- What This Salary Guide Covers (and Doesn't)
- Why There Is No Single PV2 Salary Number
- What the PV2 Credential Signals to Employers
- The Real Pay Drivers for Installers and Designers
- Exam Domains That Map to Higher-Value Work
- Who Hires PV2-Level Talent
- Weighing Upfront Costs Against Earning Potential
- Using Your Documented Experience in Negotiation
- A Credential-Path Timeline Built Around Earnings
- Frequently Asked Questions
- ETA does not publish salary data for the Photovoltaic Installer/Designer (PV2); pay depends on role, region, employer and experience.
- PV2 requires 150 attested experience points, including at least three systems of 2 kW or larger.
- The exam fee is $155, with a 100-question, two-hour test and a 75% passing score.
- Domains like Array Sizing, Energy Storage Systems and Project Management map to design and lead-level responsibilities.
What This Salary Guide Covers (and Doesn't)
Searches for "PV2 salary" usually come from people deciding whether the Photovoltaic Installer/Designer (PV2) credential from ETA International is worth pursuing. This guide takes an honest approach: it explains how earnings in solar installation and design are shaped, what the PV2 credential realistically contributes, and how to evaluate pay claims you encounter elsewhere.
What you will not find here is a fabricated salary table. ETA International certifies competency; it does not publish wage surveys tied to the PV2 designation, and nothing in the certification's published requirements promises a particular income. Any article claiming a precise "average PV2 salary" without a named, verifiable source should be treated cautiously. Instead, we focus on the factors that genuinely move pay and on the specific skills this credential asks you to document.
If you are still orienting yourself, start with What Is PV2 Certification? and then return here for the earnings angle.
Why There Is No Single PV2 Salary Number
Solar roles span a wide range of responsibilities, and the PV2 credential sits across several of them. A certified person might work primarily as a field installer, a lead on residential crews, a commercial system designer, or a project coordinator who handles both design and field oversight. These roles are compensated very differently, and the credential is only one input among many.
The better question is not "what does a PV2 earn?" but "what does the work a PV2 is qualified to do pay in my market, and does the credential help me access it?" That reframing leads to much more useful research: local job postings, conversations with employers, and comparisons between your current role and the roles you want.
What the PV2 Credential Signals to Employers
A credential influences pay mainly by reducing hiring risk. When an employer sees the PV2 designation, they are looking at a candidate who has cleared a defined set of verifiable hurdles. Based on ETA's published process, those hurdles include:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Completing 60 contact hours of ETA-approved or equivalent photovoltaic training (with current PVI1 certification crediting 40 of those hours)
- Completing OSHA 10 construction safety or an equivalent jurisdictional course
- Holding ETA Customer Service Specialist (CSS) certification
- Documenting at least 150 attested experience points, covering every compulsory task, with at least two reference contacts
- Installing at least three systems of 2 kW or larger as part of the compulsory experience
- Agreeing to ETA's Code of Conduct and passing the written examination
That combination is meaningful to a hiring manager. The experience-documentation requirement in particular means the credential is not purely a test-passing exercise. For the full eligibility picture, see PV2 Requirements: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
The written exam has no separate hands-on component, but the documented installation experience still has to be real and attested. Employers value that combination of verified field work plus a passed knowledge test more than either would carry alone.
The Real Pay Drivers for Installers and Designers
Since no PV2-specific wage data exists, it helps to understand what generally shapes compensation in solar work. These factors will likely matter more to your paycheck than the credential alone.
Role and Scope of Responsibility
Moving from pulling wire and mounting racking to sizing arrays, selecting components and managing a project is the single biggest shift in earning potential for most people in this field. The PV2 framework deliberately spans both installation and design, which is why it can support that transition.
Geography and Market Maturity
Solar wages vary widely by state and metro area, driven by local incentives, utility policies, demand for installers and cost of living. A credential that opens doors in a competitive market may matter differently than in a region with a shortage of qualified people.
Employer Type
Residential installers, commercial and utility-scale contractors, EPC firms, and engineering consultancies all have different pay structures. Some lean on hourly crews with overtime; others pay salaries for designers and project managers; some include bonuses tied to completed projects.
Documented, Specialized Skills
Competence in areas like energy storage, advanced code compliance and commissioning can differentiate you. Those happen to be explicit PV2 domains, which we turn to next.
Exam Domains That Map to Higher-Value Work
ETA's PV2 competency requirements list 15 objective areas. They are not published with percentage weights, so we will not rank them by exam importance. But we can observe which ones align with higher-responsibility job functions. For a full walkthrough of every area, read PV2 Exam Domains: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas.
Domain 7: Components Selection and Domain 8: Array Sizing
These are the heart of system design. Employers hiring for design roles need people who can match modules, inverters and balance-of-system components to a customer's load and site constraints.
- Selecting compatible components for a specific application
- Sizing arrays against energy needs and site limitations
- Understanding how electrical parameters interact across the system
Domain 10: Energy Storage Systems
Storage-capable installers and designers are increasingly relevant as customers ask for backup power and self-consumption options. Competence here broadens the types of projects you can take on.
- How storage integrates with PV systems
- Design and safety considerations specific to batteries
Domain 12: Project Management and Domain 4: Determining Customer Needs
Leads and project coordinators earn their keep by scoping work correctly and delivering it on schedule. These domains reflect the customer-facing and organizational side of the job, which is also why ETA's Customer Service Specialist certification is a prerequisite.
- Translating customer goals into system requirements
- Planning, scheduling and coordinating project work
Domain 13: Testing and Troubleshooting, Domain 14: Commissioning the System, and Domain 15: Maintaining the System
Technicians who can diagnose faults and commission systems correctly are valuable because errors in these phases are expensive. This skill set supports service-oriented roles as well as installation leadership.
- Systematic testing and fault isolation
- Commissioning procedures and verification
- Ongoing maintenance practices
The remaining domains, including History and Background of Photovoltaics, Additional PV Project Safety, How the Grid Works, Codes and Standards, Conducting a Site Survey, Wiring the System and PV Mounting Systems, round out the knowledge a well-rounded installer-designer needs. Codes and Standards and Site Survey deserve special attention if you hope to design systems, since those areas underpin permitting and accurate proposals.
Who Hires PV2-Level Talent
The credential is aimed at people working in photovoltaic installation and design, so the employer landscape is broad. Typical hiring categories include:
| Employer Type | Typical Roles | How PV2 May Help |
|---|---|---|
| Residential solar installers | Lead installer, crew chief, site surveyor | Demonstrates verified field experience and safety training |
| Commercial and industrial contractors | Installer-designer, project coordinator | Shows design competence alongside installation experience |
| Engineering and design firms | System designer, application specialist | Signals familiarity with array sizing, components and codes |
| Service and maintenance providers | Troubleshooting technician, O&M specialist | Aligns with testing, commissioning and maintenance domains |
| Electrical contractors adding solar | Solar division lead | Provides a structured credential for a crew new to PV work |
To see how these roles show up in real postings, check our overview of PV2 jobs. Remember that a job posting listing a certification preference does not by itself guarantee higher pay; compare the stated pay range against similar roles without the requirement.
Weighing Upfront Costs Against Earning Potential
The direct cost of the credential is relatively modest compared with many professional certifications. ETA's current listing specifies a $155 examination fee, with one free retake available within one year of the first examination. The exam consists of 100 questions with a two-hour limit and requires a 75% passing score. Certification runs on a four-year term.
But the exam fee is only part of the picture. You also need to account for the 60 contact hours of training (partly offset if you hold PVI1, which credits 40 hours), the OSHA 10 course, the CSS certification, and the time required to accumulate and document 150 experience points. Our PV2 Certification Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown walks through each line item, and Is the PV2 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis helps you weigh them against your goals.
Using Your Documented Experience in Negotiation
One underappreciated advantage of this credential is that it produces a paper trail. Your 150 attested experience points, your list of completed systems (including the three of 2 kW or larger) and your reference contacts become concrete evidence in salary conversations.
- Anchor to market data you can cite. Gather job postings and local wage information for comparable roles; avoid relying on generic national averages.
- Translate the credential into responsibilities. Instead of saying "I'm certified," explain that you can size arrays, select components, commission systems and troubleshoot faults, then connect each to a business outcome like fewer callbacks or faster permitting.
- Highlight breadth. Few candidates can credibly speak to both field installation and design. That crossover is the argument for a role with more scope.
- Time it well. The strongest moments to ask for more are right after earning the credential, when taking on design or lead duties, or when changing employers.
Key Takeaway
The credential rarely raises pay automatically. It raises pay when you pair it with expanded responsibility, such as taking over designs, leading crews or owning commissioning, and make that case explicitly.
A Credential-Path Timeline Built Around Earnings
Because the experience requirement takes real time to satisfy, it helps to plan the path with income in mind. This is a sequence of milestones rather than a study schedule; for exam preparation itself, see the PV2 Study Guide.
Build Prerequisites While Working
- Complete OSHA 10 and obtain CSS certification
- Pursue PVI1 if you lack it, since it credits 40 of the 60 training hours
- Start logging installation tasks against the experience checklist from day one
Document Compulsory Experience
- Ensure every compulsory task is covered and attested
- Complete at least three systems of 2 kW or larger
- Secure at least two reference contacts early
Prepare and Sit the Exam
- Schedule with an ETA Certification Administrator via Trapeza online or paper testing
- Prioritize design-heavy domains such as Array Sizing and Components Selection
- Practice with timed sets matching the 100-question, two-hour format at our practice test site
Convert the Credential Into Responsibility
- Request design or lead duties at your current employer
- Update your resume to emphasize documented projects and domains mastered
- Revisit pay when your scope changes
For scheduling specifics, consult PV2 Exam Dates: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling, and for a sense of exam difficulty, read How Hard Is the PV2 Exam?. If you want data on outcomes, our PV2 pass rate article explains what is and is not known.
When you are ready to test your knowledge against the actual format, try the practice questions at PV2 Exam Prep before committing to an exam date.
Frequently Asked Questions
ETA International does not publish salary data for the Photovoltaic Installer/Designer (PV2) credential, and no single average exists. Earnings depend on your role, location, employer and experience. Use local job postings and wage data for comparable solar roles rather than relying on unsourced national averages.
No. The credential demonstrates verified training, documented experience and passed knowledge testing, which can strengthen your case for a raise or a better role. But pay increases usually come when you pair the credential with expanded responsibilities such as design work, crew leadership or commissioning ownership.
The examination fee is $155, and one free retake is allowed within one year of the first examination. Additional costs include the 60 contact hours of training, OSHA 10, CSS certification, and annual maintenance of $25. See our certification cost breakdown for details.
Design-oriented competencies such as Components Selection, Array Sizing, Energy Storage Systems and Project Management tend to align with higher-responsibility positions. Testing, Troubleshooting and Commissioning skills also support service and lead roles. These are observations about role fit, not guarantees of specific pay.
Yes. Candidates must document at least 150 attested experience points covering every compulsory task, including at least three systems of 2 kW or larger, plus at least two reference contacts. Review PV2 requirements for the full eligibility checklist.
Ultimately, the earnings value of this credential comes from what it proves and what you do with it. Treat the certification as one lever alongside experience, specialization and market choice, and let local data, not generic averages, guide your expectations.