Skilled Wages

Solar installer salary in North Carolina

Median $21.09 an hour for 710 solar photovoltaic installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2012.

$21.09/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$43,860/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.00 – $28.9310th to 90th percentilehourly range
710Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Solar installer pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $18.00 · 25th $19.09 · median $21.09 · 75th $23.30 · 90th $28.93North Carolina$21.09$18.00$28.93United States: 10th $20.00 · 25th $22.45 · median $25.55 · 75th $30.23 · 90th $38.45United States$25.55
Hourly wage percentiles for solar photovoltaic installers: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 31st of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 31st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.36). 710 solar photovoltaic installers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.00 – $19.09$37,440 – $39,710roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$19.09 – $23.30$39,710 – $48,460the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$23.30 – $28.93$48,460 – $60,170the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Solar installer pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrVirginia Beach: $23.04Virginia Beach$23.04Charlotte: $22.10Charlotte$22.10
Median hourly wage for solar photovoltaic installers by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$22.94$23.04$28.01—9% above
Charlotte$18.00$22.10$37.471505% above

Solar installer wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 2012-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30201520202025$25.55United States$21.09North Carolina
Median hourly wage for solar photovoltaic installers, North Carolina vs United States, 2012–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
2012$15.42$21.62$18.22—
2013$14.27$19.72$19.04—
2014$14.14$19.23$19.24—
2015$16.51$22.43$18.19360
2016$16.71$22.41$18.87380
2017$16.94$22.25$18.98500
2018$15.89$20.37$20.52490
2019$16.89$21.27$21.58670
2020$18.16$22.59$22.34580
2021$17.85$21.21$22.92350
2022$17.45$19.20$21.75880
2023$18.93$20.00$23.46730
2024$22.70$23.30$24.93730
2025$21.09$21.09$25.55710

In today's dollars, the median solar installer wage in North Carolina changed by -6.0% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 32 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.41 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.57). 53 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $15.77). The market median for the state is $21.09.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $44.43 (union)Alexander: $18.16 (survey)Alleghany: $15.77 (survey)Anson: $45.97 (union)Ashe: $15.77 (survey)Avery: $15.77 (survey)Beaufort: $18.57 (survey)Bertie: $18.57 (survey)Bladen: $20.43 (survey)Brunswick: $28.08 (survey)Buncombe: $45.91 (union)Burke: $18.16 (survey)Cabarrus: $45.97 (union)Caldwell: $18.16 (survey)Camden: $18.57 (survey)Carteret: $18.57 (survey)Caswell: $16.01 (survey)Catawba: $18.16 (survey)Chatham: $44.43 (union)Cherokee: $15.77 (survey)Chowan: $18.57 (survey)Clay: $15.77 (survey)Cleveland: $20.43 (survey)Columbus: $20.43 (survey)Craven: $28.08 (survey)Cumberland: $28.08 (survey)Currituck: $28.08 (survey)Dare: $18.57 (survey)Davidson: $45.41 (union)Davie: $45.41 (union)Duplin: $20.43 (survey)Durham: $44.43 (union)Edgecombe: $44.43 (union)Forsyth: $45.41 (union)Franklin: $44.43 (union)Gaston: $45.97 (union)Gates: $28.08 (survey)Graham: $15.77 (survey)Granville: $16.01 (survey)Greene: $21.37 (survey)Guilford: $45.41 (union)Halifax: $16.01 (survey)Harnett: $20.43 (survey)Haywood: $45.91 (union)Henderson: $45.91 (union)Hertford: $18.57 (survey)Hoke: $28.08 (survey)Hyde: $18.57 (survey)Iredell: $45.97 (union)Jackson: $15.77 (survey)Johnston: $44.43 (union)Jones: $28.08 (survey)Lee: $20.43 (survey)Lenoir: $20.43 (survey)Lincoln: $45.97 (union)McDowell: $15.77 (survey)Macon: $15.77 (survey)Madison: $45.91 (union)Martin: $18.57 (survey)Mecklenburg: $45.97 (union)Mitchell: $15.77 (survey)Montgomery: $20.43 (survey)Moore: $20.43 (survey)Nash: $44.43 (union)New Hanover: $28.08 (survey)Northampton: $16.01 (survey)Onslow: $28.08 (survey)Orange: $44.43 (union)Pamlico: $28.08 (survey)Pasquotank: $18.57 (survey)Pender: $28.08 (survey)Perquimans: $18.57 (survey)Person: $44.43 (union)Pitt: $44.43 (union)Polk: $15.77 (survey)Randolph: $45.41 (union)Richmond: $20.43 (survey)Robeson: $20.43 (survey)Rockingham: $45.41 (union)Rowan: $45.97 (union)Rutherford: $15.77 (survey)Sampson: $20.43 (survey)Scotland: $20.43 (survey)Stanly: $20.43 (survey)Stokes: $45.41 (union)Surry: $15.77 (survey)Swain: $15.77 (survey)Transylvania: $15.77 (survey)Tyrrell: $18.57 (survey)Union: $45.97 (union)Vance: $16.01 (survey)Wake: $44.43 (union)Warren: $16.01 (survey)Washington: $18.57 (survey)Watauga: $15.77 (survey)Wayne: $44.43 (union)Wilkes: $15.77 (survey)Wilson: $20.43 (survey)Yadkin: $45.41 (union)Yancey: $15.77 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.01$18.57$28.08$44.63survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for solar installers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50/hrBuncombe (North Carolina): market median $21.09, prevailing (union) $45.91, gap +$24.82Buncombe (North Carolina)+$24.82Anson (Charlotte): market median $22.10, prevailing (union) $45.97, gap +$23.87Anson (Charlotte)+$23.87Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $23.04, prevailing (survey) $28.08, gap +$5.04Currituck (Virginia Beach)+$5.04
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for solar installers, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AnsonUnion ELEC0379-009 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260021
CabarrusUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
GastonUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260005
IredellUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260007
LincolnUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
MecklenburgUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260008
RowanUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
UnionUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
BuncombeUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
HaywoodUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
HendersonUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
MadisonUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
DavidsonUnion ELEC0342-003 2025-06-01$31.00$14.41$45.41NC20260124
DavieUnion ELEC0342-003 2025-06-01$31.00$14.41$45.41NC20260124
ForsythUnion ELEC0342-003 2025-06-01$31.00$14.41$45.41NC20260004

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the North Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

299.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-08
+6.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025299kAug 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at electrical contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just solar installers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Polk County41$146,679$2,821
Randolph County617$103,661$1,993
Mecklenburg County4,799$87,807$1,689
Lenoir County551$86,264$1,659
Wake County5,133$83,141$1,599
Cleveland County395$81,963$1,576
Rutherford County406$81,485$1,567
Guilford County2,235$81,376$1,565
Durham County995$80,411$1,546
Yadkin County230$78,317$1,506
Cumberland County1,034$75,400$1,450
Union County990$74,657$1,436

Keep comparing

Solar installer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do solar installers make in North Carolina?

The median solar installer in North Carolina earned $21.09 an hour ($43,860 a year) in May 2025, 17% below the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $19.09–$23.30; the top 10% earn more than $28.93.

Where does North Carolina rank for solar installer pay?

North Carolina ranks 31st of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $21.09 an hour, and 31st after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union solar installer rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 32 counties, with a typical package of $45.41 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many solar installers work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 710 solar photovoltaic installers in North Carolina in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.71; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2231.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.