Solar Installer in Illinois: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Energy

Solar installers in Illinois earn a statewide median of $59,630, with wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Illinois licensing picture, and where to train.

What Solar installers Earn in Illinois (May 2025)

What That Pay Is Worth in Illinois

Prices in Illinois run right about the national average (cost-of-living index 100.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $59,630 median holds roughly its face value.

Job Outlook in Illinois (2024–2034)

Illinois is projected to grow solar installers employment +169.5%, faster than the +42.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 60 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Illinois License and Certification Requirements

None for crews; companies use ICC distributed-generation certification; NABCEP voluntary — regulated by the No state installer license — Illinois certifies distributed-generation installers at the business level.

1. Installer crew members don't need a license; solar companies doing grid-tied work hold Illinois Commerce Commission distributed-generation installer certification.
2. Illinois's climate law (CEJA) funds workforce training hubs that offer free or subsidized solar training — a genuinely unusual on-ramp.
3. NABCEP certification plus electrical skills (or the Chicago electrician path) drive pay growth.

Official requirements: No state installer license — Illinois certifies distributed-generation installers at the business level →

Training in Illinois

CEJA made Illinois one of the Midwest's fastest-growing solar markets and explicitly funds training for career changers — check the state's Clean Jobs Workforce Network hubs for subsidized programs before paying for training.

Where Solar installers Work in Illinois

Real Illinois power plants that employ solar installers include:

• Double Back Diamond — Virden
• Lincoln Land Wind — Tbd
• Prosperity Wind — Deland
• Streator Cayuga Ridge South — Odell
• Radfords Run Wind Farm — Maroa
• Emily Solar, LLC — Casey

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who want fast entry into energy work and can handle roofs and outdoor labor.

Think twice if: You need high starting pay, indoor work, or stable hours from day one.

Why it's resilient: Installation is physical and local, though the work can be sensitive to incentives and construction cycles.

First Steps

Find local installers hiring helpers and compare NABCEP-aligned training options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Illinois statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2231. Licensing summary compiled from the No state installer license — Illinois certifies distributed-generation installers at the business level (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Illinois wages · Illinois licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.