Solar installer salary in Oregon
Median $31.88 an hour for 360 solar installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 2012 and the state's own outlook.
Solar installer pay in Oregon: the full range
Oregon ranks 4th of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 5th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.83). 360 solar installers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $26.02 – $29.03 | $54,110 – $60,380 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.03 – $42.00 | $60,380 – $87,370 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $42.00 – $42.00 | $87,370 – $87,370 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Solar installer pay by metro in Oregon
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $27.15 | $31.88 | $42.00 | 210 | about the same as |
Solar installer wages in Oregon over time
Table
| Year | Oregon $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $17.70 | $24.82 | $18.22 | — |
| 2013 | $17.50 | $24.18 | $19.04 | — |
| 2014 | $17.99 | $24.47 | $19.24 | — |
| 2015 | $18.37 | $24.95 | $18.19 | — |
| 2016 | $19.09 | $25.61 | $18.87 | — |
| 2017 | $26.63 | $34.98 | $18.98 | 60 |
| 2018 | $25.52 | $32.72 | $20.52 | — |
| 2019 | $28.04 | $35.31 | $21.58 | — |
| 2020 | $28.16 | $35.03 | $22.34 | 260 |
| 2021 | $28.87 | $34.30 | $22.92 | 320 |
| 2022 | $23.18 | $25.50 | $21.75 | 330 |
| 2023 | $23.36 | $24.68 | $23.46 | 300 |
| 2024 | $28.23 | $28.97 | $24.93 | 240 |
| 2025 | $31.88 | $31.88 | $25.55 | 360 |
In today's dollars, the median solar installer wage in Oregon changed by +27.8% over the last ten years of data and by -9.7% since 2019.
Are there more solar installer jobs in Oregon?
BLS counted 360 solar installers in Oregon in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 29%. 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 Oregon
Oregon's labor market agency projects the number of solar installers in the state to change by +33.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 240 to 320, 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 360 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Oregon labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in Oregon
On federally funded construction in Oregon, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 20 of the 36 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $79.51 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $60.45). The market median for the state is $31.88.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clackamas | Union ELEC0048-009 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | OR20260095 |
| Columbia | Union ELEC0048-009 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | OR20260096 |
| Multnomah | Union ELEC0048-009 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | OR20260100 |
| Wasco | Union ELEC0048-011 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | OR20260091 |
| Washington | Union ELEC0048-009 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | OR20260101 |
| Yamhill | Union ELEC0048-009 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | OR20260102 |
| Benton | Union ELEC0280-001 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260094 |
| Deschutes | Union ELEC0280-001 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260097 |
| Lane | Union ELEC0280-001 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260098 |
| Linn | Union ELEC0280-001 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260099 |
| Marion | Union ELEC0280-001 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260104 |
| Morrow | Union ELEC0280-004 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260088 |
| Polk | Union ELEC0280-001 2025-01-01 | $56.46 | $23.05 | $79.51 | OR20260104 |
| Douglas | uavg UAVGOR0001 2025-01-01 | $50.97 | $23.90 | $74.87 | OR20260085 |
| Clatsop | Union ELEC0932-001 2024-01-01 | $50.03 | $24.00 | $74.03 | OR20260092 |
| Coos | Union ELEC0932-001 2024-01-01 | $50.03 | $24.00 | $74.03 | OR20260082 |
| Curry | Union ELEC0932-001 2024-01-01 | $50.03 | $24.00 | $74.03 | OR20260084 |
| Lincoln | Union ELEC0932-001 2024-01-01 | $50.03 | $24.00 | $74.03 | OR20260092 |
| Tillamook | Union ELEC0932-001 2024-01-01 | $50.03 | $24.00 | $74.03 | OR20260092 |
| Jackson | Union ELEC0659-001 2026-01-01 | $47.04 | $21.84 | $68.88 | OR20260103 |
| Josephine | Union ELEC0659-001 2026-01-01 | $47.04 | $21.84 | $68.88 | OR20260103 |
| Baker | Survey SUOR2018-001 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260002 |
| Crook | Survey SUOR2018-003 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260083 |
| Gilliam | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Grant | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Harney | Survey SUOR2018-006 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260086 |
| Hood River | Survey SUOR2018-007 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260087 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Klamath | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Lake | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Malheur | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Sherman | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Umatilla | Survey SUOR2018-009 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260089 |
| Union | Survey SUOR2018-010 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260090 |
| Wallowa | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
| Wheeler | Survey SUOR2018-013 2023-08-25 | $40.48 | $19.97 | $60.45 | OR20260093 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Oregon prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Oregon?
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 30 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 50,466 in 2015 to 68,271 in 2025, +35.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | 153 | 4,522 | $125,344 | $2,410 |
| Crook County | 14 | 212 | $110,715 | $2,129 |
| Washington County | 156 | 2,276 | $107,350 | $2,064 |
| Umatilla County | 28 | 221 | $103,913 | $1,998 |
| Marion County | 104 | 1,337 | $100,390 | $1,931 |
| Yamhill County | 27 | 266 | $99,440 | $1,912 |
| Clackamas County | 139 | 1,366 | $98,185 | $1,888 |
| Linn County | 30 | 474 | $97,028 | $1,866 |
| Columbia County | 11 | 46 | $94,401 | $1,815 |
| Wasco County | 3 | 30 | $90,150 | $1,734 |
| Lane County | 109 | 1,038 | $85,732 | $1,649 |
| Jackson County | 72 | 850 | $85,219 | $1,639 |
| Hood River County | 11 | 49 | $83,302 | $1,602 |
| Malheur County | 9 | 54 | $78,215 | $1,504 |
| Lincoln County | 17 | 106 | $77,545 | $1,491 |
| Coos County | 16 | 124 | $77,217 | $1,485 |
| Douglas County | 33 | 227 | $76,625 | $1,474 |
| Union County | 10 | 64 | $76,507 | $1,471 |
| Jefferson County | 4 | 15 | $64,871 | $1,248 |
| Baker County | 8 | 18 | $60,627 | $1,166 |
| Curry County | 6 | 12 | $48,362 | $930 |
Keep comparing
Solar installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Oregon
More on Oregon
Questions this page answers
How much do solar installers make in Oregon?
The median solar installer in Oregon earned $31.88 an hour ($66,320 a year) in May 2025, 25% above the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $29.03–$42.00; the top 10% earn more than $42.00.
Where does Oregon rank for solar installer pay?
Oregon ranks 4th of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $31.88 an hour, and 5th after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).
What is the union solar installer rate in Oregon?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 20 counties, with a typical package of $79.51 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many solar installers work in Oregon?
BLS counted 360 solar installers in Oregon in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.91; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is solar installer work growing in Oregon?
Oregon's labor market agency projects +33.5% growth for solar installers between 2024 and 2034, from 240 to 320 jobs.
How many solar installer openings a year are there in Oregon?
Oregon 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, Oregon 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: Oregon labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.