Salary & Earnings

What You Can Earn

One of the fastest-growing areas of the electrical industry, renewable energy offers strong earning potential. Salaries vary with experience, qualifications, location, project size, and whether work is residential, commercial, industrial, or utility-scale.

$80k–$100k

Newly qualified entering renewables; more through overtime, remote, and specialised work.

$110k–$170k

Solar electricians, reflecting demand and specialised skills — averaging around $140k.

$120k–$160k+

Commercial solar, BESS, and large-scale renewable infrastructure roles.

$150k–$200k+

Supervisors, commissioning technicians, and project managers on major or remote projects.

Residential solar electricians typically earn between $90,000 and $120,000 per year, while licensed electricians across Australia commonly earn $85,000 to $120,000 with experienced tradespeople regularly exceeding these figures. Those on utility-scale solar farms, wind farms, substations, and grid-scale battery projects often receive additional allowances, overtime, site bonuses, and travel benefits.

Business ownership & outlook

Many electricians establish their own solar and electrical contracting businesses; those who successfully build installation teams and service contracts can generate revenue well beyond standard wages, with established contractors often earning $200,000+ annually depending on size and profitability. The long-term outlook is strong — the transition to renewables, battery storage expansion, EV infrastructure, and new transmission networks are creating sustained demand and significant forecast workforce shortages over the coming decade.