Jobs Similar to Solar Photovoltaic Installers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to solar photovoltaic installers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Helpers--Electricians, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers and Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers: $53,140 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Solar Photovoltaic Installers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helpers--Electricians | 81% | $42,670−20% | High school |
| 2 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 80% | $95,320+79% | High school |
| 3 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersSame group | 79% | $63,800+20% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 78% | $61,010+15% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Mechanical Door Repairers | 78% | $55,720+5% | High school |
| 6 | Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | 78% | $60,070+13% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Commercial Divers | 78% | $72,990+37% | Training or associate |
| 8 | ElectriciansSame group | 78% | $63,190+19% | Training or associate |
| 9 | CarpentersSame group | 77% | $60,580+14% | High school |
| 10 | PipelayersSame group | 77% | $49,000−8% | High school |
| 11 | Solar Thermal Installers and TechniciansSame group | 77% | $63,800Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 77% | $109,910+107% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Millwrights | 76% | $65,700+24% | High school |
| 14 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 76% | $65,380+23% | High school |
| 15 | Riggers | 76% | $62,640+18% | High school |
| 16 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 76% | $39,630−25% | High school |
| 17 | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | 76% | $74,330+40% | High school |
| 18 | Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers | 76% | $63,520+20% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 75% | $74,340+40% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Helpers--Carpenters | 75% | $43,780−18% | High school |
- 1Helpers--Electricians
81% similar · $42,670 (−20%) · High school
- 2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
80% similar · $95,320 (+79%) · High school
- 3Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
79% similar · $63,800 (+20%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
78% similar · $61,010 (+15%) · Training or associate
- 5Mechanical Door Repairers
78% similar · $55,720 (+5%) · High school
- 6Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
78% similar · $60,070 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 7Commercial Divers
78% similar · $72,990 (+37%) · Training or associate
- 8Electricians
78% similar · $63,190 (+19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Carpenters
77% similar · $60,580 (+14%) · High school · Same group
- 10Pipelayers
77% similar · $49,000 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 11Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
77% similar · $63,800 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
77% similar · $109,910 (+107%) · Training or associate
- 13Millwrights
76% similar · $65,700 (+24%) · High school
- 14Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
76% similar · $65,380 (+23%) · High school
- 15Riggers
76% similar · $62,640 (+18%) · High school
- 16Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
76% similar · $39,630 (−25%) · High school
- 17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
76% similar · $74,330 (+40%) · High school
- 18Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
76% similar · $63,520 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 19Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
75% similar · $74,340 (+40%) · Training or associate
- 20Helpers--Carpenters
75% similar · $43,780 (−18%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than solar photovoltaic installers.
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers80% similar · $95,320 (+79%)
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers76% similar · $74,330 (+40%)
- Millwrights76% similar · $65,700 (+24%)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers76% similar · $65,380 (+23%)
- Riggers76% similar · $62,640 (+18%)
- Carpenters77% similar · $60,580 (+14%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for solar photovoltaic installers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where solar photovoltaic installers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Helpers--Electricians (81)
- Mechanical Door Repairers (78)
- Geothermal Technicians (77)
- Helpers--Carpenters (75)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (74)
- Helpers--Roofers (74)
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (74)
- Millwrights (71)
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers (70)
- Locksmiths and Safe Repairers (69)
Questions about jobs like solar photovoltaic installers
What jobs are most similar to solar photovoltaic installers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Helpers--Electricians (81% similar), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (80% similar), Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (79% similar), Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (78% similar) and Mechanical Door Repairers (78% similar).
Which jobs like solar photovoltaic installers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers ($109,910, +107%; usually training or an associate degree), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers ($95,320, +79%; usually a high school diploma) and Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers ($74,330, +40%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with solar photovoltaic installers ($53,140). Without more preparation than solar photovoltaic installers usually need: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers and Millwrights.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.