Solar installer salary in Vermont
Median $23.79 an hour for 250 solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2012.
Solar installer pay in Vermont: the full range
Vermont ranks 21st of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.28). 250 solar photovoltaic installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.44 – $23.18 | $44,600 – $48,210 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.18 – $28.52 | $48,210 – $59,330 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.52 – $34.63 | $59,330 – $72,030 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Solar installer wages in Vermont over time
Table
| Year | Vermont $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $18.63 | $26.12 | $18.22 | — |
| 2013 | $18.77 | $25.94 | $19.04 | 30 |
| 2014 | $19.01 | $25.85 | $19.24 | — |
| 2015 | $18.66 | $25.35 | $18.19 | 100 |
| 2016 | $17.42 | $23.37 | $18.87 | 270 |
| 2017 | $18.11 | $23.79 | $18.98 | 370 |
| 2018 | $18.27 | $23.42 | $20.52 | 400 |
| 2019 | $20.17 | $25.40 | $21.58 | — |
| 2021 | $18.11 | $21.52 | $22.92 | — |
| 2022 | $24.49 | $26.94 | $21.75 | 180 |
| 2023 | $25.77 | $27.23 | $23.46 | 150 |
| 2024 | $30.88 | $31.69 | $24.93 | 60 |
| 2025 | $23.79 | $23.79 | $25.55 | 250 |
In today's dollars, the median solar installer wage in Vermont changed by -6.1% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in Vermont
On federally funded construction in Vermont, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 4 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $42.85 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $27.51). 10 of the 14 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Addison County at $30.89). The market median for the state is $23.79.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden | Union ELEC0300-001 2023-06-01 | $31.90 | $10.95 | $42.85 | VT20260025 |
| Franklin | Union ELEC0300-001 2023-06-01 | $31.90 | $10.95 | $42.85 | VT20260026 |
| Grand Isle | Union ELEC0300-001 2023-06-01 | $31.90 | $10.95 | $42.85 | VT20260027 |
| Windsor | Union ELEC0300-001 2023-06-01 | $31.90 | $10.95 | $42.85 | VT20260023 |
| Addison | Survey SUVT2011-001 2011-02-10 | $21.53 | $9.36 | $30.89 | VT20260016 |
| Bennington | Survey SUVT2011-002 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260017 |
| Caledonia | Survey SUVT2011-003 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260018 |
| Essex | Survey SUVT2011-009 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260024 |
| Lamoille | Survey SUVT2011-009 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260024 |
| Orange | Survey SUVT2011-009 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260024 |
| Orleans | Survey SUVT2011-004 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260019 |
| Rutland | Survey SUVT2011-005 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260020 |
| Washington | Survey SUVT2011-006 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260021 |
| Windham | Survey SUVT2011-007 2011-02-10 | $20.24 | $7.27 | $27.51 | VT20260022 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Vermont prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Vermont?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 578 | $73,473 | $1,413 |
| Orleans County | 129 | $73,112 | $1,406 |
| Washington County | 200 | $72,015 | $1,385 |
| Caledonia County | 74 | $69,357 | $1,334 |
| Orange County | 103 | $67,822 | $1,304 |
| Windham County | 136 | $64,662 | $1,244 |
| Rutland County | 152 | $63,768 | $1,226 |
| Lamoille County | 105 | $63,644 | $1,224 |
Keep comparing
Solar installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Vermont
Questions this page answers
How much do solar installers make in Vermont?
The median solar installer in Vermont earned $23.79 an hour ($49,490 a year) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $23.18–$28.52; the top 10% earn more than $34.63.
Where does Vermont rank for solar installer pay?
Vermont ranks 21st of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $23.79 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Vermont's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.0, US = 100).
What is the union solar installer rate in Vermont?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 4 counties, with a typical package of $42.85 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many solar installers work in Vermont?
BLS counted 250 solar photovoltaic installers in Vermont in May 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 4.02; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Vermont 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.