12 of the Highest Paying Solar Jobs in 2026

The best Solar jobs can pay up to $141,500 per year.

High Paying Solar Jobs

• Solar Engineer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $141,500

  Solar engineers plan, design, and execute solar energy projects, from the installation of new solar energy panels on a home to the building of a new solar power plant. Typically, one engineer is required for solar panel installation on a single rooftop. Larger projects, such as new power plants or large panel installations, need multiple solar engineers to handle the logistics. As a solar engineer, you visit the installation site and meet with customers to discuss and resolve any budgetary, feasibility, and design issues. Before any construction begins, you work with designers and engineers to determine the appropriate arrangement of solar panels to maximize efficiency. With the plan in place, you coordinate the teams that are working on the project and procure materials and equipment, create contracts with electrical and building contractors, and communicate with OEM companies to ensure that the parts for the facility are made to the proper specifications. You provide timely written and verbal updates throughout the construction process to the clients. Once the project is complete, you work with the client or the facility’s managers and maintenance personnel to ensure that the site is in good working order and all designs and specifications are available for continued site maintenance.

• Solar Consultant

  Salary range: $59,000 - $112,000

  As a solar consultant, you help explain renewable energy systems and resources to potential customers. In this role, you may travel to visit potential job sites, help determine power needs, and use software to determine the actual costs and rate of return on solar systems. This job involves significant amounts of market research and trends and could also include negotiating with lending institutions and local government offices. Some consultants focus on the marketing and sales aspect while others provide technical consulting and may create complex engineering blueprints. Many solar consultants focus on residential customers, but some focus on commercial buildings or larger industrial facilities.

• Solar Project Engineer

  Salary range: $76,000 - $95,000

  A solar project engineer develops equipment that converts sunlight into usable electricity. As a solar project engineer, you collaborate with other engineers and designers on the development of photovoltaic (PV) technologies, such as solar panel arrays and solar power plants. Your responsibilities include modeling PV systems and designing solar energy materials to meet project specifications, solving solar engineering problems, and installing the solutions your team develops to promote the use of solar energy over non-renewable energy resources.

• Solar Energy Specialist

  Salary range: $52,000 - $95,000

  As a solar energy specialist, you are the first point of contact for the sustainable energy business you represent. You provide customers with education and information about the technology behind renewable energy, with the goal of generating sales leads and setting appointments for consultants. Some employers require door-to-door direct sales for setting appointments and educating potential customers on the environment and the science behind solar energy. Other duties may include performing home and business engineering analysis or walkthroughs to determine energy saving opportunities and explaining energy rebates offers and the solar installation process. Some positions require you to assist with setting up displays, conduct in-store seminars and events, and handle some marketing tasks.

• Solar Installation Technician

  Salary range: $40,000 - $75,000

  The majority of Solar Installation Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $75,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Solar Installation Technician job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Solar Installation Foreman

  Salary range: $54,500 - $72,500

  As a solar installation foreman, your responsibilities include managing the install crew on a job site, enforcing safety requirements, reviewing construction and safety plans while setting up the job site, assigning installers their duties while monitoring progress, and reinforcing best practices. You also keep the crew on schedule, consistently check the quality of the panels they install, and test the solar system once it is completed. You then complete final inspections and help workers clean up the work site. Throughout each job, you communicate with customers, subcontractors, and your supervisor on a regular basis while providing excellent customer service.

• Solar Technician

  Salary range: $46,000 - $67,000

  A solar technician installs and maintains solar panels. These panels consist of photovoltaic cells that convert energy from the sun into electricity. Your job duties as a solar technician include assessing the project location, selecting the best solar system for the requirements, and meeting all local building codes and regulations before installation. You often work closely with solar engineers and solar installers on each project. Most solar technicians also test each panel system after installation and perform repairs on damaged or aging systems.

• Solar Design Engineer

  Salary range: $54,000 - $67,000

  The majority of Solar Design Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $54,000 (25th percentile) and $67,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Solar Design Engineer job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Solar Designer

  Salary range: $43,000 - $62,500

  A solar designer develops an energy solution using a photovoltaic system to boost performance and improve power efficiency. In this career, you conduct an assessment of the current situation and install the cells and modules in compliance with local building codes. You then connect it to the existing equipment and test its integrity. You also seal it for peak sustainability and energy cost-savings. Many solar designers work as self-employed contractors. While you typically work on standalone projects, you may find some opportunities with solar power farms. The responsibilities are physically demanding, and adherence to safety standards to prevent falls is imperative.

• Solar Installer

  Salary range: $41,500 - $55,000

  A Solar Installer, sometimes called a Solar Photovoltaic or PV Installer, is a professional who is skilled in the installation of solar energy systems. Solar Installers assess the needs of their clients and determine how many solar panels, what kind, and how many batteries are needed to meet the necessary energy output. They also assess and plan the space available for the build-out of the solar energy system and perform the installation.

• Solar PV Installer

  Salary range: $42,000 - $54,500

  A solar PV installer assembles, implements, maintains, tests, and repairs solar panel systems on residential homes, commercial buildings, and other structures. Solar PV installers must stay current with this rapidly evolving technology. Their duties center around planning the optimal setup for these systems not only for client needs but also according to the site condition. This job is physically demanding, especially when working on rooftops.

• Solar System Designer

  Salary range: $32,500 - $37,500

  The majority of Solar System Designer salaries across the United States currently range between $32,500 (25th percentile) and $37,500 (75th percentile) annually. Most people working in this role make similar salaries regardless of skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Solar System Designer job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.