Best states for a solar designer

Q: What is the best state for solar designers?

The best state to be a solar designer is California based on solar designer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for solar designers?

The highest paying state for solar designers is Montana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for solar designers?

The worst state for solar designers is Montana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a solar designer and really want to work at Sungevity? Turns out, your chances to become a solar designer are better in some states than others.As solar designers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for solar designers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a solar designer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

California is the best state for jobs for solar designers, and Montana is the worst. The most common pay in California is $78,504, while the median pay in Montana is $43,226.If you are currently seeking employment as a solar designer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for solar designers in 2025

1. California
Total solar designer jobs: 2,792
Average annual salary: $78,504
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000
Location Quotient:
1.71
Solar designer jobs in California
2. New York
Total solar designer jobs: 1,071
Average annual salary: $77,260
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Solar designer jobs in New York
3. Washington
Total solar designer jobs: 670
Average annual salary: $74,054
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.64
Solar designer jobs in Washington
4. New Hampshire
Total solar designer jobs: 84
Average annual salary: $69,935
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Solar designer jobs in New Hampshire
5. Virginia
Total solar designer jobs: 598
Average annual salary: $68,618
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Solar designer jobs in Virginia
6. District of Columbia
Total solar designer jobs: 189
Average annual salary: $71,566
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000
Location Quotient:
2.01
Solar designer jobs in District of Columbia
7. Connecticut
Total solar designer jobs: 252
Average annual salary: $66,996
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Solar designer jobs in Connecticut
8. Maryland
Total solar designer jobs: 328
Average annual salary: $69,961
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Solar designer jobs in Maryland
9. New Mexico
Total solar designer jobs: 64
Average annual salary: $72,291
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
0.58
Solar designer jobs in New Mexico
10. Vermont
Total solar designer jobs: 33
Average annual salary: $66,647
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Solar designer jobs in Vermont

Solar designer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a solar designer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a solar designer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$78,504	$49,000	39,536,653	2,792
2	New York	$77,260	$47,000	19,849,399	1,071
3	Washington	$74,054	$51,000	7,405,743	670
4	New Hampshire	$69,935	$43,000	1,342,795	84
5	Virginia	$68,618	$41,000	8,470,020	598
6	District of Columbia	$71,566	$43,000	693,972	189
7	Connecticut	$66,996	$40,000	3,588,184	252
8	Maryland	$69,961	$42,000	6,052,177	328
9	New Mexico	$72,291	$47,000	2,088,070	64
10	Vermont	$66,647	$42,000	623,657	33
11	Rhode Island	$64,564	$39,000	1,059,639	57
12	Massachusetts	$64,640	$39,000	6,859,819	626
13	Delaware	$67,346	$41,000	961,939	44
14	Texas	$60,137	$38,000	28,304,596	1,088
15	New Jersey	$65,401	$39,000	9,005,644	351
16	Iowa	$57,966	$43,000	3,145,711	132
17	Oregon	$58,291	$38,000	4,142,776	359
18	Nevada	$60,152	$38,000	2,998,039	79
19	North Carolina	$59,250	$37,000	10,273,419	440
20	Illinois	$56,931	$40,000	12,802,023	693
21	Louisiana	$62,078	$38,000	4,684,333	94
22	Alaska	$64,307	$51,000	739,795	22
23	Idaho	$57,957	$41,000	1,716,943	57
24	Maine	$57,551	$36,000	1,335,907	65
25	Florida	$59,058	$35,000	20,984,400	722
26	Pennsylvania	$56,448	$34,000	12,805,537	527
27	Tennessee	$55,610	$36,000	6,715,984	194
28	Oklahoma	$57,247	$38,000	3,930,864	92
29	Wisconsin	$51,928	$38,000	5,795,483	298
30	Alabama	$54,367	$34,000	4,874,747	157
31	Arizona	$52,793	$34,000	7,016,270	297
32	Michigan	$50,697	$35,000	9,962,311	397
33	North Dakota	$53,588	$42,000	755,393	27
34	Georgia	$49,788	$31,000	10,429,379	645
35	Hawaii	$57,955	$45,000	1,427,538	26
36	Kansas	$51,157	$36,000	2,913,123	129
37	South Dakota	$51,843	$40,000	869,666	32
38	Minnesota	$50,004	$38,000	5,576,606	335
39	Missouri	$53,843	$37,000	6,113,532	192
40	Colorado	$49,900	$36,000	5,607,154	346
41	Wyoming	$52,385	$39,000	579,315	15
42	Utah	$45,734	$32,000	3,101,833	195
43	Ohio	$48,194	$32,000	11,658,609	379
44	Nebraska	$50,535	$37,000	1,920,076	77
45	West Virginia	$49,693	$32,000	1,815,857	37
46	Kentucky	$49,577	$33,000	4,454,189	119
47	South Carolina	$45,762	$28,000	5,024,369	163
48	Indiana	$47,298	$32,000	6,666,818	226
49	Arkansas	$47,124	$31,000	3,004,279	87
50	Mississippi	$48,494	$30,000	2,984,100	45
51	Montana	$43,226	$33,000	1,050,493	36

Highest paying states for solar designers

Rank	State	Avg. Solar Designer Salary
1	California	$78,504
2	New York	$77,260
3	Washington	$74,054
4	New Hampshire	$69,935
5	Virginia	$68,618
6	District of Columbia	$71,566
7	Connecticut	$66,996
8	Maryland	$69,961
9	New Mexico	$72,291
10	Vermont	$66,647
11	Rhode Island	$64,564
12	Massachusetts	$64,640
13	Delaware	$67,346
14	Texas	$60,137
15	New Jersey	$65,401
16	Iowa	$57,966
17	Oregon	$58,291
18	Nevada	$60,152
19	North Carolina	$59,250
20	Illinois	$56,931
21	Louisiana	$62,078
22	Alaska	$64,307
23	Idaho	$57,957
24	Maine	$57,551
25	Florida	$59,058
26	Pennsylvania	$56,448
27	Tennessee	$55,610
28	Oklahoma	$57,247
29	Wisconsin	$51,928
30	Alabama	$54,367
31	Arizona	$52,793
32	Michigan	$50,697
33	North Dakota	$53,588
34	Georgia	$49,788
35	Hawaii	$57,955
36	Kansas	$51,157
37	South Dakota	$51,843
38	Minnesota	$50,004
39	Missouri	$53,843
40	Colorado	$49,900
41	Wyoming	$52,385
42	Utah	$45,734
43	Ohio	$48,194
44	Nebraska	$50,535
45	West Virginia	$49,693
46	Kentucky	$49,577
47	South Carolina	$45,762
48	Indiana	$47,298
49	Arkansas	$47,124
50	Mississippi	$48,494
51	Montana	$43,226

Solar designer best states FAQs

What is the best state for solar designers?

What is the highest paying state for solar designers?

What is the worst state for solar designers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

Search for solar designer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs

Total solar designer jobs:	2,792
Average annual salary:	$78,504
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$49,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$123,000
Location Quotient:	1.71

Best states for a solar designer

10 best states for solar designers in 2025

1. California

2. New York

3. Washington

4. New Hampshire

5. Virginia

6. District of Columbia

7. Connecticut

8. Maryland

9. New Mexico

10. Vermont