Trade hub · BLS OEWS May 2025
Solar PV Installer
The short answer
Solar PV installers earn a median $53,140 per year nationally, with the middle half between $46,700 and $62,870. Employment is projected to grow +42.1% by 2034, with about 4,100 openings a year. State licensing requirements for this trade are being compiled and publish with sources per state.
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.
National wage distribution. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 47-2231)
Where the pay is
The gap between states is wide: New Jersey pays about 86% more than South Dakota at the median. Cost of living closes part of that gap. In licensed states the credential itself also travels differently across borders, which changes what a move is worth.
| State | Median /yr |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $78,950 |
| Hawaii | $70,370 |
| Nevada | $67,810 |
| Oregon | $66,320 |
| Ohio | $62,400 |
| ⋯ 22 states ⋯ | |
| Indiana | $46,140 |
| Maryland | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 |
| North Carolina | $43,860 |
| South Dakota | $42,380 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Outlook to 2034
BLS projects employment moving from 28,600 in 2024 to 40,600 in 2034 (+42.1%). Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent. Annual openings run near 4,100. That figure counts both new positions and replacements for workers leaving the occupation, which is why it exceeds the growth number. The 2024 figure here is larger than the employment count in the summary above because these are two different BLS programs: the summary counts jobs surveyed at employers, while the projections program also counts the self-employed, and this trade has a lot of them.
Licensing
State licensing requirements for this trade are being compiled and publish with sources per state.
Price a credential with the license cost estimator, weigh training paths with the apprenticeship vs. school calculator, or set this trade against others in your state with the salary comparison.
Trades that pay similarly
Welder at $53,750, CNC Machinist at $50,690, Auto Mechanic at $50,620, CDL Truck Driver at $58,640. Full list on the trades index.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (SOC 47-2231) and Employment Projections 2024–2034.
- O*NET 30.1 occupation description (U.S. Department of Labor).
How figures are computed: methodology