Solar Photovoltaic Installer Salary
Solar Photovoltaic Installers earn a median $53,140 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
U.S. median
$53,140
$25.55 per hour
Range
$41,600 – $79,970
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
31,350
across the U.S.
Solar Photovoltaic Installer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$44,878
per year · effective tax rate 15.5%
$3,740Monthly
$1,870Twice a month
$1,726Every 2 weeks
$21.58Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,197
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$771
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$44,878
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 | $35,606 |
| 25th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45 | $39,703 |
| Median (50th) | $53,140 | $25.55 | $44,878 |
| 75th percentile | $62,870 | $30.23 | $52,696 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,970 | $38.45 | $65,089 |
Best cities for solar photovoltaic installers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $70,130 | $54,976 | $48,841 | 2,190 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $72,150 | $56,090 | $48,515 | 710 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,350 | $47,273 | $46,096 | 580 |
| 4 | Riverside, CA | $60,050 | $47,997 | $45,092 | 790 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $59,930 | $47,909 | $44,914 | 700 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $61,340 | $48,939 | $43,740 | 550 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $50,580 | $42,821 | $43,666 | 830 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $59,600 | $47,668 | $41,974 | 1,930 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,200 | $42,248 | $40,892 | 1,000 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $47,060 | $39,993 | $40,549 | 1,620 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $48,350 | $41,029 | $39,799 | 1,570 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $48,290 | $40,981 | $35,899 | 510 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $45,220 | $36,730 | $35,153 | 490 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $72,150
- New York, NY — $70,130
- San Diego, CA — $61,340
- Riverside, CA — $60,050
- Sacramento, CA — $59,930
- Los Angeles, CA — $59,600
- Philadelphia, PA — $58,350
- Phoenix, AZ — $51,200
- Austin, TX — $50,580
- Dallas, TX — $48,350
- Miami, FL — $48,290
- Houston, TX — $47,060
- Baltimore, MD — $45,220
Solar Photovoltaic Installer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $78,950 | $61,532 | $47,600 – $102,050 | 1,880 |
| Hawaii | $70,370 | $54,517 | $47,480 – $105,200 | 420 |
| Nevada | $67,810 | $56,534 | $51,170 – $89,200 | 100 |
| Oregon | $66,320 | $50,495 | $54,110 – $87,370 | 360 |
| Ohio | $62,400 | $51,385 | $48,270 – $70,150 | 70 |
| Washington | $61,630 | $51,700 | $50,440 – $61,640 | — |
| Maine | $61,210 | $48,412 | $51,970 – $86,730 | 60 |
| California | $60,600 | $48,399 | $47,070 – $83,770 | 6,830 |
| Illinois | $59,630 | $47,286 | $35,360 – $103,460 | — |
| Massachusetts | $59,180 | $46,992 | $46,150 – $76,280 | 620 |
| Iowa | $56,740 | $46,266 | $41,430 – $72,450 | 180 |
| New York | $56,160 | $44,869 | $46,630 – $74,770 | 1,230 |
| Connecticut | $55,590 | $45,270 | $45,240 – $70,820 | — |
| Arizona | $51,160 | $42,217 | $38,770 – $78,780 | 1,280 |
| Florida | $50,550 | $42,797 | $44,450 – $76,550 | 2,980 |
| South Carolina | $50,490 | $40,876 | $40,540 – $78,170 | — |
| Kansas | $49,990 | $40,357 | $41,920 – $61,630 | — |
| Utah | $49,980 | $41,056 | $44,550 – $76,740 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $49,770 | $40,761 | $44,910 – $85,650 | 90 |
| Colorado | $49,730 | $40,658 | $45,930 – $76,170 | 620 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | $40,721 | $44,600 – $72,030 | 250 |
| Virginia | $49,190 | $39,690 | $47,100 – $59,110 | — |
| New Mexico | $48,490 | $40,024 | $40,020 – $75,370 | 340 |
| Texas | $48,240 | $40,941 | $37,660 – $73,690 | 5,270 |
| Georgia | $47,790 | $38,722 | $45,080 – $57,900 | — |
| Pennsylvania | $47,760 | $39,089 | $40,940 – $61,250 | 1,210 |
| Michigan | $47,080 | $38,259 | $38,340 – $60,270 | 310 |
| Indiana | $46,140 | $37,922 | $38,250 – $71,020 | 490 |
| Maryland | $45,430 | $36,889 | $44,190 – $61,410 | 670 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 | $36,658 | $44,800 – $62,870 | — |
| North Carolina | $43,860 | $36,180 | $37,440 – $60,170 | 710 |
| South Dakota | $42,380 | $36,232 | $37,560 – $73,590 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a solar photovoltaic installer make?
The national median salary for solar photovoltaic installers is $53,140 a year ($25.55 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,600 and the top 10% earn over $79,970. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays solar photovoltaic installers the most?
New Jersey has the highest median pay at $78,950. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many solar photovoltaic installers are there in the U.S.?
About 31,350 people work as solar photovoltaic installers nationwide.