Skilled Wages

Solar installer salary in Michigan

Median $22.63 an hour for 310 solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2017.

$22.63/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$47,080/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.44 – $28.9710th to 90th percentilehourly range
310Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Solar installer pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrMichigan: 10th $18.44 · 25th $21.47 · median $22.63 · 75th $27.75 · 90th $28.97Michigan$22.63$18.44$28.97United States: 10th $20.00 · 25th $22.45 · median $25.55 · 75th $30.23 · 90th $38.45United States$25.55
Hourly wage percentiles for solar photovoltaic installers: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 27th of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 26th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.52). 310 solar photovoltaic installers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.44 – $21.47$38,340 – $44,650roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.47 – $27.75$44,650 – $57,720the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$27.75 – $28.97$57,720 – $60,270the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Solar installer pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrDetroit: $23.09Detroit$23.09
Median hourly wage for solar photovoltaic installers by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Detroit$19.13$23.09$28.951402% above

Solar installer wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 2017-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$352025$25.55United States$22.63Michigan
Median hourly wage for solar photovoltaic installers, Michigan vs United States, 2017–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
2017$32.42$42.58$18.98—
2018$32.68$41.90$20.52—
2019$17.28$21.76$21.58—
2021$22.66$26.92$22.92—
2022$22.37$24.61$21.75190
2023$24.85$26.26$23.46160
2024$26.37$27.06$24.9390
2025$22.63$22.63$25.55310

Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 62 of the 73 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $63.35 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.15). 11 of the 73 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Antrim County at $24.03). The market median for the state is $22.63.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $63.35 (union)Alger: —Allegan: $64.62 (union)Alpena: $63.35 (union)Antrim: $24.03 (survey)Arenac: $66.52 (union)Baraga: $55.74 (union)Barry: $28.15 (survey)Bay: $66.52 (union)Benzie: $29.32 (survey)Berrien: $75.23 (union)Branch: $66.74 (union)Calhoun: $66.74 (union)Cass: $75.23 (union)Charlevoix: $59.67 (union)Cheboygan: $63.35 (union)Chippewa: —Clare: $23.29 (survey)Clinton: $68.80 (union)Crawford: $63.35 (union)Delta: $55.21 (union)Dickinson: $55.74 (union)Eaton: $72.73 (union)Emmet: $63.35 (union)Genesee: $71.79 (union)Gladwin: $66.52 (union)Gogebic: $55.74 (union)Grand Traverse: $59.67 (union)Gratiot: $57.38 (union)Hillsdale: $66.19 (union)Houghton: $55.74 (union)Huron: $79.76 (union)Ingham: $80.18 (union)Ionia: $61.67 (union)Iosco: $62.65 (union)Iron: $55.74 (union)Isabella: $69.95 (union)Jackson: $86.57 (union)Kalamazoo: $64.62 (union)Kalkaska: $59.67 (union)Kent: $27.07 (survey)Keweenaw: $55.74 (union)Lake: $59.67 (union)Lapeer: $71.79 (union)Leelanau: $59.67 (union)Lenawee: $66.19 (union)Livingston: $37.03 (survey)Luce: —Mackinac: —Macomb: —Manistee: $59.67 (union)Marquette: —Mason: $59.67 (union)Mecosta: $59.04 (union)Menominee: $55.74 (union)Midland: $66.52 (union)Missaukee: $59.67 (union)Monroe: $66.19 (union)Montcalm: $59.04 (union)Montmorency: $63.35 (union)Muskegon: $31.79 (survey)Newaygo: $28.15 (survey)Oakland: —Oceana: $59.04 (union)Ogemaw: $62.65 (union)Ontonagon: $55.74 (union)Osceola: $59.67 (union)Oscoda: $63.35 (union)Otsego: $60.02 (union)Ottawa: $25.82 (survey)Presque Isle: $63.35 (union)Roscommon: $66.52 (union)Saginaw: $64.53 (union)St. Clair: —St. Joseph: $20.51 (survey)Sanilac: $79.76 (union)Schoolcraft: $55.21 (union)Shiawassee: —Tuscola: $35.49 (survey)Van Buren: $64.62 (union)Washtenaw: $86.57 (union)Wayne: —Wexford: $59.67 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$55.74$59.67$63.35$66.52n/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for solar installers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
JacksonUnion ELEC0252-003 2025-06-03$56.05$30.52$86.57MI20260086
WashtenawUnion ELEC0252-010 2025-06-01$56.05$30.52$86.57MI20260100
InghamUnion ELEC0665-004 2026-05-31$47.00$33.18$80.18MI20260084
HuronUnion ELEC0058-005 2024-06-28$51.32$28.44$79.76MI20260125
SanilacUnion ELEC0058-005 2024-06-28$51.32$28.44$79.76MI20260149
BerrienUnion ELEC0153-002 2025-06-01$46.00$29.23$75.23MI20260078
CassUnion ELEC0153-004 2025-06-01$46.00$29.23$75.23MI20260080
EatonUnion ELEC0665-003 2024-05-31$42.98$29.75$72.73MI20260082
GeneseeUnion ELEC0948-001 2025-05-25$44.83$26.96$71.79MI20260083
LapeerUnion ELEC0948-003 2025-06-01$44.83$26.96$71.79MI20260089
IsabellaUnion ELEC0557-011 2025-06-01$40.00$29.95$69.95MI20260127
ClintonUnion ELEC0665-001 2023-05-31$40.50$28.30$68.80MI20260081
BranchUnion ELEC0445-002 2025-06-01$41.00$25.74$66.74MI20260110
CalhounUnion ELEC0445-011 2025-05-31$41.00$25.74$66.74MI20260079
ArenacUnion ELEC0692-006 2025-06-01$40.00$26.52$66.52MI20260107

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Michigan prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

211.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-08
-1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025211kAug 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at electrical contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just solar installers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Oakland County6,675$105,826$2,035
Muskegon County716$100,340$1,930
Wayne County3,464$96,660$1,859
Roscommon County45$92,582$1,780
Isabella County655$90,275$1,736
Macomb County2,760$89,969$1,730
Kent County2,628$86,422$1,662
Kalamazoo County769$85,373$1,642
Ingham County500$84,219$1,620
Ionia County55$81,522$1,568
St. Clair County254$81,182$1,561
Clinton County534$80,871$1,555

Keep comparing

Solar installer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do solar installers make in Michigan?

The median solar installer in Michigan earned $22.63 an hour ($47,080 a year) in May 2025, 11% below the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $21.47–$27.75; the top 10% earn more than $28.97.

Where does Michigan rank for solar installer pay?

Michigan ranks 27th of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $22.63 an hour, and 26th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union solar installer rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 62 counties, with a typical package of $63.35 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many solar installers work in Michigan?

BLS counted 310 solar photovoltaic installers in Michigan in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.35; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan and metro areas, SOC 47-2231.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.