Solar installer salary in South Carolina
Median $24.27 an hour for — solar installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 2019 and the state's own outlook.
Solar installer pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 16th of 32 states for median solar installer pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.90). — solar installers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.49 – $22.96 | $40,540 – $47,760 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.96 – $28.50 | $47,760 – $59,270 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.50 – $37.58 | $59,270 – $78,170 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Solar installer pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $18.00 | $22.10 | $37.47 | 150 | 9% below |
Solar installer wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.08 | $22.77 | $21.58 | 50 |
| 2020 | $19.66 | $24.46 | $22.34 | 70 |
| 2021 | $22.51 | $26.74 | $22.92 | — |
| 2023 | $22.69 | $23.97 | $23.46 | 180 |
| 2024 | $23.70 | $24.32 | $24.93 | 270 |
| 2025 | $24.27 | $24.27 | $25.55 | — |
Outlook for solar installers in South Carolina
South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of solar installers in the state to change by +45.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 310 to 450, with about 50 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +36.5% over 2025-35.
Source: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for solar installers in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay solar installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 31 of the 46 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $46.79 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $15.86). 15 of the 46 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Allendale County at $24.03). The market median for the state is $24.27.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | Union ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260017 |
| Aiken | Union ELEC1579-001 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260032 |
| Cherokee | Union ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260017 |
| Edgefield | Union ELEC1579-001 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260032 |
| McCormick | Union ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260017 |
| Oconee | Union ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260017 |
| Union | Union ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01 | $32.25 | $16.95 | $49.20 | SC20260017 |
| Berkeley | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260022 |
| Calhoun | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260033 |
| Colleton | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260011 |
| Darlington | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260005 |
| Dorchester | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260024 |
| Fairfield | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260033 |
| Florence | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260005 |
| Kershaw | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260027 |
| Lexington | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260033 |
| Richland | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260028 |
| Saluda | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260033 |
| Sumter | Union ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01 | $32.80 | $13.99 | $46.79 | SC20260030 |
| Georgetown | Union ELEC0508-009 2025-09-01 | $33.35 | $13.40 | $46.75 | SC20260020 |
| Hampton | Union ELEC0508-008 2025-09-01 | $33.35 | $13.40 | $46.75 | SC20260013 |
| Jasper | Union ELEC0508-009 2025-09-01 | $33.35 | $13.40 | $46.75 | SC20260020 |
| Williamsburg | Union ELEC0508-009 2025-09-01 | $33.35 | $13.40 | $46.75 | SC20260020 |
| Anderson | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260021 |
| Greenville | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260025 |
| Greenwood | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260012 |
| Lancaster | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260014 |
| Laurens | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260006 |
| Pickens | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260006 |
| Spartanburg | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260029 |
| York | Union ELEC0379-010 2024-09-01 | $32.31 | $13.66 | $45.97 | SC20260031 |
| Allendale | Survey SUSC2011-014 2011-08-31 | $19.99 | $4.04 | $24.03 | SC20260018 |
| Bamberg | Survey SUSC2011-014 2011-08-31 | $19.99 | $4.04 | $24.03 | SC20260018 |
| Barnwell | Survey SUSC2011-003 2011-08-31 | $19.99 | $4.04 | $24.03 | SC20260007 |
| Newberry | Survey SUSC2011-011 2011-08-31 | $19.99 | $4.04 | $24.03 | SC20260015 |
| Orangeburg | Survey SUSC2011-012 2011-08-31 | $19.99 | $4.04 | $24.03 | SC20260016 |
| Beaufort | Survey SUSC2011-004 2011-08-31 | $18.33 | $0.00 | $18.33 | SC20260008 |
| Horry | Survey SUSC2011-022 2011-08-31 | $18.15 | $0.00 | $18.15 | SC20260026 |
| Charleston | Survey SUSC2011-019 2011-08-31 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | SC20260023 |
| Chester | Survey SUSC2011-005 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260009 |
| Chesterfield | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260019 |
| Clarendon | Survey SUSC2011-006 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260010 |
| Dillon | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260019 |
| Lee | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260019 |
| Marion | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260019 |
| Marlboro | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | SC20260019 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the South Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in South Carolina?
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. Across the 41 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 49,293 in 2015 to 69,005 in 2025, +40.0%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | 56 | 746 | $86,600 | $1,665 |
| Greenville County | 142 | 3,031 | $82,971 | $1,596 |
| Charleston County | 119 | 1,791 | $79,866 | $1,536 |
| York County | 70 | 540 | $79,225 | $1,524 |
| Richland County | 64 | 811 | $75,980 | $1,461 |
| Orangeburg County | 12 | 77 | $70,976 | $1,365 |
| Lancaster County | 17 | 193 | $69,792 | $1,342 |
| Sumter County | 14 | 155 | $69,516 | $1,337 |
| Dorchester County | 38 | 314 | $69,030 | $1,328 |
| Lexington County | 88 | 780 | $64,644 | $1,243 |
| Anderson County | 33 | 239 | $63,384 | $1,219 |
| Spartanburg County | 67 | 586 | $61,466 | $1,182 |
| Chester County | 7 | 93 | $58,146 | $1,118 |
| Chesterfield County | 8 | 26 | $58,015 | $1,116 |
| Aiken County | 34 | 233 | $55,317 | $1,064 |
| Horry County | 89 | 658 | $55,016 | $1,058 |
| Georgetown County | 13 | 47 | $46,253 | $889 |
Keep comparing
Solar installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
More on South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do solar installers make in South Carolina?
The median solar installer in South Carolina earned $24.27 an hour ($50,490 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $25.55. The middle half earn $22.96–$28.50; the top 10% earn more than $37.58.
Where does South Carolina rank for solar installer pay?
South Carolina ranks 16th of 32 states for solar installer pay, with a median of $24.27 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union solar installer rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for solar installers in 31 counties, with a typical package of $46.79 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many solar installers work in South Carolina?
BLS counted — solar installers in South Carolina in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is solar installer work growing in South Carolina?
South Carolina's labor market agency projects +45.2% growth for solar installers between 2024 and 2034, from 310 to 450 jobs.
How many solar installer openings a year are there in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects about 50 openings a year for solar installers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 4,200 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2231. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.