Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary
The median pay for a solar photovoltaic installers in New Mexico is $48,490/year ($23.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $52,106 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in New Mexico?
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Solar photovoltaic installers pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level solar photovoltaic installers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $60K | +23% | 120 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a solar photovoltaic installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for solar photovoltaic installers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new solar photovoltaic installers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,401/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is solar photovoltaic installer a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for solar photovoltaic installers?
New Mexico pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do solar photovoltaic installers make in New Mexico?
The median is $48,490 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,020, and experienced solar photovoltaic installers can clear $75,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,302/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 33.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a solar photovoltaic installers salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median solar photovoltaic installers salary is worth about $52,106 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do solar photovoltaic installers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.