Solar installers: licensing, jobs and pay in the United States
28,280 people work as solar installers in the United States, and the median pay is $51,860 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 28,280
- Median pay, a year
- $51,860
Solar installers by state
| State | Jobs | Median pay, a year |
|---|---|---|
| California | 8,970 | $60,790 |
| Texas | 5,370 | $45,870 |
| Florida | 1,940 | $46,130 |
| Arizona | 1,360 | $50,310 |
| New Jersey | 1,280 | $64,670 |
| Virginia | 1,110 | $48,280 |
| North Carolina | 730 | $47,220 |
| Indiana | 660 | $38,660 |
| Colorado | 650 | $51,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 650 | $49,000 |
| Utah | 540 | $47,960 |
| Maryland | 490 | $58,420 |
| Hawaii | 370 | $62,740 |
| South Carolina | 270 | $49,300 |
| Oregon | 240 | $58,720 |
| Wisconsin | 230 | $48,440 |
| Illinois | 200 | $44,890 |
| New Mexico | 200 | $46,260 |
| Nevada | 170 | $66,090 |
| Arkansas | 140 | $48,910 |
| Michigan | 90 | $54,860 |
| Vermont | 60 | $64,230 |
| Alabama | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — |
| Kansas | — | $57,200 |
| Kentucky | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — |
| Maine | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | $55,010 |
| Minnesota | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — |
| Missouri | — | — |
| Montana | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — |
| New York | — | $53,070 |
| North Dakota | — | — |
| Ohio | — | $53,640 |
| Oklahoma | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | $103,880 |
| South Dakota | — | — |
| Tennessee | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — |
The highest median pay is in Rhode Island ($103,880), Nevada ($66,090), New Jersey ($64,670).
The lowest is in Indiana ($38,660), Illinois ($44,890), Texas ($45,870).
What solar installers earn
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $51,860 |
| Median pay, an hour | $24.93 |
| 10th percentile | $39,070 |
| 25th percentile | $46,040 |
| 75th percentile | $63,020 |
| 90th percentile | $80,150 |
| Average pay, a year | $57,380 |
Federal rules and model codes for solar installers
On a construction job, a worker 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets or a personal fall arrest system, with the rules for roofs in OSHA’s fall protection standard (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M).
OSHA’s construction standard for electrical work sets the rules for wiring, ground-fault protection, lockout and working near energized parts on a job site (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K).
Electrical work is inspected against the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as each state or city has adopted it, with its own edition and amendments.
A model code becomes law only where a state or city adopts it; the building or licensing department says which edition applies.
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
- OSHA electrical safety in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K)
- National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
Licenses for solar installers
Licensing for this trade is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; each state’s page links the official license lookup for it.
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Questions about Solar installers
How much do solar installers make?
The median pay for solar installers in the United States is $51,860 a year, and half earn between $46,040 and $63,020 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many solar installers are there in the United States?
28,280 people work as solar installers, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Where do solar installers earn the most?
The highest median pay is in Rhode Island ($103,880), Nevada ($66,090), New Jersey ($64,670).
Do solar installers need a license?
Licensing is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists the licenses each state requires and the agency that issues each.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop License Finder
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
- OSHA electrical safety in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .