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Solar panels cost in California
Most homeowners pay $19,700 – $32,800 (mid-range, typical $25,300, before sales tax), 3% above the national average.
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mid-range, typicalPrice levels in California
| Typical | Labour | Materials | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $17,600 $13,700 – $22,900 | $3,243 | $14,337 |
| Mid-range | $25,300 $19,700 – $32,800 | $4,530 | $20,730 |
| Premium | $33,500 $26,200 – $43,600 | $5,854 | $27,691 |
Why prices in California are different
Labour makes up about 18% of a mid-range solar panels job, around 40 hours of trade work. Tradespeople in California cost about 19% more than the national average (official wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), while materials are priced much the same across the country. That is why the total comes out 3% above the national figure.
California ranks 11 of 51 states for this job, from most to least expensive.
By area
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $18,300 | $26,200 | $34,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $18,200 | $26,100 | $34,600 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $18,000 | $25,600 | $33,900 |
| Napa, CA | $17,700 | $25,400 | $33,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $17,700 | $25,400 | $33,700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $17,700 | $25,400 | $33,700 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $17,600 | $25,300 | $33,600 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $17,600 | $25,300 | $33,500 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $17,600 | $25,300 | $33,500 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $17,600 | $25,300 | $33,600 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $17,600 | $25,300 | $33,700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $17,600 | $25,200 | $33,400 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $17,600 | $25,200 | $33,500 |
| El Centro, CA | $17,500 | $25,200 | $33,400 |
| Merced, CA | $17,600 | $25,200 | $33,400 |
| Modesto, CA | $17,600 | $25,200 | $33,500 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $17,500 | $25,200 | $33,400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $17,500 | $25,200 | $33,400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $17,500 | $25,200 | $33,400 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $17,600 | $25,200 | $33,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $17,500 | $25,100 | $33,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $17,400 | $25,000 | $33,200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $17,400 | $25,000 | $33,200 |
| Redding, CA | $17,300 | $24,900 | $33,100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $17,100 | $24,800 | $33,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $17,100 | $24,800 | $33,000 |
| Chico, CA | $17,100 | $24,700 | $32,900 |
| Visalia, CA | $17,100 | $24,600 | $32,700 |
Next to it in the price ranking
Other home projects in California
Frequently asked questions
How much does solar panels cost in California?
A mid-range job typically costs $25,300 before sales tax, with most homeowners paying between $19,700 and $32,800. A basic job is about $17,600 and a premium one about $33,500.
Is solar panels more expensive in California than the national average?
California: 3% above the national average. Labour makes up about 18% of a mid-range solar panels job, around 40 hours of trade work. Tradespeople in California cost about 19% more than the national average (official wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), while materials are priced much the same across the country. That is why the total comes out 3% above the national figure.
How much of the price is labour in California?
About 18% at the mid-range level, around 40 hours of work at local rates. The rest is materials, equipment and disposal, which vary much less between regions.
Where in California is it most expensive?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is the most expensive area at about $26,200 for a mid-range job, and Visalia, CA the least expensive at about $24,600.
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