Solar Trade Careers Boston 2025 High Growth Potential

With ZipRecruiter estimating 400% job growth in Boston solar jobs over the next two years and with the national projection for solar photovoltaic installers sitting at 48% growth from 2023-2033, a career in Boston's solar trade offers tremendous potential. By 2025, Boston's solar trade workforce could be multiplying several-fold, driven by state and federal clean energy initiatives and a surge in installation demand, with companies like Boston Solar reporting a $9 million+ sales pipeline in Q1 2025 ¹. Whether you're looking to land an entry-level position as a solar installer receiving on-the-job training or you're pursuing a higher-earning track like Journeyman Solar Electrician making $110,000 per year, Boston's solar industry is rapidly expanding with opportunities for newcomers and experienced professionals alike ².

Understand the Solar Trade Industry

The solar trade in Boston has experienced significant growth, though it has lagged slightly behind the national average. Massachusetts had only a 2.5% increase in solar jobs in 2022, which is below the national growth rate of 5.9% for the same period ³. However, despite this slower growth rate, the Boston area continues to show strong potential for job creation in the renewable energy sector.

Solar technology involves designing, installing, and maintaining systems that convert sunlight into usable electricity, with professionals working across multiple domains:

• Rooftop solar panel installation
• Utility-scale solar farms
• Solar energy sales and consultation
• Solar engineering and system design
• System maintenance and repair

Boston Solar estimates that they've signed over $9 million in contracts in Q1 2025 alone, demonstrating the increasing demand for residential and commercial installations in the region ⁴.

What Solar Trade Careers are Available in Boston?

Boston offers diverse career paths in the solar trade, each with specific knowledge requirements and expected salaries. This gives job seekers flexibility to choose a position that aligns with their skills, interests, and earning goals.

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements

Whether you're aiming for a career as a solar installer or pursuing a more technically advanced role like an electrician or engineer, there are specific qualifications and skills necessary to succeed:

Entry-Level Solar Installer Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid driver's license for travel between job sites
• Basic mechanical aptitude
• Willingness to perform physically demanding labor (Bunker Hill Community College offers preparation courses)
• On-the-job training often provided by local employers⁶

Journeyman Solar Electrician:

• Prior electrical apprentice training
• Electrical license issued by local or state authorities; check resources like IREC
• Familiarity with local codes, safety practices, and solar-specific electrical knowledge
• Potential for earning $110,000 per year with a 4-day workweek ³

Solar Sales or Design Roles:

• Strong communication and networking abilities
• Capacity to give presentations explaining solar system benefits
• Proficiency with energy modeling tools (e.g., PVsyst) is often valued for design-oriented roles; explore Indeed job listings
• Gaining experience with residential or commercial markets comes quickly through on-the-job training ³

How to Enter Solar Trade Careers in Boston

If you're excited about Solar Trade Careers, there are multiple ways to get started in Boston, even as a newcomer to the field.

Start with Informal Experience or Vocational Education:

• Entry-level installers may begin with on-the-job training through local businesses.
• Technical schools and community colleges, including Bunker Hill Community College⁶(), offer short-term continuing education solar installation courses and full certificate programs ⁶().

Use Platforms Like Gild to Find Apprenticeships and Jobs:

Gild is a powerful resource for identifying solar apprenticeships and job openings in Boston ²().

1. Create a profile emphasizing any basic mechanical, technical, or electrical experience using Gild's site.
2. Use specific filters like 'solar installation' and 'Boston, MA' to refine results.
3. Review companies like Boston Solar and local installers currently hiring.

Apply Directly with Local Companies:

Boston Solar represents one of the biggest players locally and has installed over 1,100 systems since 2011. They frequently hire for both hands-on installation and customer-facing positions ⁵(). Other solar firms, including national players like NextEra Energy, also have operations in Boston offering potential opportunities for growth using NextEra's jobs page.

Solar Trade Job Growth and Opportunities in Boston

Whether you're just starting out or bringing previous industry experience, Boston's solar trade industry presents strong financial and career-building opportunities.

Nationally, the solar industry added 15,564 jobs in 2023 alone, with further growth projected ahead ⁷(). While Boston's solar job growth has been somewhat more modest (Massachusetts shows only 2.5% growth in 2022), the future outlook remains promising, especially with the state's strong foundation and activity from local companies.

Attractive compensation for solar trade roles in Boston includes:

1. Solar technicians averaging $67,143/year in Massachusetts, which is significantly above the national median of $51,860 for solar photovoltaic installers ⁴ from IREC resources.
2. Journeyman Solar Electricians earning guaranteed $110,000/year for 4-day workweeks ³. This outpaces many traditional trades and makes solar work an attractive alternative.
3. Office-based roles for Solar Sales Professionals earning $143,810/year, with commission opportunities reflecting high closing rates ⁶.

Industry Challenges in the Solar Trade

Like all careers, roles in the solar trade come with particular challenges. Awareness of these barriers helps job seekers make informed decisions and adapt accordingly:

• Limited Job Diversity in Some Segments: While installer positions are abundant, you may approach more competition for newer growth areas like energy storage and commercial system design ³. Explore job options on Indeed.
• Certification Requirements: Most specialized work, particularly in electrical fields, requires training or licensing that takes months to complete ³().
• Seasonal Work Availability: Though Boston's solar industry operates year-round, severe weather can reduce build activity temporarily.
• High Cost of Living in Boston: While local salaries are competitive—particularly for electricians—they may not fully offset a higher-than-average cost of living ³.

Solar Trade Training and Educational Programs in Boston

To build workforce readiness for the growing solar industry in Boston, multiple training pathways have emerged that accommodate different levels of experience, income expectations, and learning needs:

1. Bunker Hill Community College Solar Training Program: This 40-hour online course provides essential knowledge of solar panel installation and maintenance as well as components such as charge controllers and battery systems. Learn more here. ⁶().
2. Massachusetts Bridges to Green Jobs Program: Offering a two-week training track in technical fundamentals and soft skills, the full-time program is tailored to equip residents with fast-track employment in clean energy roles, including solar trades ⁷().
3. Apex Clean Energy Institute: With a 450-hour immersive training program, participants receive hands-on demonstration and instruction with digital tools, microgrid planning, and photovoltaic system design. Graduates from this Massachusetts-based program secure clean energy jobs with an average of $54,000 per year ⁴().

Your Next Steps

Starting a career in the solar trade in Boston presents a growing opportunity with a promising future. Whether you're just finishing high school, looking for a career change, or interested in leveraging transferable mechanical and electrical experience, the Boston solar industry unlocks multiple possibilities with earnings often comparable to or exceeding traditional blue-collar trades. With Solar Photovoltaic Installer positions projected to grow 48% nationally from 2023 to 2033, Boston is shaping up to be one of the key market hubs in the Northeast ⁸. To kickstart your solar trade career journey, start by exploring current solar trade openings in Boston using Gild ²().

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