Solar companies now design systems from satellite images, and software sizes the panels and estimates output before anyone visits. The installation still happens on a roof or a field: mounting racks, placing panels, wiring and testing.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing solar installers. In the ILO's 2025 index, the closest groups, building electricians and electrical mechanics and fitters, are rated not exposed to generative AI, with scores of 0.17 to 0.19. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 37 percent growth for solar photovoltaic installers from 2025 to 2035, among the fastest of any job, with about 4,200 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed solar installers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Building and Related Electricians | Not exposed | 0.19 |
| Electrical Mechanics and Fitters | Not exposed | 0.17 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups rather than a score for solar installers alone.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Solar photovoltaic installers | Grow 37% | About 4,200 |
The BLS links growth to wider adoption of solar systems as costs fall. It is a small occupation, so a high growth rate still means a modest number of jobs.
Where AI and software are helping
- System design from satellite and drone images.
- Sizing, shading analysis and output estimates.
- Permits, quotes and customer proposals.
- Monitoring systems and flagging faults after install.
What stays with the installer
- Site work: checking the roof or ground and adapting the plan to what is really there.
- Installation: building supports, mounting panels and connecting them to the electrical system.
- Safety: working at height and with electricity.
- Checking AI help: automated designs and estimates can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Design and sales are increasingly automated, which can speed up projects. The build and the maintenance stay hands-on.
See also will AI replace electricians?, will AI replace roofers? and will AI replace power line workers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for solar photovoltaic installers at $53,140 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace solar installers?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO groups are rated not exposed to generative AI, and the BLS projects 37 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Why is solar installer growth so high?
The BLS links it to more households and businesses adopting solar as system costs fall.
How many solar installer openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 4,200 openings a year, on average, over the decade.
What solar work stays human?
Site checks, installation, safe work at height and with electricity, and checking automated designs.