Solar installer salary in New Jersey
Median $37.96 an hour for 1,880 solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2012.
Solar installer pay in New Jersey: the full range
New Jersey ranks 1st of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 1st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.89). 1,880 solar photovoltaic installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.89 – $29.40 | $47,600 – $61,150 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.40 – $49.06 | $61,150 – $102,050 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $49.06 – $49.06 | $102,050 – $102,050 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Solar installer pay by metro in New Jersey
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $22.89 | $33.72 | $49.06 | 2,190 | 11% below |
| Atlantic City | $23.20 | $28.96 | $50.14 | 70 | 24% below |
| Philadelphia | $24.21 | $28.05 | $42.60 | 580 | 26% below |
Solar installer wages in New Jersey over time
Table
| Year | New Jersey $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $22.73 | $31.87 | $18.22 | 70 |
| 2013 | $18.25 | $25.22 | $19.04 | 140 |
| 2014 | $20.90 | $28.42 | $19.24 | 270 |
| 2015 | $20.36 | $27.66 | $18.19 | 480 |
| 2016 | $20.37 | $27.32 | $18.87 | 610 |
| 2017 | $18.71 | $24.57 | $18.98 | 750 |
| 2018 | $21.15 | $27.12 | $20.52 | 760 |
| 2019 | $20.57 | $25.90 | $21.58 | 1,050 |
| 2020 | $21.47 | $26.71 | $22.34 | 1,370 |
| 2021 | $23.24 | $27.61 | $22.92 | 780 |
| 2022 | $24.28 | $26.71 | $21.75 | 1,090 |
| 2023 | $28.19 | $29.79 | $23.46 | 1,460 |
| 2024 | $31.09 | $31.91 | $24.93 | 1,280 |
| 2025 | $37.96 | $37.96 | $25.55 | 1,880 |
In today's dollars, the median solar installer wage in New Jersey changed by +37.3% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in New Jersey
On federally funded construction in New Jersey, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 18 of the 18 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $103.81 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $37.96.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen | Union ELEC0164-006 2024-06-03 | $73.59 | $45.99 | $119.58 | NJ20260026 |
| Morris | Union ELEC0102-023 2025-06-02 | $65.43 | $42.86 | $108.29 | NJ20260038 |
| Passaic | Union ELEC0102-023 2025-06-02 | $65.43 | $42.86 | $108.29 | NJ20260040 |
| Sussex | Union ELEC0102-023 2025-06-02 | $65.43 | $42.86 | $108.29 | NJ20260043 |
| Union | Union ELEC0102-023 2025-06-02 | $65.43 | $42.86 | $108.29 | NJ20260044 |
| Warren | Union ELEC0102-023 2025-06-02 | $65.43 | $42.86 | $108.29 | NJ20260045 |
| Hunterdon | Union ELEC0269-018 2026-01-05 | $63.82 | $41.99 | $105.81 | NJ20260034 |
| Mercer | Union ELEC0269-016 2026-01-05 | $63.82 | $41.99 | $105.81 | NJ20260035 |
| Atlantic | Union ELEC0351-011 2024-09-30 | $55.05 | $48.76 | $103.81 | NJ20260025 |
| Burlington | Union ELEC0351-001 2024-09-30 | $55.05 | $48.76 | $103.81 | NJ20260027 |
| Cape May | Union ELEC0351-011 2024-09-30 | $55.05 | $48.76 | $103.81 | NJ20260029 |
| Cumberland | Union ELEC0351-011 2024-09-30 | $55.05 | $48.76 | $103.81 | NJ20260030 |
| Gloucester | Union ELEC0351-007 2024-09-30 | $55.05 | $48.76 | $103.81 | NJ20260032 |
| Essex | Union ELEC0164-006 2024-06-03 | $62.90 | $39.31 | $102.21 | NJ20260031 |
| Hudson | Union ELEC0164-006 2024-06-03 | $62.90 | $39.31 | $102.21 | NJ20260033 |
| Somerset | Union ELEC0269-019 2025-07-07 | $61.84 | $40.32 | $102.16 | NJ20260042 |
| Middlesex | Union ELEC0456-008 2025-06-02 | $61.40 | $39.14 | $100.54 | NJ20260036 |
| Camden | Union ELEC0351-007 2024-09-30 | $46.51 | $34.39 | $80.90 | NJ20260028 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Jersey prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Jersey?
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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | 1,095 | $119,747 | $2,303 |
| Middlesex County | 2,828 | $109,116 | $2,098 |
| Hudson County | 670 | $107,356 | $2,065 |
| Camden County | 1,726 | $101,439 | $1,951 |
| Morris County | 2,536 | $99,850 | $1,920 |
| Union County | 1,260 | $98,837 | $1,901 |
| Essex County | 969 | $98,136 | $1,887 |
| Passaic County | 1,314 | $93,030 | $1,789 |
| Burlington County | 857 | $92,352 | $1,776 |
| Bergen County | 2,251 | $90,402 | $1,738 |
| Gloucester County | 822 | $90,322 | $1,737 |
| Somerset County | 1,236 | $87,920 | $1,691 |
| Monmouth County | 2,743 | $87,115 | $1,675 |
| Cumberland County | 320 | $87,014 | $1,673 |
| Sussex County | 308 | $85,617 | $1,646 |
| Atlantic County | 880 | $79,205 | $1,523 |
| Ocean County | 1,488 | $67,376 | $1,296 |
| Cape May County | 244 | $55,375 | $1,065 |
Keep comparing
Solar installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Jersey
Questions this page answers
How much do solar installers make in New Jersey?
The median solar installer in New Jersey earned $37.96 an hour ($78,950 a year) in May 2025, 49% above the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $29.40–$49.06; the top 10% earn more than $49.06.
Where does New Jersey rank for solar installer pay?
New Jersey ranks 1st of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $37.96 an hour, and 1st after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).
What is the union solar installer rate in New Jersey?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 18 counties, with a typical package of $103.81 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many solar installers work in New Jersey?
BLS counted 1,880 solar photovoltaic installers in New Jersey in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Jersey 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.