Solar installers in California: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
8,970 people work as solar installers in California, and the median pay is $60,790 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
California ranks 6 of 27 states for median pay in this trade.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 8,970
- Median pay, a year
- $60,790
Solar installers in California: businesses and jobs
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs | 8,970 | 28,280 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 0.50 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 2.71 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What solar installers earn in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $60,790 | $51,860 |
| Median pay, an hour | $29.23 | $24.93 |
| 10th percentile | $48,050 | $39,070 |
| 25th percentile | $53,510 | $46,040 |
| 75th percentile | $77,220 | $63,020 |
| 90th percentile | $94,890 | $80,150 |
| Average pay, a year | $66,440 | $57,380 |
The homes behind the work in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Detached houses | 57.0% (±0.1 points) | 61.3% |
| Homes heated by electricity | 29.5% (±0.1 points) | 41.3% |
| Homes built 2010 to 2019 | 6.5% (±0.1 points) | 9.4% |
| Households that rent | 44.1% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
Licenses for solar installers in California
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Federal rules and model codes for solar installers
These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.
- 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)
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
What you can do on Seayora in California
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Questions about California
How much do solar installers make in California?
The median pay for solar installers in California is $60,790 a year, against $51,860 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many solar installers work in California?
8,970 people work as solar installers in California, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Do solar installers need a license in California?
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- License Finder: solar installers in California (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
- 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 .