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

Energy

Michigan employs 310 solar installers, with a statewide median of $47,080 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Michigan licensing picture, and where to train.

What Solar installers Earn in Michigan (May 2025)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for solar installers in major Michigan markets:

What That Pay Is Worth in Michigan

Prices in Michigan run about 4% below the national average (cost-of-living index 96.2 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $47,080 median stretches to roughly $48,940 in national buying-power terms.

Michigan License and Certification Requirements

None for panel mounting; electrical connections require licensed electricians — regulated by the No Michigan solar-specific license — electrical work requires LARA-licensed electricians.

1. Michigan has no solar installer license. Crews work under licensed Electrical Contractors, and the DC and AC wiring, grounding, and utility interconnection must be performed by licensed electricians.
2. The strongest move: get your LARA Electrical Apprentice license and work toward Journeyman while doing solar installations — you become the person who can legally do the high-value electrical work.
3. NABCEP certification (voluntary, national) is the industry mark of professionalism and can meaningfully raise pay for installers.

Official requirements: No Michigan solar-specific license — electrical work requires LARA-licensed electricians →

Training in Michigan

Michigan solar is growing fast driven by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy renewable portfolio requirements. Residential solar is active in metro Detroit and Grand Rapids; utility-scale projects are expanding statewide. Entry-level installer work requires little formal training but pay improves sharply once you have the electrical license.

Where Solar installers Work in Michigan

Real Michigan power plants that employ solar installers include:

• Isabella Wind Park — Rosebush
• Cross Winds Energy Park — Unionville
• Meridian Wind Park — Merrill
• Calhoun Solar — Battle Creek
• Heartland Farms — Middleton
• Pegasus Wind — Reese

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), Michigan statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2231. Licensing summary compiled from the No Michigan solar-specific license — electrical work requires LARA-licensed electricians (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 Michigan wages · Michigan licensing/certification source

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.