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

Energy

New Jersey employs 1,880 solar installers, with a statewide median of $78,950 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact New Jersey licensing picture, and where to train.

What Solar installers Earn in New Jersey (May 2025)

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

What That Pay Is Worth in New Jersey

Prices in New Jersey run about 9% above the national average (cost-of-living index 108.8 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $78,950 median is worth closer to $72,564 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in New Jersey (2024–2034)

New Jersey is projected to grow solar installers employment +44.6%, faster than the +42.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 180 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

New Jersey License and Certification Requirements

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

1. New Jersey has no solar installer license. Residential and commercial solar crews work under licensed Electrical Contractors; the wiring, inverter connections, and utility interconnection must be done by licensed electricians.
2. The strongest long-term path: earn your NJ Electrical Apprentice card and work toward Journeyman while on solar crews — you become legally qualified to do the high-value electrical work.
3. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (voluntary) is increasingly expected by NJ's large solar employers and raises pay noticeably.

Official requirements: No NJ solar-specific installer license — electrical work requires NJ Board-licensed electricians →

Training in New Jersey

New Jersey consistently ranks as one of the top solar states per capita, driven by strong state incentives (TREC, CEI programs) and the high cost of grid electricity. Residential markets are densest in Central and South Jersey; commercial markets are active statewide. Companies like Sunrun, Tesla Energy, and numerous NJ-based installers hire year-round.

Where Solar installers Work in New Jersey

Real New Jersey power plants that employ solar installers include:

• Edf Ph1 Toms River — Tom's River
• Ben Moreell Solar Farm — Tinton Falls
• Mount Olive Solar Farm — MT. Olive
• Pilesgrove — Pilesgrove
• Kdc Solar Pr1, LLC — Jackson
• Princeton University Cogeneration — Princeton

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), New Jersey statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2231. Licensing summary compiled from the No NJ solar-specific installer license — electrical work requires NJ Board-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 New Jersey wages · New Jersey 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.