Skip to content
Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians

Part of Architecture & Construction, in the Maintenance/Operations pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 47-2152.04

What the work is

Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.

On a typical day

  • Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.
  • Perform routine maintenance or repairs to restore solar thermal systems to baseline operating conditions.
  • Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.
  • Assess collector sites to ensure structural integrity of potential mounting surfaces or the best orientation and tilt for solar collectors.
  • Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.
  • Determine locations for installing solar subsystem components, including piping, water heaters, valves, and ancillary equipment.

What it pays

$58,180
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $37,240
Experienced workers reach $78,530
  1. $37k10th
  2. $46k25th
  3. $58kMedian
  4. $69k75th
  5. $79k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $37,240, 25th $46,230, Median $58,180, 75th $68,510, 90th $78,530

About 3,190 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+10.2%

employment change in the Alamo region, 3,580 to 3,946 jobs · U.S. +5%

342

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 44,000

3,580

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 504,500

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Apprenticeship

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Installation4.1
  2. Quality Control Analysis3.6
  3. Reading Comprehension3.3
  4. Critical Thinking3.5
  5. Operations Monitoring3.4
  6. Active Listening3.3
  7. Monitoring3.3
  8. Speaking3.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less43%
  2. Certificate8%
  3. Some college25%
  4. Associate degree2%
  5. Bachelor's degree22%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • St. Philip's
  1. Plumbing Trades

    Certificate · Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Does this fit you?

Six questions rank every career here by how closely its interest profile follows yours.

Check my interests
  1. Solar Energy Systems Engineers

    Zone 43 Alamo programs

    $118kSan Antonio median
  2. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

    Zone 31 Alamo program Bright outlook

    $59kSan Antonio median
  3. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    Zone 31 Alamo program Bright outlook

    $58kSan Antonio median
  4. Wind Turbine Service Technicians

    Zone 3 Bright outlook

    $62kTexas median
  5. Solar Energy Installation Managers

    Zone 33 Alamo programs Bright outlook

    $74kSan Antonio median
  6. Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

    Zone 31 Alamo program

    $52kSan Antonio median