Solar installer salary in New Mexico
Median $23.31 an hour for 340 solar installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 2013 and the state's own outlook.
Solar installer pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 23rd of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 16th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.28). 340 solar installers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.24 – $22.13 | $40,020 – $46,040 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.13 – $29.60 | $46,040 – $61,560 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $29.60 – $36.23 | $61,560 – $75,370 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Solar installer pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $18.96 | $28.75 | $37.00 | 120 | 23% above |
Solar installer wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $17.24 | $23.83 | $19.04 | 90 |
| 2014 | $17.22 | $23.42 | $19.24 | 130 |
| 2015 | $17.65 | $23.97 | $18.19 | 140 |
| 2016 | $17.98 | $24.12 | $18.87 | 80 |
| 2017 | $19.15 | $25.15 | $18.98 | 50 |
| 2018 | $17.90 | $22.95 | $20.52 | 120 |
| 2019 | $20.14 | $25.36 | $21.58 | 170 |
| 2020 | $20.59 | $25.61 | $22.34 | 200 |
| 2021 | $22.21 | $26.39 | $22.92 | 80 |
| 2022 | $19.29 | $21.22 | $21.75 | 90 |
| 2023 | $21.79 | $23.02 | $23.46 | 280 |
| 2024 | $22.24 | $22.83 | $24.93 | 200 |
| 2025 | $23.31 | $23.31 | $25.55 | 340 |
In today's dollars, the median solar installer wage in New Mexico changed by -2.8% over the last ten years of data and by -8.1% since 2019.
Are there more solar installer jobs in New Mexico?
BLS counted 340 solar installers in New Mexico in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 18%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for solar installers in New Mexico
New Mexico's labor market agency projects the number of solar installers in the state to change by +28.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 200 to 260, with about 30 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +36.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 340 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Mexico labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 29 of the 33 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $53.71 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $33.42). 2 of the 33 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Colfax County at $32.84). The market median for the state is $23.31.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos | Union ELEC0611-017 2025-01-01 | $46.35 | $13.65 | $60.00 | NM20260022 |
| Bernalillo | Union ELEC0611-022 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260044 |
| Catron | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260014 |
| Cibola | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260031 |
| Curry | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260016 |
| De Baca | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Union ELEC0611-018 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260018 |
| Grant | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260019 |
| Guadalupe | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260031 |
| Lea | Union ELEC0611-018 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260020 |
| Lincoln | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260021 |
| Mora | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260026 |
| Roosevelt | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260027 |
| San Juan | Union ELEC0611-022 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260046 |
| San Miguel | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260028 |
| Santa Fe | Union ELEC0611-022 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260048 |
| Socorro | Union ELEC0611-020 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260029 |
| Taos | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260031 |
| Torrance | Union ELEC0611-022 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260049 |
| Union | Union ELEC0611-019 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260030 |
| Valencia | Union ELEC0611-022 2025-01-01 | $40.30 | $13.41 | $53.71 | NM20260049 |
| Hidalgo | Union ELEC0583-010 2025-01-01 | $38.00 | $9.82 | $47.82 | NM20260032 |
| Luna | Union ELEC0583-009 2025-01-01 | $38.00 | $9.82 | $47.82 | NM20260023 |
| Otero | Union ELEC0583-009 2025-01-01 | $38.00 | $9.82 | $47.82 | NM20260025 |
| Sierra | Union ELEC0583-010 2025-01-01 | $38.00 | $9.82 | $47.82 | NM20260032 |
| Doña Ana | Survey SUNM2016-002 2018-09-26 | $29.26 | $8.98 | $38.24 | NM20260045 |
| McKinley | Survey SUNM2010-012 2010-11-09 | $25.20 | $8.81 | $34.01 | NM20260024 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $24.55 | $8.29 | $32.84 | NM20260015 |
| Sandoval | Survey SUNM2016-004 2018-09-26 | $25.73 | $5.69 | $31.42 | NM20260047 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Mexico prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Mexico?
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. Across the 22 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 22,922 in 2015 to 28,689 in 2025, +25.2%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna County | 6 | 64 | $105,596 | $2,031 |
| Lea County | 35 | 725 | $94,805 | $1,823 |
| Valencia County | 30 | 637 | $93,312 | $1,794 |
| Eddy County | 36 | 453 | $88,996 | $1,711 |
| Sandoval County | 39 | 356 | $83,188 | $1,600 |
| Bernalillo County | 267 | 3,954 | $75,750 | $1,457 |
| San Juan County | 39 | 391 | $72,795 | $1,400 |
| Chaves County | 14 | 95 | $69,689 | $1,340 |
| McKinley County | 12 | 105 | $67,974 | $1,307 |
| Otero County | 14 | 125 | $67,354 | $1,295 |
| Taos County | 13 | 53 | $63,585 | $1,223 |
| San Miguel County | 11 | 53 | $60,176 | $1,157 |
| Rio Arriba County | 18 | 79 | $56,278 | $1,082 |
| Cibola County | 5 | 23 | $54,866 | $1,055 |
| Lincoln County | 8 | 34 | $49,747 | $957 |
| Roosevelt County | 6 | 20 | $49,411 | $950 |
| Grant County | 9 | 69 | $45,774 | $880 |
Keep comparing
Solar installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
More on New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do solar installers make in New Mexico?
The median solar installer in New Mexico earned $23.31 an hour ($48,490 a year) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $22.13–$29.60; the top 10% earn more than $36.23.
Where does New Mexico rank for solar installer pay?
New Mexico ranks 23rd of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $23.31 an hour, and 16th after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union solar installer rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 29 counties, with a typical package of $53.71 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many solar installers work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 340 solar installers in New Mexico in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.93; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is solar installer work growing in New Mexico?
New Mexico's labor market agency projects +28.8% growth for solar installers between 2024 and 2034, from 200 to 260 jobs.
How many solar installer openings a year are there in New Mexico?
New Mexico projects about 30 openings a year for solar installers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 4,200 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico and metro areas, SOC 47-2231. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: New Mexico labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.