The Reality.
Easy to enter — many installers start with a 2–6 week training and on-the-job mentoring. Many treat it as a path to becoming a full electrician (IBEW). Pay starts modest but ramps with experience and certifications. Heavy roof exposure means heat and falls are real risks.
The Money.
| Stage | Hourly | Approx. annual (40 hr × 50 wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $17–$22/hr | $34,000 – $44,000 |
| Journeyman (top of scale) | $25–$38/hr | $50,000 – $76,000 |
| BLS national median (all stages) | — | $51,860 |
| BLS top 10% (90th percentile) | — | $78,320 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024 release). Apprentice/journeyman hourly ranges synthesized from union scale data and reported non-union rates. Major-metro union scale runs higher; smaller markets run lower.
The Path.
- · NABCEP PV Associate / PV Installation Professional
- · OSHA 10
What the recruiter won't tell you.
- 01Industry is heavily policy-dependent — tax credits and net metering rules drive demand.
- 02Many solar installer jobs are seasonal or project-based, not year-round.
- 03Roof work in summer heat is grueling. Stay hydrated.
- 04NABCEP certification is the real credential for moving up.
The Tool Bill.
What you'll spend on tools in your first year. Don't let anyone tell you it's less.
More in electrical trades.
All trades →Pulls wire, bends conduit, makes everything that uses electricity work. The flagship trade.
Builds and repairs the high-voltage grid. Climbs poles, rides bucket trucks, works storms. Highest-paid common trade.
Installs data, voice, video, fire alarm, access control, security cabling. The 'electrical work without the high voltage' trade.