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Solar design engineer salary
Average solar design engineer salary
$81,424
Understanding Solar Design Engineer Salaries
The average salary for a solar design engineer in the United States is approximately $81,424 per year, equating to around $39 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors including geographical location, level of experience, and the specific field of employment. For instance, states such as California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.
Experience plays a significant role in determining salary levels. Entry-level solar design engineers may start at around $60,000, while those with more than ten years of experience can earn upwards of $100,000. Additionally, specialized roles in project management or technical design may command even higher compensation, reflecting the growing need for expertise in renewable energy solutions.
For those looking to maximize their earning potential, pursuing certifications in solar energy design or advanced degrees can be beneficial. As the renewable energy sector continues to expand, opportunities for growth and higher salaries are likely to increase, making this an excellent time to enter or advance in the field.
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Where can a Solar Design Engineer earn more?
Solar design engineer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level solar design engineer | $59,400 | $28.57 |
| Mid-level solar design engineer | $84,000 | $40.38 |
| Senior-level solar design engineer | $103,000 | $49.29 |
Solar design engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average solar design engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for solar design engineers are New York, Oregon, and West Virginia. The lowest average solar design engineer salary states are Idaho, Arizona, and Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for solar design engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $99,745 | $47.95 |
| 2 | New York | $100,328 | $48.23 |
| 3 | Ohio | $98,070 | $47.15 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $98,258 | $47.24 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $95,892 | $46.10 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| 7 | Alabama | $86,996 | $41.83 |
| 8 | Florida | $90,625 | $43.57 |
| 9 | South Carolina | $94,830 | $45.59 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $93,956 | $45.17 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $87,238 | $41.94 |
| 12 | Montana | $88,883 | $42.73 |
| 13 | Nevada | $86,622 | $41.65 |
| 14 | California | $97,866 | $47.05 |
| 15 | Georgia | $86,579 | $41.62 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $87,895 | $42.26 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $85,944 | $41.32 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $89,166 | $42.87 |
| 19 | Indiana | $85,499 | $41.11 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $83,371 | $40.08 |
| 21 | Texas | $80,686 | $38.79 |
| 22 | Alaska | $82,819 | $39.82 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $81,813 | $39.33 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $81,420 | $39.14 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $81,203 | $39.04 |
| 26 | Illinois | $81,629 | $39.24 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $82,888 | $39.85 |
| 28 | Vermont | $79,994 | $38.46 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $83,097 | $39.95 |
| 30 | Iowa | $79,449 | $38.20 |
| 31 | Kansas | $78,076 | $37.54 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $81,748 | $39.30 |
| 33 | Maryland | $78,284 | $37.64 |
| 34 | Utah | $73,751 | $35.46 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $76,455 | $36.76 |
| 36 | Delaware | $79,410 | $38.18 |
| 37 | Washington | $72,929 | $35.06 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $81,921 | $39.39 |
| 39 | Arizona | $68,757 | $33.06 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $73,707 | $35.44 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $70,249 | $33.77 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $77,914 | $37.46 |
| 43 | Virginia | $67,302 | $32.36 |
| 44 | Maine | $71,111 | $34.19 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $70,272 | $33.78 |
| 46 | Missouri | $70,357 | $33.83 |
| 47 | Colorado | $72,040 | $34.63 |
| 48 | Idaho | $69,141 | $33.24 |
| 49 | Michigan | $63,722 | $30.64 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $64,297 | $30.91 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $60,086 | $28.89 |
Highest paying cities for solar design engineers
The highest-paying cities for solar design engineers are Roseville, CA, New York, NY, and Miami, FL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseville, CA | $105,173 | $50.56 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $100,644 | $48.39 |
| 3 | Miami, FL | $91,308 | $43.90 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $89,157 | $42.86 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,985 | $39.42 |
| 6 | Kahului, HI | $81,923 | $39.39 |
| 7 | Lombard, IL | $81,879 | $39.36 |
| 8 | Waltham, MA | $81,745 | $39.30 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $81,055 | $38.97 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $81,002 | $38.94 |
| 11 | Columbia, MD | $78,321 | $37.65 |
| 12 | Greenwood Village, CO | $72,063 | $34.65 |
| 13 | Bismarck, ND | $70,206 | $33.75 |
| 14 | Ypsilanti, MI | $63,660 | $30.61 |
Solar design engineer salary details
A solar design engineer's salary ranges from $57,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $114,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a solar design engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $114,000 | $9,500 | $55 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| Average | $81,424 | $6,785 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
Highest paying solar design engineer jobs
The highest paying types of solar design engineers are engineer, solar process engineer, and electrical design engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | $92,077 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Electrical Design Engineer | $83,944 | $6,995 | $40.36 | 87,121 |
| Design Engineer | $77,134 | $6,428 | $37.08 | 138,173 |
Top companies hiring solar design engineers now:
Which companies pay solar design engineers the most?
Solar design engineer salaries at WSB and HOLT CAT are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average solar design engineer salary at companies like Sunworks and Solar Energy Solutions are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WSB | $75,643 | $36.37 |
| 2 | HOLT CAT | $74,654 | $35.89 |
| 3 | Sunworks | $74,651 | $35.89 |
| 4 | Solar Energy Solutions | $74,624 | $35.88 |
| 5 | Performance Bicycle | $70,541 | $33.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Solar design engineer salary trends
The average solar design engineer salary has risen by $10,081 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average solar design engineer earned $71,343 annually, but today, they earn $81,424 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for solar design engineers over the last decade.
Compare solar design engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average solar design engineer salary over time
Compare solar design engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Solar design engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $81,400 | $39.15 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | $78,000 | $37.50 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $76,400 | $36.72 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | $76,600 | $36.83 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | $76,600 | $36.84 | +1.4% |
Recently added solar design engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comcast | Solar Design Engineer--College Grads Welcome! | Laurel, MD | 06/15/2025 | $62,067 |
| Renewyx | Solar C&I Design Engineer | Saint Louis, MO | 06/10/2025 | $100,000 |
| Mortenson | PV Solar Design Engineer II | Minneapolis, MN | 05/26/2025 | $90,300 |
| Vast | Senior Solar Array Design Engineer | Long Beach, CA | 05/26/2025 | $160,000 |
| Renewyx | Solar C&I Design Engineer | Saint Louis, MO | 05/26/2025 | $100,000 |
| Vast Space | Senior Solar Array Design Engineer | Long Beach, CA | 05/25/2025 | $160,000 |
| Helix Electric | Solar Design Engineer | San Diego, CA | 04/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Mortenson | PV Solar Design Engineer I | Minneapolis, MN | 04/29/2025 | $79,000 |
| Renewyx | Solar C&I Design Engineer | Saint Louis, MO | 04/21/2025 | $100,000 |
| Comcast | Solar Design Engineer--College Grads Welcome | Laurel, MD | 04/18/2025 | $62,067 |
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