Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Solar designer salary
Average solar designer salary
$58,292
Understanding Solar Designer Salaries
The average salary for a solar designer in the U.S. is around $58,292 per year. This figure reflects various factors, including years of experience, geographic location, and the specific sectors in which these professionals operate. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while experienced designers can earn significantly more.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level solar designers may expect salaries ranging from $45,000 to $50,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $70,000. Senior roles can exceed $90,000, especially in high-demand areas.
Top Paying States
States such as California, Texas, and New York offer some of the highest salaries for solar designers, reflecting both the demand for renewable energy and the cost of living in these regions. With ongoing investments in solar technology, the job market continues to grow, providing ample opportunities for both new and seasoned solar designers.
Let Zippia find your next solar designer job
Let Zippia find your next solar designer job
Where can a Solar Designer earn more?
Solar designer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level solar designer | $38,900 | $18.69 |
| Mid-level solar designer | $62,000 | $29.79 |
| Senior-level solar designer | $91,600 | $44.05 |
Solar designer salary estimates from across the web
Average solar designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for solar designers are California, New York, and Washington. The lowest average solar designer salary states are Ohio, Indiana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for solar designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $78,504 | $37.74 |
| 2 | New York | $77,260 | $37.14 |
| 3 | Washington | $74,054 | $35.60 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $69,935 | $33.62 |
| 5 | Virginia | $68,618 | $32.99 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $71,566 | $34.41 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $66,996 | $32.21 |
| 8 | Maryland | $69,961 | $33.64 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $72,291 | $34.76 |
| 10 | Vermont | $66,647 | $32.04 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $64,564 | $31.04 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $64,640 | $31.08 |
| 13 | Delaware | $67,346 | $32.38 |
| 14 | Texas | $60,137 | $28.91 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $65,401 | $31.44 |
| 16 | Iowa | $57,966 | $27.87 |
| 17 | Oregon | $58,291 | $28.02 |
| 18 | Nevada | $60,152 | $28.92 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $59,250 | $28.49 |
| 20 | Illinois | $56,931 | $27.37 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $62,078 | $29.85 |
| 22 | Alaska | $64,307 | $30.92 |
| 23 | Idaho | $57,957 | $27.86 |
| 24 | Maine | $57,551 | $27.67 |
| 25 | Florida | $59,058 | $28.39 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $56,448 | $27.14 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $55,610 | $26.74 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $57,247 | $27.52 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $51,928 | $24.97 |
| 30 | Alabama | $54,367 | $26.14 |
| 31 | Arizona | $52,793 | $25.38 |
| 32 | Michigan | $50,697 | $24.37 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $53,588 | $25.76 |
| 34 | Georgia | $49,788 | $23.94 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $57,955 | $27.86 |
| 36 | Kansas | $51,157 | $24.59 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $51,843 | $24.92 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $50,004 | $24.04 |
| 39 | Missouri | $53,843 | $25.89 |
| 40 | Colorado | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $52,385 | $25.19 |
| 42 | Utah | $45,734 | $21.99 |
| 43 | Ohio | $48,194 | $23.17 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $50,535 | $24.30 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $49,693 | $23.89 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $49,577 | $23.84 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $45,762 | $22.00 |
| 48 | Indiana | $47,298 | $22.74 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $47,124 | $22.66 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $48,494 | $23.31 |
| 51 | Montana | $43,226 | $20.78 |
Highest paying cities for solar designers
The highest-paying cities for solar designers are Petaluma, CA, Harrison, NY, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petaluma, CA | $89,288 | $42.93 |
| 2 | Harrison, NY | $77,782 | $37.40 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $75,024 | $36.07 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $72,675 | $34.94 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $71,553 | $34.40 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $68,123 | $32.75 |
| 7 | Stamford, CT | $66,829 | $32.13 |
| 8 | Mahwah, NJ | $65,427 | $31.46 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $59,580 | $28.64 |
| 10 | South Portland, ME | $59,122 | $28.42 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $53,638 | $25.79 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,087 | $25.52 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,034 | $24.05 |
| 14 | Orem, UT | $45,492 | $21.87 |
Solar designer salary details
A solar designer's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a solar designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $58,292 | $4,858 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying solar designer jobs
The highest paying types of solar designers are electrical engineer lead, senior electrical engineer, and system design engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer Lead | $111,251 | $9,271 | $53.49 | 82,196 |
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | $92,464 | $7,705 | $44.45 | 51,065 |
| Electrical Project Engineer | $84,342 | $7,029 | $40.55 | 67,802 |
| Instrumentation Engineer | $88,783 | $7,399 | $42.68 | 45,735 |
| Electrical Engineer Internship | $63,398 | $5,283 | $30.48 | 80,744 |
| Electrical Controls Engineer | $82,681 | $6,890 | $39.75 | 54,037 |
Top companies hiring solar designers now:
Which companies pay solar designers the most?
Solar designer salaries at Smith & Associates and NextEra Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average solar designer salary at companies like BHI Energy and Just Energy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smith & Associates | $88,774 | $42.68 |
| 2 | Florida Power and Light | $77,125 | $37.08 |
| 3 | BHI Energy | $64,629 | $31.07 |
| 4 | Just Energy | $60,303 | $28.99 |
| 5 | Catalyze | $57,304 | $27.55 |
| 6 | Green Power Technology | $57,304 | $27.55 |
| 7 | All Energy Solar | $57,304 | $27.55 |
| 8 | PetersenDean | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| 9 | Blue Raven Solar | $43,562 | $20.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Solar designer salary trends
The average solar designer salary has risen by $8,620 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average solar designer earned $49,672 annually, but today, they earn $58,292 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for solar designers over the last decade.
Compare solar designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average solar designer salary over time
Compare solar designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Solar designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $58,300 | $28.02 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | $57,000 | $27.39 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $55,900 | $26.86 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $55,000 | $26.42 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $54,500 | $26.18 | +1.3% |
Recently added solar designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortenson | Solar Laborer II | Avondale, CO | 06/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| Vallum Associates | Solar Designer | Stamford, CT | 05/28/2025 | $90,000 |
| Mortenson | Solar Laborer II | Avondale, CO | 05/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| Comcast | Designer Solar | Laurel, MD | 04/18/2025 | $62,067 |
| Abstrakt Marketing Group | Solar Designer-Residential New Construction | Sacramento, CA | 03/23/2025 | $62,610 |
| A Rsolar | Lead Residential Solar Designer | Tualatin, OR | 02/19/2025 | $65,000 |
| Freedom Forever | Solar Design | Saint Louis, MO | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Freedom Forever | Solar Design | Peoria, IL | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Freedom Forever | Solar Design | Ann Arbor, MI | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Freedom Forever | Solar Design | Minneapolis, MN | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
Solar designer salary FAQs
Search for solar designer jobs