Solar Photovoltaic Installers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,100 or more. The middle half of solar photovoltaic installers in San Francisco earn between $59,010 and $76,990.
- $55K10th
- $59K25th
- $72KMedian
- $77K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,470 | $6,039 | $34.84 |
| Median | $72,150 | $6,012 | $34.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,010 | $4,918 | $28.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,990 | $6,416 | $37.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Solar photovoltaic installers in San Francisco earn 15% more than the California average ($63,280) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($57,900). At the median the gap is +36% against the U.S. median of $53,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $72,470 | $72,150 | $55,040 | $97,100 | 710 |
| California | $63,280 | $60,600 | $47,070 | $83,770 | 6,830 |
| United States | $57,900 | $53,140 | $41,600 | $79,970 | 31,350 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $72,470, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $57,087 a year, or $4,757 a month and $2,196 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for solar photovoltaic installers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $72,470 buys what about $62,683 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 15.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 16 California metro areas for this job; Santa Cruz pays the most ($74,210).
- Santa Cruz$74,210
- San Francisco$72,470
- San Jose$72,270
- Santa Rosa$66,410
- Salinas$65,860
- Santa Maria$64,690
- San Diego$63,340
- San Luis Obispo$62,120
- Stockton$61,900
- Los Angeles$61,500
Highest-paying cities for solar photovoltaic installers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($77,060).
- Kahului, HI$77,060
- New York, NY$74,770
- Santa Cruz, CA$74,210
- Portland, OR$72,710
- San Francisco, CA$72,470
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do solar photovoltaic installers make an hour in San Francisco?
$34.84 an hour on average, and $34.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level solar photovoltaic installers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the solar photovoltaic installers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $57,087 a year ($4,757 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,470. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do solar photovoltaic installers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. average for this job ($57,900).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2231; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.49, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.