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

Energy

North Carolina employs 710 solar installers, with a statewide median of $43,860 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact North Carolina licensing picture, and where to train.

What Solar installers Earn in North Carolina (May 2025)

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

What That Pay Is Worth in North Carolina

Prices in North Carolina run about 6% below the national average (cost-of-living index 94.3 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $43,860 median stretches to roughly $46,511 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in North Carolina (2024–2034)

North Carolina is projected to grow solar installers employment +45.4%, faster than the +42.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 110 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

North Carolina License and Certification Requirements

None for installer crews; companies operate under NC electrical contractor licensing — regulated by the No state installer license — electrical work under licensed contractors.

1. No NC installer license — crews work under contractors, with electrical tie-ins requiring licensed electrical contractors.
2. North Carolina is a long-standing top-5 utility-scale solar state — project construction crews hire steadily across the east.
3. NABCEP certification plus the electrical contractor path drive long-term pay.

Official requirements: No state installer license — electrical work under licensed contractors →

Training in North Carolina

NC built one of the nation's largest utility-scale solar fleets — O&M (operations and maintenance) on existing farms is a stable niche beyond construction. Residential is growing in Charlotte and the Triangle.

Where Solar installers Work in North Carolina

Real North Carolina power plants that employ solar installers include:

• Desert Wind Farm, LLC — Hertford
• Timbermill Wind, LLC — Edenton
• American Beech Solar LLC — Scotland Neck
• Albemarle Beach Solar — Roper
• Oak Solar — Gaston
• Fern Solar LLC — Battleboro

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), North Carolina statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2231. Licensing summary compiled from the No state installer license — electrical work under licensed contractors (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 North Carolina wages · North Carolina 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.