Solar is one of the fastest-growing corners of the trades, and the barrier to entry is low — you can be on a crew within weeks. It's a strong entry point into the broader electrical field, and for people who don't want years of apprenticeship before they earn, it's hard to beat. Here's how to get in.
Pay: $38,000–$65,000+ | Training: weeks to a few months | Cert: NABCEP | Requirement: 18+, comfortable at heights
Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers mount and connect solar panel systems — on rooftops for homes and businesses, or across large ground-mounted utility-scale sites. The work mixes construction (mounting racking, running conduit, lifting panels) with electrical (wiring arrays, inverters, and tying into the grid), plus safety at heights.
Residential installers work on homes and small commercial roofs. Utility-scale crews build large solar farms — often travel-based, with steadier hours and a more industrial feel. Many installers use solar as a stepping stone into a full electrician apprenticeship.
Most installers start with a short training program (a few weeks to a few months) or simply on the job as an entry-level crew member. The credential that raises your pay and credibility is NABCEP certification (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) — the PV Associate is the entry credential, and the PV Installation Professional is the respected mid-career one. OSHA safety training and basic electrical knowledge help a lot.
Because solar overlaps heavily with electrical work, time on solar crews pairs well with becoming a licensed electrician — which opens the higher-paying design and commissioning roles.
| Stage | Typical Pay (national) |
|---|---|
| Entry installer | $38k–$45k |
| Experienced installer | $45k–$58k |
| Crew lead / NABCEP-certified | $55k–$70k |
| Solar electrician / designer | $65k–$95k+ |
National ranges — actual pay varies by state, employer, certification, and overtime. Figures reflect published national averages and are updated as new data comes out.
Pay climbs with certification, electrical licensing, and moving into lead or design roles. Utility-scale and travel work often pays more than residential. Pairing solar experience with an electrician's license is the clearest route to the top of the range.
See training providers and how the trades compare across the country.
Browse Programs →Yes, especially as a fast, low-cost entry into the trades. You can start earning quickly, the industry is growing, and it feeds naturally into higher-paying electrical work. The honest downsides: some of the work is seasonal or project-based, residential pay can start modest, and it's hot, physical rooftop work. But as a launchpad into the electrical trades, it's one of the easiest doors to walk through.
You can join an entry-level crew within weeks, either through a short training program or on-the-job training. NABCEP certification comes later, once you have installation experience.
Entry installers start around $38,000–$45,000, experienced installers earn $45,000–$58,000, and crew leads or NABCEP-certified installers reach $55,000–$70,000. Moving into solar electrician or design roles pushes pay to $65,000–$95,000+.
Not to start as an installer, but electrical licensing raises your pay and opens design and commissioning roles. Many people use solar crews as a paid step toward an electrician apprenticeship.
About this guide: Written by a working journeyman lineman — IBEW, Class A CDL — who built UStradeRoute to give straight answers about the trades. Not a solar installer himself; sources are BLS wage data, industry certifying bodies, and the schools that train this trade. Corrections welcome.
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