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Salary comparison

Solar Photovoltaic Installers vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Solar Photovoltaic Installerss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Solar Photovoltaic Installerss land at $53,140 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: solar photovoltaic installer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Solar Photovoltaic Installerss is New Jersey ($78,950); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$53,140
$47,120
Hourly rate
$25.55/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$41,600
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$79,970
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
31,350
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
42.1%
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
New Jersey
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Solar Photovoltaic Installers median pay.

State
Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Construction Laborers
New Jersey
$78,950
$64,060
Hawaii
$70,370
$77,110
Nevada
$67,810
$48,990
Oregon
$66,320
$50,860
Ohio
$62,400
$56,080
Washington
$61,630
$57,720
California
$60,600
$60,270
Illinois
$59,630
$60,690
Massachusetts
$59,180
$63,390
New York
$56,160
$55,930
Connecticut
$55,590
$58,290
Wisconsin
$49,770
$56,100
Pennsylvania
$47,760
$49,400
Michigan
$47,080
$49,590
Indiana
$46,140
$50,070

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Solar Photovoltaic Installerss or Construction Laborerss?

Solar Photovoltaic Installerss earn more nationally. The median is $53,140 for Solar Photovoltaic Installerss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Solar Photovoltaic Installers or Construction Laborers?

Solar Photovoltaic Installers has the better 10-year outlook at 42.1% projected growth, compared to 7.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Solar Photovoltaic Installers or Construction Laborers?

Solar Photovoltaic Installers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Solar Photovoltaic Installerss get paid the most?

New Jersey is the top-paying state for Solar Photovoltaic Installerss at $78,950/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Solar Photovoltaic Installers vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Jersey, Solar Photovoltaic Installerss earn $78,950 vs. $64,060 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Solar Photovoltaic Installerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a solar photovoltaic installersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →