Solar costs by city

Cities indexed

2

Hourly range, avg

$46–$76/hr

National median

$61/hr

The solar market in the US

Solar rates are indexed across 2 cities in 2 states, with hourly rates spanning $37.73/hr (Tampa, FL) to $89.25/hr (San Francisco, CA). The national median is $61/hr across all indexed cities.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, adjusted for local cost of living. Read the methodology.

California

1 city

Florida

1 city

Frequently asked

6 answers

What's the average hourly rate for a solar in the US?

The national median rate is $61/hr across 2 indexed cities, with hourly ranges spanning $46/hr at the affordable end to $76/hr at the premium end. Rates vary based on local BLS OEWS wage data and cost of living.

Which city has the most expensive solar rates?

San Francisco, California sits at the top of the index for solar services with rates of $53.55–$89.25/hr. High-cost coastal metros consistently command the highest rates.

Which city has the most affordable solar rates?

Tampa, Florida has the lowest typical solar rates at $37.73–$62.88/hr. Lower cost of living and wage levels in this metro flow through to consumer prices.

Why do solar costs vary so much between cities?

Consumer rates track local wage data and cost of living. The same service in a high-cost coastal metro can cost 2–3× what it costs in a lower-cost inland city. The full geographic precision note explains how MSA-level data is applied per city.

Are these prices what consumers pay, or what workers earn?

Consumer-facing rates. We apply industry-standard 1.5–2.5× multipliers to BLS hourly wages to account for business overhead, insurance, licensing, employer costs, and profit margin. The full calculation is documented in the wage-to-price methodology.

How is solar pricing data updated?

Pricing reflects the BLS OEWS May 2024 release. The next refresh lands when May 2025 data is published in April 2026. Cadence is documented in the update schedule.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 · Methodology · Last refreshed January 2026