Best cities for a solar designer
The best cities for solar designers are Sacramento, CA, Fresno, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for solar designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for solar designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a solar designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for solar designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for solar designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a solar designer. While the absolute best city for solar designers is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for solar designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a solar designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for solar designers in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $88,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 5.48 2. Fresno, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $83,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 40.80 3. San Francisco, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $88,546 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 3.43 4. Albuquerque, NM
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,675 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Oakland, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,276 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,378 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Jose, CA
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,076 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. New Orleans, LA
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,818 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Brookhaven, NY
Total solar designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,738 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for solar designers
- Sacramento, CA
- Fresno, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Stockton, CA
- San Jose, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- Brookhaven, NY
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Detailed list of the best cities for a solar designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $88,075 | $54,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $83,434 | $52,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $88,546 | $55,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $72,675 | $47,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $88,276 | $55,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $87,589 | $54,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $87,378 | $54,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $87,076 | $54,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $61,818 | $37,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 10 | Brookhaven, NY | $78,738 | $47,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $75,024 | $51,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $60,551 | $37,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 13 | Oyster Bay, NY | $78,126 | $46,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $60,541 | $37,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 15 | Islip, NY | $78,545 | $47,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 16 | Hempstead, NY | $78,055 | $46,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 17 | New York, NY | $77,636 | $46,000 | 8,537,673 | 3 |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $74,688 | $48,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $66,279 | $41,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Greensboro, NC | $59,602 | $37,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $63,254 | $40,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $79,230 | $50,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 23 | Virginia Beach, VA | $69,036 | $41,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 24 | Lubbock, TX | $62,162 | $40,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $60,288 | $37,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $75,552 | $48,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 27 | Fort Worth, TX | $60,363 | $38,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 28 | Norfolk, VA | $68,733 | $41,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 29 | Long Beach, CA | $74,838 | $48,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 30 | Anaheim, CA | $74,802 | $48,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 31 | Chesapeake, VA | $68,321 | $41,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $60,275 | $38,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $74,573 | $48,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 34 | Irving, TX | $60,142 | $38,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 35 | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,205 | $37,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 36 | San Antonio, TX | $60,095 | $37,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $60,107 | $38,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 38 | Memphis, TN | $55,584 | $36,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 39 | Irvine, CA | $74,372 | $48,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 40 | Garland, TX | $59,935 | $38,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 41 | Plano, TX | $59,881 | $38,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 42 | Nashville, TN | $55,514 | $36,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 43 | Buffalo, NY | $70,188 | $45,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 44 | Las Vegas, NV | $59,189 | $37,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 45 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,557 | $38,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 46 | North Las Vegas, NV | $59,057 | $37,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 47 | Laredo, TX | $59,191 | $37,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 48 | Henderson, NV | $58,758 | $37,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 49 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,632 | $34,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 50 | Houston, TX | $59,580 | $36,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
Highest paying cities for solar designers
| Rank | City | Avg. solar designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petaluma, CA | $89,288 |
| 2 | Harrison, NY | $77,782 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $75,024 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $72,675 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $71,553 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $68,123 |
| 7 | Stamford, CT | $66,829 |
| 8 | Mahwah, NJ | $65,427 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $59,580 |
| 10 | South Portland, ME | $59,122 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $53,638 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,087 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,034 |
| 14 | Orem, UT | $45,492 |
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Updated January 8, 2025