Solar Installer Salary Guide: How Much Do Solar Panel Installers Make?

Solar panel installer salary is one of the first things people want to know before jumping into the trade, and it is also one of the most searched numbers in the industry. If you are asking how much do solar panel installers make, or comparing solar installer salary figures across a few different sites, the numbers can look inconsistent depending on where you look. The most reliable answer comes straight from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it is more specific than most of the estimates floating around online.

This guide breaks down solar photovoltaic installer salary data by state, industry, and experience level, plus how pay compares for related roles like solar technicians and solar electricians. We will also cover what actually moves the needle on solar pv installer salary, since geography and project type matter more than most people expect..

How Much Do Solar Panel Installers Make?

Solar photovoltaic installers earned a median annual wage of $53,140, or $25.55 an hour, as of May 2025. That figure comes directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it is the most current, most reliable benchmark available right now. Median pay means half of installers earned more than that and half earned less, which is a better gauge than a simple average, since a handful of very high or very low earners can skew an average in either direction.

Quick answer: the median solar photovoltaic installer salary was $53,140 per year ($25.55 per hour) as of May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned under $41,600, and the highest 10 percent earned over $79,970.

National Pay At A Glance

Measure	Amount
Median annual wage	$53,140
Median hourly wage	$25.55
Lowest 10%	Under $41,600
Highest 10%	Over $79,970
Data source	BLS, May 2025

Why Solar Installer Salary Estimates Vary

Search a few salary sites and you will find different numbers for the same job, and that is normal. Job boards and aggregator sites pull from self-reported postings and employer listings, which skew toward whatever roles happen to get posted that month. BLS data comes from a large-scale employer survey instead, which is why this guide treats it as the primary benchmark, though third-party sites can still work fine for a rough sanity check.

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Solar Installer Salary By State

Pay varies a lot by state, and not always for the reasons people expect. Geography, employer, experience, and project type can all affect pay, and a higher number on paper does not always mean more purchasing power once housing costs are factored in. State-level BLS breakdowns are typically published later than the national figure, so the table below reflects the most recent published state data, and it is worth checking BLS's state and area wage tool directly for the latest numbers in your area.

State Pay Comparison (BLS, May 2023)

State	Mean Annual Wage	Employment
California	$56,700	7,610
New Jersey	$63,250	1,460
Arizona	$51,440	1,490
Florida	$48,630	1,690
Texas	$46,830	3,460

Solar Installer Pay By Employer And Industry

BLS also breaks pay down by the type of company installers work for, and the differences are meaningful. Among the industries BLS highlights, electrical contractors have the highest median wage, while temporary help services have the lowest. This is a more reliable way to think about project-type pay differences than trying to compare residential, commercial, and utility-scale work directly, since BLS does not publish numbers split that way.

Industry	Median Annual Wage
Electrical contractors and wiring installation contractors	$58,570
Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	$57,260
Utilities	$51,460
Power and communication line construction	$48,460
Temporary help services	$47,100

Solar Installer Pay Vs. Related Solar Roles

BLS does not track solar installer, solar technician, and solar electrician as separate, neatly defined occupations, so it helps to know how the data actually maps before comparing numbers.

Solar Technician Salary

BLS does not publish a separate national occupation for solar technician. O*NET (link) lists Solar Technician and PV Installation Technician among the reported job titles under the same Solar Photovoltaic Installers occupation, so the $53,140 median above is a reasonable benchmark for technician roles centered on PV installation and maintenance. Our solar technician career guide covers how the role differs day to day.

Solar Electrician Salary

Solar electricians performing licensed electrical work generally fall under the broader Electricians occupation rather than PV installers. BLS reports a $63,190 median annual wage for electricians as of May 2025. There is no separate solar-specific electrician wage series, so actual pay varies by licensing level, location, union status, and employer.

How Much Do Entry-Level Solar Installers Make?

BLS does not publish a dedicated national starting salary for solar installers. The $41,600 figure mentioned earlier is the 10th percentile across all experience levels, not an entry-level wage specifically, so it is useful context rather than a guaranteed starting number. Prior roofing, construction, or electrical experience can push starting pay higher, and our guide to becoming a solar panel installer covers what employers typically look for from someone with no experience.

What Affects Solar Installer Pay?

A handful of factors consistently move the needle more than others.

• Geographic location and local labor demand

• Years of experience and crew responsibility

• Electrical licensing and scope of work

• Employer and industry, per the table above

• Union status and prevailing-wage projects

• Travel, per diem, and overtime availability

• Residential versus commercial or utility-scale work

Does NABCEP Certification Increase Solar Installer Pay?

Certification can improve employability and open the door to certain bids, contracts, and roles, but there is not solid evidence tying NABCEP certification to a specific dollar increase in pay. Our solar installer certification guide covers what NABCEP credentials actually involve and where they tend to matter most.

Solar Installer Job Outlook

Employment for solar photovoltaic installers is projected to grow 37 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,200 openings a year, according to BLS. The IREC National Solar Jobs Census also tracks broader workforce trends across the industry, including hiring activity by state, if you want a wider view beyond wage data alone. Registered apprenticeship is one pathway into solar installation, and the CareerOneStop salary tool is a good way to check pay estimates for your specific zip code.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Installer Salary

How Much Do Solar Panel Installers Make?

The median annual wage was $53,140, or $25.55 per hour, as of May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned under $41,600, and the highest 10 percent earned over $79,970. This figure covers the full national workforce, including residential, commercial, and utility-scale installers.

How Much Do Solar Installers Make Per Hour?

The median hourly wage was $25.55 as of May 2025. Hourly pay varies by state, employer, experience, and whether the work is residential, commercial, or utility-scale. Installers working for electrical contractors, the highest-paying industry segment in the BLS data, saw a median annual wage of $58,570 over the same period.

What Is The Entry-Level Solar Installer Salary?

BLS does not publish a specific starting salary for solar installers. The 10th percentile of $41,600 gives some context for lower-paid and early-career roles, but actual starting pay depends heavily on prior experience, location, and employer. Candidates coming in with construction, roofing, or electrical experience tend to start closer to the middle of the pay range than someone with no related background.

Which States Pay Solar Installers The Most?

Among the states compared in this guide, New Jersey and California have the highest mean annual wages. Pay varies by labor demand, employer, and local market conditions, and a higher wage in one state does not automatically mean more purchasing power once housing and cost of living are factored in. State-level BLS data is typically published later than the national figure, so always check the most recent numbers for your specific state.

How Much Does A Solar Technician Make?

BLS does not track solar technician as a separate occupation. O*NET lists it as a reported title under Solar Photovoltaic Installers, so the $53,140 median wage is a reasonable benchmark for technician roles focused on installation and maintenance. Technicians who move into more specialized service and diagnostic work may see pay shift accordingly, though BLS does not break that out separately.

How Much Does A Solar Electrician Make?

Solar electricians typically fall under the broader Electricians occupation, which had a median annual wage of $63,190 as of May 2025. There is no separate BLS wage series specifically for solar electricians. Actual pay depends heavily on licensing level, union status, location, and how much of the work involves regulated electrical scope versus general PV installation.

Does NABCEP Certification Increase Solar Installer Pay?

Certification can strengthen job and bid eligibility, but there is no solid data tying it to a specific pay increase. Its value depends more on the type of projects and employers you are targeting than on the credential itself. Some contracts and incentive programs specifically request NABCEP-certified staff, which can matter more for winning work than for a direct wage bump.