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EnergyTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Green JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

Photovoltaic Designer

Create solar photovoltaic designs and plans for rooftop/ground installations. Use CAD software to create electrical diagrams, panel schedules, and connection diagrams adhering to electric grid compliance and permitting requirements. Collaborate with the project origination and construction teams to create the design, budget, priorities and schedule.

Annual openings

62

Median wage

$79,300

Typical education

High school (GED)

Growth 2026–2032

+2%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

High school (GED)

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Credential detail

Training and certifications in CAD Software, such as AutoCAD is valued by many employers. A NABCEP certification is also valued for Photovoltaic Designers.

Work experience

Extensive on-the-job training and experience is expected.

Employer competency information

  • Problem Solving/Critical Thinking — Independently solving more and more complex problems enables you to work on more complex installations.
  • Business Fundamentals — Understanding the business fundamentals of renewables will help deliver more value to your employer.
  • Customer Service — For the jobs dealing directly with a customer, developing good customer service skills is important for career advancement.
This is a good role to fill for someone with an Engineering degree, or while someone is studying to become an Engineer.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
  2. Study work order requests to determine type of service, such as lighting or power, demanded by installation.
  3. Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
  4. Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
  5. Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
  6. Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
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