Solar Power Companies — US Industry Report
Official NAICS classification: Solar electric power generation (221114)
The solar electric power generation industry in the United States generated an estimated ~$15.3B in annual revenue across 779 establishments employing 8.9K workers (Census Bureau). This 37-page report analyzes industry performance, competitive dynamics, and delivers 5-year growth forecasts.
Industry Snapshot
- ▸Solar revenue concentration paired with lean workforce reveals significant operational leverage
- ▸Policy intervention unlocking structural capacity expansion in solar employment trajectory
- ▸Solar sector hiring significantly outpacing broader U.S. labor market expansion
- ▸Solar compensation premium coexists with payroll growth outpacing headcount gains
Table of Contents
1.Executive Summaryp. 3
Key takeaways, industry definition, and current state overview. Covers the industry's scope, principal activities, NAICS classification context, and a concise snapshot of where the industry stands today. Reading this alone gives decision-makers the high-level picture they need before diving into data-backed chapters.
2.Industry Performancep. 6
Historical performance analysis covering establishments, employment, and payroll (2012-2025). Examines what has driven industry performance in recent years, how the industry has responded to macroeconomic cycles, and which operating conditions have shaped revenue and labor dynamics. Includes source-cited tables and year-by-year data points.
3.Industry Forecastp. 9
5-year projections (2026-2030) with base case, bull case, and bear case scenarios. Each scenario combines historical trends, macroeconomic indicators from FRED, and industry-specific signals. Addresses questions on expected trajectory, forecast risk, downside drivers, and the assumptions behind each scenario.
4.Industry Outlookp. 12
Growth drivers, risk factors, and external environment analysis. Unpacks the forces that will shape the industry over the forecast horizon — demographic shifts, regulatory changes, technology adoption, and cyclical exposure. Frames both the upside opportunities and the structural risks operators and investors should weigh.
5.Competitive Landscapep. 15
Market structure, concentration, barriers to entry, and competitive dynamics. Describes how the industry is structured between incumbents and entrants, typical competitive strategies, and what separates successful operators. Standard-tier reports add the official CR4, CR8, CR20, CR50 and HHI from the Census Economic Census, plus the largest public operators named from SEC EDGAR 10-K filings.
6.Operating Conditionsp. 18
Cost structure, labor requirements, technology factors, and the regulatory environment. Examines where operators spend, how sensitive margins are to input costs, what workforce and technology investments are typical, and which compliance and regulatory constraints shape day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
7.SWOT Analysisp. 21
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats — each supported by concrete evidence from the underlying data. Moves beyond generic bullet points by tying each SWOT element to specific metrics, structural trends, or external forces identified elsewhere in the report. Useful for strategic planning and risk assessment.
8.Geographic Breakdownp. 24
Regional market concentration, wage dynamics, and emerging geographic opportunities. Breaks establishments, employment, and payroll down by state and region, identifies where the industry is densest, where it is growing fastest, and how local labor markets and wage levels differ. Standard-tier and higher includes state-level tables.
9.Major Industry Playersp. 28
The largest public operators in the industry, named from their SEC EDGAR 10-K filings, with enterprise revenue and segment context. Sits alongside the official Census Economic Census concentration figures (CR4, CR8, CR20, CR50, HHI) so the named players can be read against the measured structure of the whole industry, public and private.
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The Solar electric power generation industry (NAICS 221114) encompasses 779 establishments in the United States employing 8.9K workers, generating an estimated ~$15.3B in annual revenue (Census Bureau). Classified within Utilities, the industry is positioned in a growth phase of its life cycle.
This report examines historical performance trends (2012-2025), competitive structure, geographic distribution, and provides a 5-year outlook (2026-2030) with growth drivers, risk factors, and industry-specific SWOT analysis.
Products & Services
Key service categories in the Solar electric power generation industry.
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Top Questions Answered
What is the market size of the Solar electric power generation industry?
The Solar electric power generation industry generated ~$5.5B in revenue (US Census Economic Census, 2022). Full analysis available in report.
How fast is the Solar electric power generation industry growing?
The Solar electric power generation industry has recorded strong growth over the past decade, substantially outpacing both the broader energy sector and the general economy. Full analysis available in report.
What is included in NAICS 221114 — Solar electric power generation?
NAICS 221114 covers establishments primarily engaged in operating solar electric power generation facilities that produce electricity for sale through the grid, including utility-scale photovoltaic... Full analysis available in report.
How many solar electric power generation businesses operate in the U.S.?
As of 2023, the industry comprised 779 establishments employing approximately 8,900 workers (Census CBP, 2023) nationwide, reflecting a relatively concentrated operational footprint given the... Full analysis available in report.
What is the competitive landscape like in the Solar electric power generation industry?
Competition in the solar electric power generation industry is shaped primarily by access to capital, land and transmission rights, and the ability to secure long-term offtake agreements at favorable... Full analysis available in report.
What is the outlook for the Solar electric power generation industry?
The industry is projected to continue its strong growth trajectory, supported by policy tailwinds including expanded federal clean energy tax credits, state-level renewable mandates, and corporate... Full analysis available in report.
How does compensation compare in the Solar electric power generation industry?
Compensation in this industry varies considerably by role, with operations and maintenance technicians, grid engineers, and project development professionals commanding meaningfully different pay... Full analysis available in report.
What types of companies are the major players in solar electric power generation?
The industry is anchored by large national platform operators with diversified generation portfolios spanning multiple states and gigawatts of installed capacity, often backed by institutional... Full analysis available in report.
Get complete answers with detailed growth rates, forecasts, and competitive analysis.
Methodology
Every figure in this report is official US government data, computed in code and checked against the source by an automated validation pass. The text is drafted with AI, then read, reviewed and corrected where needed by a person. How we use AI
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns and Economic Census provide establishment counts, employment, and payroll broken out by NAICS industry and geography. The Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW program supplies wage data by industry. The Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) service contributes macroeconomic indicators used for industry forecasting — GDP, interest rates, housing starts, and sector-specific indices.
Data freshness varies by source: Census CBP has a ~2 year lag, BLS lags 6-9 months, and FRED provides near real-time macroeconomic data. Each report includes a data currency section showing exact year ranges.
Read our full methodology →Data Sources
Every chart, table, and claim in this report traces back to a published federal statistical database. Each data point in the PDF shows its source so you can verify it against the original dataset.
- U.S. Census Bureau — County Business Patterns & Economic Census
- Bureau of Labor Statistics — QCEW
- Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
- SEC EDGAR — 10-K filings(Standard tier)
Report Details
Industry Classification (NAICS)
Where this industry sits in the North American Industry Classification System.