Skilled Wages

Solar installer salary in Virginia

Median $23.65 an hour for — solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2018.

$23.65/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$49,190/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.65 – $28.4210th to 90th percentilehourly range
—Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Solar installer pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrVirginia: 10th $22.65 · 25th $22.94 · median $23.65 · 75th $28.34 · 90th $28.42Virginia$23.65$22.65$28.42United 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: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 22nd of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 28th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.39). — solar photovoltaic installers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.65 – $22.94$47,100 – $47,700roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$22.94 – $28.34$47,700 – $58,940the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$28.34 – $28.42$58,940 – $59,110the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Solar installer pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrVirginia Beach: $23.04Virginia Beach$23.04
Median hourly wage for solar photovoltaic installers by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$22.94$23.04$28.01—3% below

Solar installer wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 2018-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$18$20$22$24$26$2820202025$25.55United States$23.65Virginia
Median hourly wage for solar photovoltaic installers, Virginia vs United States, 2018–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
2018$19.52$25.03$20.52—
2019$19.34$24.35$21.58300
2020$20.28$25.23$22.34340
2021$21.96$26.09$22.92280
2022$21.75$23.93$21.75140
2024$23.21$23.82$24.931,110
2025$23.65$23.65$25.55—

Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 72 of the 102 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $55.97 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.09). 30 of the 102 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Albemarle County at $32.29). The market median for the state is $23.65.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $55.97 (union)Albemarle: $32.29 (survey)Alleghany: $19.75 (survey)Amelia: $55.97 (union)Amherst: $31.09 (survey)Appomattox: $31.09 (survey)Arlington: $82.56 (union)Augusta: $24.56 (survey)Bath: $19.75 (survey)Bedford: $31.09 (survey)Bland: $55.97 (union)Botetourt: $31.09 (survey)Brunswick: $55.97 (union)Buchanan: $55.97 (union)Buckingham: $32.29 (survey)Campbell: $31.09 (survey)Caroline: $55.97 (union)Carroll: $55.97 (union)Charles City: $55.97 (union)Charlotte: $55.97 (union)Chesterfield: $55.97 (union)Clarke: $82.56 (union)Craig: $31.09 (survey)Culpeper: $82.56 (union)Cumberland: $55.97 (union)Dickenson: $55.97 (union)Dinwiddie: $55.97 (union)Essex: $55.97 (union)Fairfax: $82.56 (union)Fauquier: $82.56 (union)Floyd: $65.74 (union)Fluvanna: $32.29 (survey)Franklin: $31.09 (survey)Frederick: $41.64 (survey)Giles: $65.74 (union)Gloucester: $51.06 (union)Goochland: $55.97 (union)Grayson: $55.97 (union)Greene: $32.29 (survey)Greensville: $55.97 (union)Halifax: $55.97 (union)Hanover: $55.97 (union)Henrico: $55.97 (union)Henry: $55.97 (union)Highland: $19.75 (survey)Isle of Wight: $51.06 (union)James City: $51.06 (union)King and Queen: $55.97 (union)King George: $55.97 (union)King William: $55.97 (union)Lancaster: $55.97 (union)Lee: $55.97 (union)Loudoun: $82.56 (union)Louisa: $19.75 (survey)Lunenburg: $55.97 (union)Madison: $19.75 (survey)Mathews: $51.06 (union)Mecklenburg: $55.97 (union)Middlesex: $55.97 (union)Montgomery: $65.74 (union)Nelson: $32.29 (survey)New Kent: $55.97 (union)Northampton: $55.97 (union)Northumberland: $55.97 (union)Nottoway: $55.97 (union)Orange: $19.75 (survey)Page: $19.75 (survey)Patrick: $55.97 (union)Pittsylvania: $55.97 (union)Powhatan: $55.97 (union)Prince Edward: $55.97 (union)Prince George: $55.97 (union)Prince William: $82.56 (union)Pulaski: $65.74 (union)Rappahannock: $82.56 (union)Richmond: $55.97 (union)Roanoke: $31.09 (survey)Rockbridge: $19.75 (survey)Rockingham: $24.56 (survey)Russell: $55.97 (union)Scott: $31.09 (survey)Shenandoah: $19.75 (survey)Smyth: $55.97 (union)Southampton: $55.97 (union)Spotsylvania: $41.32 (survey)Stafford: $82.56 (union)Surry: $55.97 (union)Sussex: $55.97 (union)Tazewell: $55.97 (union)Warren: $24.28 (survey)Washington: $31.09 (survey)Westmoreland: $55.97 (union)Wise: $55.97 (union)Wythe: $55.97 (union)York: $51.06 (union)Alexandria: —Bristol: —Buena Vista: —Charlottesville: —Chesapeake: $51.06 (union)Colonial Heights: —Covington: —Danville: —Emporia: —Fairfax: —Falls Church: —Franklin: —Fredericksburg: —Galax: —Hampton: $51.06 (union)Harrisonburg: —Hopewell: —Lexington: —Lynchburg: —Manassas: —Manassas Park: —Martinsville: —Newport News: $51.06 (union)Norfolk: $50.98 (union)Norton: —Petersburg: —Poquoson: —Portsmouth: $50.98 (union)Radford: —Richmond: —Roanoke: —Salem: —Staunton: —Suffolk: $51.06 (union)Virginia Beach: $24.88 (survey)Waynesboro: —Williamsburg: —Winchester: —Union / prevailing package, $/hr$31.09$53.02$55.97n/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
ArlingtonUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260013
ClarkeUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260018
CulpeperUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260174
FairfaxUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260178
FauquierUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260020
LoudounUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260158
Prince WilliamUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260162
RappahannockUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260174
StaffordUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260174
FloydUnion ELEC0466-001 2024-06-01$41.90$23.84$65.74VA20260175
GilesUnion ELEC0466-001 2024-06-01$41.90$23.84$65.74VA20260175
MontgomeryUnion ELEC0466-001 2024-06-01$41.90$23.84$65.74VA20260175
PulaskiUnion ELEC0466-001 2024-06-01$41.90$23.84$65.74VA20260163
AccomackUnion ELEC0666-001 2025-03-01$37.95$18.02$55.97VA20260007
AmeliaUnion ELEC0666-004 2025-03-01$37.95$18.02$55.97VA20260170

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

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

231.3kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kAug 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (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
Loudoun County11,474$111,334$2,141
Newport News City1,558$104,907$2,017
Louisa County145$103,259$1,986
Henrico County2,352$98,725$1,899
Fairfax County3,232$97,767$1,880
Suffolk City244$95,289$1,832
Manassas City316$87,906$1,691
Arlington County29$86,214$1,658
Norfolk City557$85,720$1,648
Prince William County1,370$85,708$1,648
Manassas Park City39$78,862$1,517
Hanover County1,455$78,689$1,513

Keep comparing

Solar installer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do solar installers make in Virginia?

The median solar installer in Virginia earned $23.65 an hour ($49,190 a year) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $22.94–$28.34; the top 10% earn more than $28.42.

Where does Virginia rank for solar installer pay?

Virginia ranks 22nd of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $23.65 an hour, and 28th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union solar installer rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 72 counties, with a typical package of $55.97 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many solar installers work in Virginia?

BLS counted — solar photovoltaic installers in Virginia in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Virginia 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.