Before you start down the solar installer path, the first question is usually simple: what’s the pay actually like? Here’s the plain-English version for 2026.
Which award covers you?
“Solar installer” isn’t its own apprenticeship — legally, installing rooftop solar involves electrical work, so almost all solar installers first qualify as licensed electricians. That means solar apprentices are covered by the same Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award (award code MA000025) as any other electrical apprentice. A Modern Award sets the legal floor on your wage regardless of employer; a registered enterprise agreement (EBA) would take precedence if your employer has one.
How apprentice pay is worked out
Apprentice wages are a percentage of the qualified electrician’s rate, over the standard four-year electrical apprenticeship. The percentage steps up each year until you finish and move to the full rate. As an indicative guide only, expect a lower share in year one climbing toward the full rate by year four — exact figures are published by the Fair Work Ombudsman and usually change on 1 July each year, so we point you to the source rather than quote a number that can go stale.
After you qualify: the solar premium
Once you’re a licensed electrician, becoming accredited for solar (through the Clean Energy Council / Solar Accreditation Australia) is an extra step on top of your trade — not part of the apprenticeship itself. In a market with strong demand for renewable energy installers, that accreditation can translate into a pay premium or specialised roles once you’re qualified, though this sits outside the award’s apprentice wage scale.
Year 12 and adult apprentices
Completing Year 12 often lifts your starting percentage compared to leaving school earlier. If you start as an adult apprentice (generally 21+) — common for people moving into solar from another career — you’re usually entitled to a higher minimum than a school-leaver.
What else you get paid
- Allowances for tools, travel and site or industry conditions (including height/roof work in some cases)
- Penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and overtime
- Superannuation on top of your wage
- Paid time to attend TAFE in most arrangements
How to check your correct rate
Don’t rely on a mate’s guess or a random figure (including this one). Use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Calculator at fairwork.gov.au — enter your award, apprentice year and age and it returns the current legal minimum.
The bottom line
Getting into solar means doing a standard electrical apprenticeship first, then adding solar accreditation once you’re qualified. Your apprentice wage climbs each year like any other electrical apprentice, and the payoff is a licensed trade plus a specialisation in one of the fastest-growing parts of the industry. Know how the percentages work and check them against the correct award so you start on the right money.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman and your award for exact rates.
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