Answer
Most solar installer jobs in Germany need an electrical trade qualification, usually the 3.5-year Elektroniker/in apprenticeship or a recognised foreign equivalent. Electrical work also needs Elektrofachkraft status. The 2026 minimum wage in the electrical trades is EUR 14.93 an hour. BSW Solar says hiring has cooled since 2025 but expects long-term demand to stay high.
Last updated: November 2026
Thinking of installing solar in Germany? Your first question is probably whether you need a trade certificate, and the answer is yes for almost all electrical work. The second is what the job pays. The only pay figure we could source from a primary text is the collective minimum wage, so this guide gives that floor and the wage rounds around it.
This guide uses only figures we could read in a primary source. These sources are German laws, the Bundesnetzagentur (Germany’s federal network agency), wage agreements between trade unions and employer groups, and BSW Solar. Some figures appear in job ads or on salary sites, but we could not read their source. We left those out.
In this guide:
- Latest updates: capacity, hiring climate and wage rounds
- What qualifications do you need to install solar in Germany?
- What do solar installers in Germany earn?
- Is there a solar worker shortage in Germany?
- Can non-EU electricians work in Germany?
- Where to look for solar jobs
- German terms to search for
- Design software skills for installers moving into planning
- FAQ
Moving from the roof to planning work?
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Latest Updates: Germany Solar Job Market 2026
On 8 January 2026, the Bundesnetzagentur reported that Germany had 117 GW of installed solar capacity at the end of 2025. A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power. Germany added 16.4 GW during the year (press release). Section 4 of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) sets solar targets. They are 128 GW for 2026, 172 GW for 2028 and 215 GW for 2030 (EEG, section 4).
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installed solar capacity, end of 2025 | 117 GW | Bundesnetzagentur, 8 January 2026 |
| Solar added in 2025 | 16.4 GW | Bundesnetzagentur, 8 January 2026 |
| 2030 solar target | 215 GW | EEG section 4 |
| Average addition needed from 2026 to 2030 | 19.6 GW a year | Calculated: (215 - 117) / 5 |
| Elektrohandwerk minimum wage, 2026 | EUR 14.93 an hour | Collective agreement, generally binding |
The calculation: 215 GW minus 117 GW leaves 98 GW to add. Spread over the five years 2026 to 2030, that is 98 / 5 = 19.6 GW a year. This is about 20% more than the 16.4 GW installed in 2025 (19.6 / 16.4 = 1.20).
Key Takeaway: Hiring Is Not at a Peak
BSW Solar is the German solar industry association (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft). On its skilled-worker page it says political debate and economic uncertainty have made investors more careful since 2025. It says demand for staff is quiet right now and limited to specific qualifications. It also says population trends and the build-out of renewables will keep demand for qualified people high over the longer term. Be careful with older claims of a sharp shortage everywhere.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Install Solar in Germany?
Four things matter. The first is a trade qualification. The second is Elektrofachkraft status, which you need for electrical work. The third is the Meister route (the master craftsman exam) for running a business. The fourth is the Handwerksrolle, the register you must be entered in to run a licensed trade.
The apprenticeship. The Elektroniker/in apprenticeship follows the Elektronikerausbildungsverordnung (ElekAusbV), the training rules for the trade. Its section 2 sets the length at three and a half years. The Handwerksordnung (HwO), the German crafts law, recognises the trade under Anlage A, number 25 (Elektrotechniker) (Anlage A). Energie- und Gebäudetechnik (energy and building technology) is one of its specialisations.
The Elektrofachkraft. The accident-prevention rule DGUV Vorschrift 3 defines an Elektrofachkraft. This is a person who can judge the work given to them and spot possible dangers. This comes from their training, knowledge, experience and knowledge of the relevant rules. Its implementing note says a completed qualification normally shows this. Examples are electrical engineer, Elektrotechniker, Elektromeister or Elektrogeselle (DGUV Vorschrift 3, section 2).
Running your own business. Under section 1 of the HwO, only people in the Handwerksrolle may run a licensed trade (zulassungspflichtiges Handwerk) on their own. This applies to a permanent business. Section 7 lets a person who has passed the Meisterprüfung (master exam) in the trade enter the register. It also lists other routes, such as engineers. Roofing (Dachdecker) is a separate licensed trade, Anlage A number 4.
Training apprentices. The Ausbilder-Eignungsverordnung (AEVO) says trainers in recognised apprenticeship jobs must prove their trade skills and their skills in teaching at work (AusbEignV section 1). You need it to train apprentices. We found nothing in these texts that makes it a requirement to install solar.
| Term | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Elektroniker/in | Skilled electrical trade; apprenticeship lasts 3.5 years | ElekAusbV section 2 |
| Gesellenbrief | Certificate of passing the Gesellenprüfung at the end of the apprenticeship | ElekAusbV, part 2 |
| Elektrofachkraft | Person qualified to assess electrical work and hazards | DGUV Vorschrift 3, section 2 |
| Handwerksrolle | Register required to run a licensed trade independently | HwO section 1 |
| Meisterprüfung | Master examination, one route into the Handwerksrolle | HwO section 7 |
| AEVO | Trainer aptitude rules for apprenticeship trainers | AusbEignV section 1 |
What Do Solar Installers in Germany Earn?
We could not read a primary table of pay by solar job title. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit (the Federal Employment Agency) runs the Entgeltatlas. It shows median pay (the middle value) by job and region. But it loads its figures with JavaScript, and we could not read them. Job-board summaries show salary ranges, but these are not primary sources, so we do not repeat them. Check the Entgeltatlas for your job and region before you negotiate.
We can source two things: the pay floor and the trade’s wage rounds (pay rises agreed between unions and employers).
Minimum wage in the Elektrohandwerk. The collective minimum wage for the electrical trades became generally binding from 1 January 2025. This means it applies to all firms in the trade. It rises in steps (lohn-info.de summary of the agreement):
| Period | Minimum hourly wage |
|---|---|
| 2025 | EUR 14.41 |
| 2026 | EUR 14.93 |
| 2027 | EUR 15.49 |
| From 1 January 2028 | EUR 16.10 |
- 2025EUR 14.41
- 2026EUR 14.93
- 2027EUR 15.49
- From 1 Jan 2028EUR 16.1
Source: lohn-info.de summary of the generally binding Elektrohandwerk agreement, checked November 2026.
The 2026 minimum is above 2025 by (14.93 - 14.41) / 14.41 = 3.6%. This is a floor, not a typical wage. Skilled employees in firms covered by regional agreements earn more than this floor.
Regional wage rounds. In Baden-Württemberg, wages in the electrical trade rose 3.0% from 1 August 2025. They rise a further 2.3% from 1 March 2026 (IG Metall Baden-Württemberg). In North Rhine-Westphalia, the agreed rises are 3% from 1 November 2025 and 2.8% from 1 November 2026 (IG Metall NRW).
Apprentice pay in Baden-Württemberg. The same agreement raised apprentice pay by EUR 50 from 1 August 2025. It raises pay by a further EUR 40 from 1 March 2026:
| Year of training | From 1 August 2025 | From 1 March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | EUR 1,100 | EUR 1,140 |
| Year 2 | EUR 1,150 | EUR 1,190 |
| Year 3 | EUR 1,250 | EUR 1,290 |
| Year 4 | EUR 1,350 | EUR 1,390 |
Pro Tip
Before you negotiate, look up your job and region in the Entgeltatlas and the regional collective agreement for your state. Bring both numbers to the interview, because the minimum wage is only the legal floor.
Check: 1,100 + 40 = 1,140; 1,150 + 40 = 1,190; 1,250 + 40 = 1,290; 1,350 + 40 = 1,390. Pay differs by region, so look up the agreement for your state.
Turn trade skills into a planning role
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Is There a Solar Worker Shortage in Germany?
It depends on the year and the qualification. BSW Solar says demand for skilled people rose sharply during the solar boom, mostly in electrical trades. Then it cooled from 2025. BSW describes current demand as quiet and limited to certain qualifications (BSW Solar, Fachkräfte).
Germany still has to build faster. It added 16.4 GW in 2025, but it needs 19.6 GW a year to reach 215 GW by 2030 (see the table above). More hiring depends on investment. BSW links investment to policy and the economy.
Many job guides give vacancy counts, how long jobs stay open, and shortfall percentages by region. We found no primary source for these, so this page does not give them.
Can Non-EU Electricians Work in Germany?
Yes. The Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG, the German residence law) has several residence-permit routes. Follow these steps in order. Several routes need German language skills. Check the current rules with the German embassy. You can also use the official portals Make it in Germany and Anerkennung in Deutschland.
- Find out whether your qualification is recognised. The Anerkennung in Deutschland (Recognition in Germany) portal shows which body handles your profession. It also explains the recognition steps.
- Apply for a skilled-worker residence permit. Section 18a AufenthG gives a residence permit for any qualified job to a skilled worker who has a vocational qualification.
- If the chamber asks for more training, use section 16d. Section 16d AufenthG allows a permit of up to 24 months for a qualification measure. This is extra training to get your qualification recognised. You can extend the permit by up to 12 months, to a maximum of three years. You may also do other work of up to 20 hours a week.
- Consider the recognition partnership. Section 16d(3) lets you enter Germany and work in a qualified job while the recognition process runs. You need an agreement with the employer. You must commit to start recognition after you arrive. You also need at least enough German.
- If you have no job offer, consider the Chancenkarte (opportunity card). Section 20a AufenthG gives a permit of up to one year to look for work or to complete recognition measures. You may work up to 20 hours a week on average. You may also do trial work of up to two weeks at a time. You must be able to pay your living costs.
- Western Balkans citizens have a separate rule. Section 26(2) of the Beschäftigungsverordnung (the employment ordinance) allows consent to any job for citizens of six states. They are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. This comes after a priority check, which asks whether the job could go to a worker who already has priority, such as one from Germany or the EU. The cap is 50,000 consents per calendar year. You must file the first application at a German mission (embassy or consulate) in one of those states.
Where to Look for Solar Jobs in Germany
- jobs.solar. BSW’s job portal links job seekers with BSW member companies. You can build a profile free of charge.
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit runs the national job and apprenticeship search.
- Employer career pages. Large developers and installer networks post their own openings, for example GP Joule and Enerix. Listing a company here does not mean it is hiring today.
For general installer career basics, see how to become a solar installer, the become an installer hub and solar O&M technician training. For pay in other countries, see solar installer salary by country. The solar careers by country hub covers further markets.
German Terms to Search For
| German term | English meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Elektroniker/in für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik | Electronics technician, energy and building technology | Apprenticeship title under ElekAusbV |
| Elektrofachkraft | Qualified electrician (safety status) | Defined in DGUV Vorschrift 3 |
| Dachdecker/in | Roofer | Anlage A number 4, HwO |
| Photovoltaik-Monteur, Solarteur | PV installer | Common job-ad titles. We did not find them defined in the training regulation or the HwO, so treat them as employer titles, not qualifications |
| Fachkräftemangel | Skilled-worker shortage | Useful search term for market reports |
Design Software Skills for Installers Moving Into Planning
Planning and project roles use design and proposal software as well as trade knowledge. To move from the roof to the office, learn roof modeling, layout, shading and yield (the energy a system makes). See our guides to how to become a solar designer, solar design software, shadow analysis and solar proposals.
See SurgePV on your own project
SurgePV covers roof modeling, layout, shading, energy yield, financial modeling, bill-of-materials output (a parts list) and proposal generation in one workflow.
Book a DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page
For the policy side, read Germany solar subsidies, solar incentives and subsidies in Germany and solar software in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do you need to install solar in Germany?
You normally need the Elektroniker/in apprenticeship (3.5 years) or an equal qualification. This makes you an Elektrofachkraft for electrical work. To run your own licensed electrical business, you generally need an entry in the Handwerksrolle (the crafts register). The Meisterprüfung (master exam) is one route to that entry.
How long is the electrician apprenticeship and what does it pay?
The Elektroniker/in apprenticeship lasts three and a half years under section 2 of the ElekAusbV. In Baden-Württemberg’s electrical trade, apprentice pay from 1 March 2026 is EUR 1,140 in year 1. It is EUR 1,190 in year 2, EUR 1,290 in year 3 and EUR 1,390 in year 4. Other states have their own agreements.
What is the minimum wage in the German electrical trades?
The minimum wage in the Elektrohandwerk (the electrical trades) is EUR 14.93 an hour in 2026. It is set by a collective agreement that is generally binding. It rises to EUR 15.49 in 2027 and EUR 16.10 from 2028. It is a floor, not a typical wage.
Is there a solar worker shortage in Germany?
BSW Solar says demand for skilled people was high during the boom. It says demand has been quiet since 2025, but it expects demand to stay high over the longer term. Germany would need to add about 19.6 GW a year to reach 215 GW by 2030. It added 16.4 GW in 2025.
Do I need the AEVO to work as a solar installer?
No. The AEVO covers trainers in recognised apprenticeship occupations. You need it to train apprentices, not to install solar.
Can non-EU solar workers get a visa to work in Germany?
Yes. A skilled worker with a vocational qualification can get a residence permit under section 18a AufenthG. Other routes include the recognition partnership and the Chancenkarte. Citizens of six Western Balkans states can use section 26(2) BeschV. It is capped at 50,000 consents a year.
Where this fits
This article is part of SurgePV's Solar Careers hub, which works through the topic from first principles to the decisions a project team actually has to make.
