The Solar Foundation (TSF, Washington D.C.) has released state-level data on solar employment in the United States. TSF found that California again leads the nation with 47,200 solar workers in 2013, roughly 1/3 of the nation's 143,000 jobs.

Arizona came in a distant second, with 8,600 jobs, a loss of 13% from 2012, whereas new Jersey added 800 jobs to reach 6,500. New England's six states together represent 25,000 jobs, over 20% of the national total.

“The California Census indicates that the future remains bright for in-state job creation, as the industry expects to grow another 20 percent and add nearly 9,000 new jobs over the next 12 months,” said TSF Executive Director and President Andrea Luecke. “With that level of optimism, it is clear solar power will continue to play an increasingly important role in California's economy.”

North Carolina has seen a particularly rapid growth in its solar market, rising to the nation's third-largest PV market in the third quarter of 2013. The state was tenth for solar jobs during the year at 3,100 jobs.

Solar installers in California paid USD 24.26 per hour

As the largest group of solar workers, solar installers in California are paid an average of USD 24.26 per hour, USD 0.63 per hour above the national average. The greater San Francisco Bay Area leads regional employment with 21,700 solar jobs.