Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.
Median pay ranges from $26,340 to $78,360 depending on the metro. Most people train through: moderate-term on-the-job training. Job growth and openings are national figures.
Nationally, solar installers have 101 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.2× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is falls, slips and trips.
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What the work is like Government data
How often solar installers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Highest-paying metros
Best real pay after local prices
What the median buys once each metro's price level is factored in.
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Best-paying states Government data
Statewide, solar installers earn the most in New Jersey ($78,950) and the least in South Dakota ($42,380), a gap of $36,570 a year.
BLS OEWS statewide medians, May 2025.
Solar Installer pay by state
Compare with another trade
Side-by-side pay, growth, training and safety: solar installer vs. construction supervisor, solar installer vs. electrician, solar installer vs. plumber, solar installer vs. telecom equipment installer, solar installer vs. telecom line installer, solar installer vs. wind turbine technician, solar installer vs. building inspector, solar installer vs. elevator installer, solar installer vs. hvac technician, solar installer vs. electrical lineworker and solar installer vs. maintenance technician.