Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Pv design engineer salary
Average pv design engineer salary
$81,618
Understanding PV Design Engineer Salaries
A PV Design Engineer plays a crucial role in developing solar energy solutions, focusing on the design and optimization of photovoltaic systems. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $81,618 per year. Experience level greatly influences earnings; entry-level engineers may expect lower salaries, while seasoned professionals can command significantly higher pay.
In addition to experience, geographical location significantly impacts salary. States like California and New York tend to offer higher compensation due to the demand for renewable energy solutions and living costs. For instance, a PV Design Engineer in California might earn more than their counterparts in less populated states.
It's also worth noting that the industry sector plays a role in salary variation. Engineers specializing in residential solar installations may have different earning potential compared to those working in commercial or industrial applications.
Understanding these factors can help aspiring PV Design Engineers negotiate better salaries and select opportunities that align with their career goals. Explore job listings and salary estimates to find the best fit for your skills and aspirations.
Let Zippi find your next pv design engineer job
Let Zippi find your next pv design engineer job
Where can a PV Design Engineer earn more?
Pv design engineer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level pv design engineer | $59,600 | $28.64 |
| Mid-level pv design engineer | $84,200 | $40.47 |
| Senior-level pv design engineer | $103,000 | $49.41 |
Pv design engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average pv design engineer salary by state
The average pv design engineer salary in Oregon, California, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pv design engineer salary states are Nebraska, Missouri, and Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pv design engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $104,601 | $50.29 |
| 2 | California | $101,446 | $48.77 |
| 3 | New York | $101,147 | $48.63 |
| 4 | Ohio | $96,662 | $46.47 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $96,125 | $46.21 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $84,553 | $40.65 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $88,527 | $42.56 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $86,756 | $41.71 |
| 9 | Nevada | $90,403 | $43.46 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $90,001 | $43.27 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $96,467 | $46.38 |
| 12 | Montana | $88,007 | $42.31 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $90,148 | $43.34 |
| 14 | Alabama | $82,544 | $39.68 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $82,668 | $39.74 |
| 16 | Indiana | $83,404 | $40.10 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $82,404 | $39.62 |
| 18 | Florida | $82,888 | $39.85 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $82,677 | $39.75 |
| 20 | Vermont | $80,964 | $38.92 |
| 21 | Georgia | $81,906 | $39.38 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $82,053 | $39.45 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $84,524 | $40.64 |
| 24 | Texas | $77,998 | $37.50 |
| 25 | Delaware | $79,504 | $38.22 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $82,346 | $39.59 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $82,001 | $39.42 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $83,602 | $40.19 |
| 29 | Alaska | $78,169 | $37.58 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $81,769 | $39.31 |
| 31 | Illinois | $80,243 | $38.58 |
| 32 | Maryland | $78,103 | $37.55 |
| 33 | Iowa | $77,777 | $37.39 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $77,568 | $37.29 |
| 35 | Utah | $74,038 | $35.60 |
| 36 | Washington | $75,266 | $36.19 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $80,593 | $38.75 |
| 38 | Arizona | $68,890 | $33.12 |
| 39 | Kansas | $75,378 | $36.24 |
| 40 | Colorado | $69,769 | $33.54 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $69,638 | $33.48 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $72,455 | $34.83 |
| 43 | Idaho | $70,507 | $33.90 |
| 44 | Virginia | $66,389 | $31.92 |
| 45 | Michigan | $63,636 | $30.59 |
| 46 | Maine | $71,474 | $34.36 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $70,207 | $33.75 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $68,005 | $32.69 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $61,905 | $29.76 |
| 50 | Missouri | $67,546 | $32.47 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $56,917 | $27.36 |
Highest paying cities for pv design engineers
The highest-paying cities for pv design engineers are Petaluma, CA, New York, NY, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petaluma, CA | $110,592 | $53.17 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $101,351 | $48.73 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $88,605 | $42.60 |
| 4 | Paterson, NJ | $83,825 | $40.30 |
| 5 | North Andover, MA | $82,666 | $39.74 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $82,166 | $39.50 |
| 7 | Alpharetta, GA | $81,811 | $39.33 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $80,752 | $38.82 |
| 9 | Richardson, TX | $77,547 | $37.28 |
| 10 | Orem, UT | $73,781 | $35.47 |
| 11 | Spokane Valley, WA | $72,825 | $35.01 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $69,349 | $33.34 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| 14 | Troy, MI | $63,856 | $30.70 |
| 15 | Mooresville, NC | $60,879 | $29.27 |
Pv design engineer salary details
A pv design engineer's salary ranges from $55,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $119,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pv design engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| Average | $81,618 | $6,802 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
Highest paying pv design engineer jobs
The highest paying types of pv design engineers are engineer, solar process engineer, and solar design engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | $92,077 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Design Engineer Internship | $55,346 | $4,612 | $26.61 | 139,842 |
| Design Engineer | $77,134 | $6,428 | $37.08 | 138,173 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for pv design engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring pv design engineers now:
Which companies pay pv design engineers the most?
Pv design engineer salaries at Ciena and Cadence Design Systems are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pv design engineer salary at companies like Enphase Energy and Tesla are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciena | $119,317 | $57.36 |
| 2 | Cadence Design Systems | $101,252 | $48.68 |
| 3 | Enphase Energy | $98,231 | $47.23 |
| 4 | Tesla | $90,878 | $43.69 |
| 5 | Urban Grid | $82,169 | $39.50 |
| 6 | ENGIE North America | $82,169 | $39.50 |
| 7 | Novel Energy Solutions | $82,169 | $39.50 |
| 8 | Venture Solar | $82,074 | $39.46 |
| 9 | CS Energy | $80,977 | $38.93 |
| 10 | Experian | $80,284 | $38.60 |
| 11 | Delta Products Corporation | $78,621 | $37.80 |
| 12 | Baker Electric | $73,691 | $35.43 |
| 13 | Mortenson | $73,229 | $35.21 |
| 14 | POWERHOME SOLAR | $68,239 | $32.81 |
| 15 | Blue Raven Solar | $66,565 | $32.00 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
PV Design Engineer salary by industry
The average pv design engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average pv design engineer salary in the telecommunication industry is $119,300, the highest of any industry.
- The average pv design engineer salary in the finance industry is $83,007.
- Pv design engineers in the energy industry earn an average salary of $73,426, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for pv design engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telecommunication | $119,300 | $57.36 |
| 2 | Automotive | $83,007 | $39.91 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $78,037 | $37.52 |
| 4 | Construction | $73,670 | $35.42 |
| 5 | Energy | $73,426 | $35.30 |
High paying pv design engineer jobs
Pv design engineer salary trends
The average pv design engineer salary has risen by $10,106 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pv design engineer earned $71,512 annually, but today, they earn $81,618 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for pv design engineers over the last decade.
Compare pv design engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pv design engineer salary over time
Compare pv design engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pv design engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81,600 | $39.24 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $78,200 | $37.59 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $76,600 | $36.81 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | $76,800 | $36.91 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | $76,800 | $36.93 | +1.4% |
Recently added pv design engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RWE | Engineer II, PV Design | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $101,000 |
| RWE Clean Energy | Engineer II, PV Design | Austin, TX | 06/27/2025 | $101,000 |
| RWE Clean Energy | Engineer II, PV Design | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $101,000 |
| Ciena Corp | Svt/Pv Engineer 3 | Baltimore, MD | 06/24/2025 | $148,803 |
| Bowman | Design Engineer, PV Systems-Remote, US | Harrisburg, PA | 06/14/2025 | $85,000 |
| Bowman | Design Engineer, PV Systems-Remote, US | Tallahassee, FL | 06/14/2025 | $85,000 |
| Bowman | Design Engineer, PV Systems-Remote, US | Columbus, OH | 06/14/2025 | $85,000 |
| Bowman | Design Engineer, PV Systems-Remote, US | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/14/2025 | $85,000 |
| Bowman | Design Engineer, PV Systems-Remote, US | Helena, MT | 06/14/2025 | $85,000 |
| Bowman | Design Engineer, PV Systems-Remote, US | Baton Rouge, LA | 06/14/2025 | $85,000 |
Pv design engineer salary FAQs
Search for pv design engineer jobs