How much do solar installers make in California in 2026?

The median solar installer in California earns $60,600 a year, which works out to about $29.13 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the number sitting right in the middle of the earnings spread — half of solar installers in the state make more, half make less. It's a solid baseline for figuring out where you stand or what to expect when you're starting out or moving up.

The bottom quarter of earners — the 25th percentile — lands at $50,140 annually, or roughly $24.11 an hour. If you're new to the trade, just completed a training program, or are working for a smaller residential installer in a less competitive local market, this is likely the range you'll fall into. It's not a bad starting point, but there's clear room to grow.

The top quarter of earners — the 75th percentile — pulls in $72,660 a year, around $34.93 an hour. Workers at this level typically have several years of hands-on experience, hold relevant certifications like the NABCEP PV Installation Professional credential, and are often working on larger commercial or utility-scale projects rather than single-family rooftop installs. Crew leads and working foremen tend to cluster in this upper range.

That full spread from the 25th to the 75th percentile — $50,140 to $72,660 — represents a $22,520 annual gap. That's real money, and it reflects how much experience, specialization, and employer type actually matter in this trade.

California is one of the highest-volume solar markets in the country, which creates consistent demand for installers across the state. Work is concentrated heavily in the Central Valley, the Inland Empire, Southern California, and the Bay Area, though rooftop residential solar is installed across virtually every county. Utility-scale and commercial projects — solar farms, warehouse rooftop arrays, carport canopies — tend to pay more per hour and offer more stable year-round schedules than purely residential work.

The specific type of work you do within the solar installation trade has a meaningful impact on pay. Roofers who transition into solar and handle the mounting and racking side, electricians who wire inverters and combiner boxes, and crew leads who manage job sites and pull permits all occupy different pay tiers even if their titles read "solar installer." The more electrical knowledge you bring to the role, the more leverage you have when negotiating pay.

No union scale data is available for solar installers in California at this time. Unlike some electrical or mechanical trades where union scale sets a clear floor, solar installation in California is largely non-union, and wages are driven by employer, project type, and individual experience rather than collectively bargained rates.

Benefits vary widely by employer. Larger installation companies and EPCs (engineering, procurement, and construction contractors) often offer health insurance, paid time off, and retirement contributions. Smaller residential shops may offer higher hourly rates in exchange for fewer benefits. Factor that in when comparing offers — a $30/hr job with full benefits can be worth more than a $33/hr job with none.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS reports wages for Solar Photovoltaic Installers (SOC 47-2231) at the state level, making it one of the most reliable benchmarks available for this trade in California.