Solar installer salary in Washington
Median $29.63 an hour for — solar installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 2019 and the state's own outlook.
Solar installer pay in Washington: the full range
Washington ranks 6th of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.69). — solar installers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.2× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $24.25 – $24.26 | $50,440 – $50,450 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.26 – $29.63 | $50,450 – $61,630 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $29.63 – $29.64 | $61,630 – $61,640 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Solar installer pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $27.15 | $31.88 | $30.25 | $42.00 | 210 | 8% above |
| Seattle | $24.25 | $29.63 | $26.67 | $29.64 | — | about the same as |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Outlook for solar installers in Washington
Washington's labor market agency projects the number of solar installers in the state to change by +30.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 270 to 350, with about 40 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +36.5% over 2025-35.
Source: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in Washington
On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 38 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $87.78 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $84.62). The market median for the state is $29.63.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clallam | Union ELEC0046-006 2025-08-04 | $75.96 | $33.48 | $109.44 | WA20260022 |
| Jefferson | Union ELEC0046-006 2025-08-04 | $75.96 | $33.48 | $109.44 | WA20260029 |
| King | Union ELEC0046-003 2025-08-04 | $75.96 | $33.48 | $109.44 | WA20260108 |
| Kitsap | Union ELEC0046-003 2025-08-04 | $75.96 | $33.48 | $109.44 | WA20260109 |
| Clark | Union ELEC0048-030 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | WA20260120 |
| Klickitat | Union ELEC0048-004 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | WA20260031 |
| Skamania | Union ELEC0048-030 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | WA20260120 |
| Wahkiakum | Union ELEC0048-032 2025-01-01 | $63.50 | $29.73 | $93.23 | WA20260040 |
| Grays Harbor | Union ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31 | $65.14 | $26.56 | $91.70 | WA20260027 |
| Lewis | Union ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31 | $65.14 | $26.56 | $91.70 | WA20260032 |
| Mason | Union ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31 | $65.14 | $26.56 | $91.70 | WA20260034 |
| Pacific | Union ELEC0076-005 2025-08-31 | $65.14 | $26.56 | $91.70 | WA20260036 |
| Pierce | Union ELEC0076-003 2025-08-31 | $65.14 | $26.56 | $91.70 | WA20260111 |
| Thurston | Union ELEC0076-003 2025-08-31 | $65.14 | $26.56 | $91.70 | WA20260116 |
| Benton | Union ELEC0112-012 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260102 |
| Columbia | Union ELEC0112-012 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260104 |
| Franklin | Union ELEC0112-012 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260107 |
| Garfield | Union ELEC0112-014 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260025 |
| Kittitas | Union ELEC0112-014 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260030 |
| Walla Walla | Union ELEC0112-012 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260117 |
| Yakima | Union ELEC0112-012 2025-06-01 | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | WA20260119 |
| Cowlitz | uavg UAVGWA0003 2024-03-01 | $57.80 | $26.82 | $84.62 | WA20260105 |
| Skagit | Union ELEC0191-006 2024-01-01 | $55.01 | $29.20 | $84.21 | WA20260112 |
| Snohomish | Union ELEC0191-006 2024-01-01 | $55.01 | $29.20 | $84.21 | WA20260113 |
| Whatcom | Union ELEC0191-006 2024-01-01 | $55.01 | $29.20 | $84.21 | WA20260118 |
| Chelan | Union ELEC0191-005 2024-01-01 | $53.20 | $29.15 | $82.35 | WA20260103 |
| Douglas | Union ELEC0191-005 2024-01-01 | $53.20 | $29.15 | $82.35 | WA20260106 |
| Island | Union ELEC0191-013 2022-06-01 | $53.20 | $27.51 | $80.71 | WA20260028 |
| San Juan | Union ELEC0191-013 2022-06-01 | $53.20 | $27.51 | $80.71 | WA20260038 |
| Grant | Union ELEC0191-015 2020-06-01 | $46.15 | $26.10 | $72.25 | WA20260026 |
| Okanogan | Union ELEC0191-015 2020-06-01 | $46.15 | $26.10 | $72.25 | WA20260035 |
| Adams | Union ELEC0073-004 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260021 |
| Asotin | Union ELEC0073-013 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260003 |
| Ferry | Union ELEC0073-004 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260024 |
| Lincoln | Union ELEC0073-004 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260033 |
| Pend Oreille | Union ELEC0073-013 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260110 |
| Spokane | Union ELEC0073-013 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260114 |
| Stevens | Union ELEC0073-013 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260115 |
| Whitman | Union ELEC0073-004 2025-07-01 | $49.55 | $19.09 | $68.64 | WA20260042 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Washington prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Washington?
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 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skagit County | 46 | 976 | $123,679 | $2,378 |
| Franklin County | 24 | 423 | $123,342 | $2,372 |
| King County | 550 | 9,492 | $119,001 | $2,288 |
| Grant County | 25 | 268 | $102,178 | $1,965 |
| Asotin County | 12 | 186 | $100,673 | $1,936 |
| Whitman County | 12 | 103 | $99,613 | $1,916 |
| Clallam County | 28 | 206 | $97,975 | $1,884 |
| Thurston County | 104 | 796 | $96,920 | $1,864 |
| Cowlitz County | 49 | 382 | $96,341 | $1,853 |
| Clark County | 200 | 2,260 | $88,691 | $1,706 |
| Grays Harbor County | 15 | 272 | $87,569 | $1,684 |
| Snohomish County | 319 | 2,384 | $86,915 | $1,671 |
| Douglas County | 8 | 22 | $86,520 | $1,664 |
| Kitsap County | 74 | 446 | $85,861 | $1,651 |
| Pacific County | 4 | 25 | $84,280 | $1,621 |
| Island County | 34 | 147 | $83,537 | $1,606 |
| Spokane County | 175 | 1,557 | $80,130 | $1,541 |
| Pierce County | 300 | 2,172 | $79,694 | $1,533 |
| Yakima County | 81 | 567 | $79,468 | $1,528 |
| Jefferson County | 12 | 91 | $78,038 | $1,501 |
| Okanogan County | 16 | 45 | $76,675 | $1,475 |
| Walla Walla County | 18 | 137 | $74,981 | $1,442 |
| Klickitat County | 8 | 17 | $73,590 | $1,415 |
| Lincoln County | 6 | 54 | $71,041 | $1,366 |
| San Juan County | 18 | 67 | $63,952 | $1,230 |
| Mason County | 21 | 41 | $57,451 | $1,105 |
Keep comparing
Solar installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
More on Washington
Questions this page answers
How much do solar installers make in Washington?
The median solar installer in Washington earned $29.63 an hour ($61,630 a year) in May 2025, 16% above the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $24.26–$29.63; the top 10% earn more than $29.64.
Where does Washington rank for solar installer pay?
Washington ranks 6th of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $29.63 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).
What is the union solar installer rate in Washington?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 38 counties, with a typical package of $87.78 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many solar installers work in Washington?
BLS counted — solar installers in Washington in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is solar installer work growing in Washington?
Washington's labor market agency projects +30.3% growth for solar installers between 2024 and 2034, from 270 to 350 jobs.
How many solar installer openings a year are there in Washington?
Washington projects about 40 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.