Solar Photovoltaic Installer salary in the U.S.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers in the U.S. earn a median of $53,140 a year ($25.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,970 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $57,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for solar photovoltaic installers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 25th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Median | $53,140 | $25.55 |
| 75th percentile | $62,870 | $30.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,970 | $38.45 |
| Average (mean) | $57,900 | $27.84 |
Half of solar photovoltaic installers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,428.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,214.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,043.85 |
| Weekly | $1,021.92 |
| Hourly | $25.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Solar Photovoltaic Installer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $78,950 | 1,880 |
| Hawaii | $70,370 | 420 |
| Nevada | $67,810 | 100 |
| Oregon | $66,320 | 360 |
| Ohio | $62,400 | 70 |
| Washington | $61,630 | n/a |
| Maine | $61,210 | 60 |
| California | $60,600 | 6,830 |
| Illinois | $59,630 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $59,180 | 620 |
| Iowa | $56,740 | 180 |
| New York | $56,160 | 1,230 |
| Connecticut | $55,590 | n/a |
| Arizona | $51,160 | 1,280 |
| Florida | $50,550 | 2,980 |
| South Carolina | $50,490 | n/a |
| Kansas | $49,990 | n/a |
| Utah | $49,980 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $49,770 | 90 |
| Colorado | $49,730 | 620 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | 250 |
| Virginia | $49,190 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $48,490 | 340 |
| Texas | $48,240 | 5,270 |
| Georgia | $47,790 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $47,760 | 1,210 |
| Michigan | $47,080 | 310 |
| Indiana | $46,140 | 490 |
| Maryland | $45,430 | 670 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $43,860 | 710 |
| South Dakota | $42,380 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,860 | 1,890 |
Best-paying metro areas for solar photovoltaic installers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $78,360 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,150 | 710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $71,630 | 280 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $70,130 | 2,190 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $69,940 | 330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $69,550 | 40 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $67,810 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,320 | 210 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,260 | n/a |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,810 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $61,630 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,340 | 550 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $61,020 | 100 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $60,230 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $60,050 | 790 |
Metro areas with the most solar photovoltaic installers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,190 | $70,130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,930 | $59,600 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 1,700 | $26,860 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,620 | $47,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,570 | $48,350 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,000 | $51,200 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 830 | $50,580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 790 | $60,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 710 | $72,150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 700 | $59,930 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 580 | $58,350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 550 | $61,340 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 510 | $48,290 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 490 | $45,220 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 420 | $46,660 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2231. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a solar photovoltaic installer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for solar photovoltaic installers in the U.S. is $53,140 a year, or $25.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid solar photovoltaic installers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of solar photovoltaic installers in the U.S. earn at least $79,970 a year. The top 25% earn $62,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for solar photovoltaic installers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,600 a year, and a quarter of solar photovoltaic installers earn $46,700 or less.
How many solar photovoltaic installers work in the U.S.?
About 31,350 solar photovoltaic installers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.