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

Energy

Pennsylvania employs 1,210 solar installers, with a statewide median of $47,760 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Pennsylvania licensing picture, and where to train.

What Solar installers Earn in Pennsylvania (May 2025)

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

What That Pay Is Worth in Pennsylvania

Prices in Pennsylvania run about 2% below the national average (cost-of-living index 97.6 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $47,760 median stretches to roughly $48,934 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Pennsylvania (2024–2034)

Pennsylvania is projected to grow solar installers employment +26.7%, slower than the +42.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 50 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Pennsylvania License and Certification Requirements

None for installer crews; companies register as home improvement contractors (HICR) — regulated by the No state installer license — local electrical rules apply; HICR registration for businesses.

1. No Pennsylvania installer license — crews work under contractors, with electrical tie-ins following local municipal rules.
2. Solar companies doing residential work must register with the PA Attorney General as home improvement contractors.
3. NABCEP certification (voluntary) and electrical skills drive pay; the municipal electrician path in Philadelphia/Pittsburgh is the long-term upgrade.

Official requirements: No state installer license — local electrical rules apply; HICR registration for businesses →

Training in Pennsylvania

PA's solar market is smaller than the sunbelt's but growing from a low base with strong community-solar legislation momentum — early-mover advantage for installers who add battery and electrical skills.

Where Solar installers Work in Pennsylvania

Real Pennsylvania power plants that employ solar installers include:

• Great Cove Solar II — Saint Thomas
• Mehoopany Wind Energy LLC — Noxen
• Twin Ridges Wind Farm — Meyersdale
• Locust Ridge II LLC — Shenandoah
• Armenia Mountain Wind Farm — Mainesburg
• Aspen Road Solar — Spring Run

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), Pennsylvania statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2231. Licensing summary compiled from the No state installer license — local electrical rules apply; HICR registration for businesses (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 Pennsylvania wages · Pennsylvania 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.