How Much Does a Solar Panel Installer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$53,140
Solar panel installers in the U.S. earn a median of $53,140 a year, or $25.55 an hour. Half of solar panel installers earn more than $53,140 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $79,970.
Pay percentiles for solar panel installers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.00 | $41,600 |
| 25th | $22.45 | $46,700 |
| 50th (median) | $25.55 | $53,140 |
| 75th | $30.23 | $62,870 |
| 90th | $38.45 | $79,970 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Solar Photovoltaic Installers (SOC 47-2231). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for solar panel installers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $78,950 | $37.96 | +49% |
| Hawaii | $70,370 | $33.83 | +32% |
| Nevada | $67,810 | $32.60 | +28% |
| Oregon | $66,320 | $31.88 | +25% |
| Ohio | $62,400 | $30.00 | +17% |
| Washington | $61,630 | $29.63 | +16% |
| Maine | $61,210 | $29.43 | +15% |
| California | $60,600 | $29.14 | +14% |
| Illinois | $59,630 | $28.67 | +12% |
| Massachusetts | $59,180 | $28.45 | +11% |
| United States | $53,140 | $25.55 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many solar panel installers are there?
BLS counts about 31,350 solar panel installers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Solar Photovoltaic Installers”. The most jobs are in California (6,830), Texas (5,270) and Florida (2,980).
The mean (average) annual wage is $57,900, higher than the median of $53,140.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,428
- Biweekly
- $2,044
- Weekly
- $1,022
- Daily (8 hours)
- $204
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do solar panel installers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for solar panel installers is $25.55. The middle 50% earn between $22.45 and $30.23 an hour.
Which state pays solar panel installers the most?
New Jersey has the highest median wage for solar panel installers at $78,950, +49% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for solar panel installers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of solar panel installers earn less than $41,600 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.