💡 Why it matters: Power cuts and expensive fuel push more homes, shops and schools to solar. Installers who do safe, quality work are in high demand.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Power cuts and expensive fuel push more Nigerian homes, shops and schools to solar.
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 37% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦1M – ₦2.5M
- Mid-career
- ₦2.5M – ₦6M
- Senior
- ₦6M – ₦15M
≈ ₦208k – ₦500k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank occupation: Solar Panel Installer. Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Survey roofs and plan where panels should go
- Fit panels, inverters and batteries safely
- Wire systems and test that they work
- Teach customers how to use and care for their system
- Fix faults and do regular checks
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Hands-on skill
- Electrical know-how
- Safety awareness
- Problem solving
- Customer care
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Solar installation apprenticeship or training from a solar company or technical institute
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Electrician apprenticeship, then add solar training
- Entry job with a solar installer
🇺🇸 United States
- Electrician apprenticeship (licensing varies by state)
- Entry job with a solar company
🇨🇦 Canada
- Electrician apprenticeship
- Entry job as a solar installer's helper
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Physics and Mathematics in school
- 2Learn basic electrics and safety through a short course or workshop
- 3Train as an apprentice with a solar company or earn a technical diploma
- 4Get certified for solar installation
- 5Lead a team of installers or start your own solar business
⏰ A day in the life
You arrive at a client's house at 8am, climb up to check the roof and mount the panels. After lunch you wire up the inverter and battery, switch on the system and show the owner how to read the display.