surge suppression equipment. 15 Estimated No tier 4.3
Demonstrate system functionality and performance, including start-up, shut-down, normal operation, and emergency or bypass operations. 15 Estimated No tier 4.2
Program, adjust, or configure inverters and controls for desired set points and operating modes. 15 Estimated No tier 4.1
Determine connection interfaces for additional subpanels or for connecting photovoltaic (PV) systems with utility services or other power generation sources. 15 Estimated No tier 4.1
Perform routine photovoltaic (PV) system maintenance on modules, arrays, batteries, power conditioning equipment, safety systems, structural systems, weather sealing, or balance of systems equipment. 15 Estimated No tier 3.9

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 1 of 26 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 25 of 26. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A standard-tier model or lower covers 58% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 65% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 35% is hands-on.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
31,350
Median annual wage
$53,140
Middle half of earners
$46,700 to $62,870
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+42.1%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Solar Photovoltaic Installers and AI

Will AI replace Solar Photovoltaic Installers?

AI already handles 3 of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 29 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +42.1% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Solar Photovoltaic Installers?

29 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 1 of the 26 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 25 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Solar Photovoltaic Installers tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Install required labels on solar system components and hardware; Activate photovoltaic (PV) systems to verify system functionality and conformity to performance expectations; Measure and analyze system performance and operating parameters to assess operating condition of systems or equipment. They are the tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A standard-tier model or lower covers 58% of the role's importance-weighted task work, and 35% is hands-on work that no model tier covers. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Solar Photovoltaic Installers, and what do they earn?

31,350 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $53,140 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +42.1% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Solar Photovoltaic Installers. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/solar-photovoltaic-installers

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