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Solar Photovoltaic Installers in North Carolina

Thinking about a career as a Solar Photovoltaic Installers in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks. Excludes solar PV electricians who are included in “Electricians” (47-2111) and solar thermal installers who are included in “Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters” (47-2152).

What do Solar Photovoltaic Installers Make in North Carolina?

The solar photovoltaic installers working in North Carolina, wages run about $47,220 per year (or about $22.70/hour).Earnings range from $33,870 at the 10th percentile to $62,810 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$33,870	$16.29
25th percentile	$36,010	$17.31
Median (50th)	$47,220	$22.70
75th percentile	$50,630	$24.34
90th percentile	$62,810	$30.20

The job concentration index in North Carolina compared to the national average — is 0.81, meaning fewer solar photovoltaic installers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, solar photovoltaic installers earn a median of $32,563 per year ($15.66/hour), above the North Carolina median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 345,486 solar photovoltaic installers nationwide. In North Carolina alone, approximately 730 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 540 solar photovoltaic installers.

Top North Carolina Metros for Solar Photovoltaic Installers

These are the North Carolina metros with the most solar photovoltaic installers in North Carolina.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	90	$56,550

Top States for Solar Photovoltaic Installers Employment

View the states that employ the most solar photovoltaic installers work.

State	Number Employed
California	8,970
Texas	5,370
Florida	1,940
Puerto Rico	1,430
Arizona	1,360
New Jersey	1,280
Virginia	1,110
North Carolina	730
Indiana	660
Pennsylvania	650
Colorado	650
Utah	540
Maryland	490
Hawaii	370
South Carolina	270
Oregon	240
Wisconsin	230
Illinois	200
New Mexico	200
Nevada	170

Highest-Paying States for Solar Photovoltaic Installers

These states pay the most for solar photovoltaic installers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Rhode Island	$103,880
Nevada	$66,090
New Jersey	$64,670
Vermont	$64,230
Hawaii	$62,740
California	$60,790
Oregon	$58,720
Maryland	$58,420
Kansas	$57,200
Massachusetts	$55,010

Skills

The most important solar photovoltaic installers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for solar photovoltaic installers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, solar photovoltaic installers typically:

• Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
• Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
• Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
• Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
• Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
• Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
• Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
• Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.
• Diagram layouts and locations for photovoltaic (PV) arrays and equipment, including existing building or site features.
• Determine materials, equipment, and installation sequences necessary to maximize installation efficiency.
• Test operating voltages to ensure operation within acceptable limits for power conditioning equipment, such as inverters and controllers.
• Determine appropriate sizes, ratings, and locations for all system overcurrent devices, disconnect devices, grounding equipment, and surge suppression equipment.

Work Activities

• Performing General Physical Activities
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Getting Information
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Extensible markup language XML In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
• Building Management & Inspection
• Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

Related Careers

Related occupations to solar photovoltaic installers include:

• Electrical Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
• Wind Energy Engineers
• Solar Energy Systems Engineers
• Lighting Technicians

Also Known As

Electro-Mechanical Solar Technician (Electro-Mechanical Solar Tech), Installation Technician (Installation Tech), Installer, Journeyman Electrician PV Installer (Journeyman Electrician Photovoltaic Installer), PV Fabrication Technician (Photovoltaic Fabrication Technician), PV Fabrication and Testing Technician (Photovoltaic Fabrication and Testing Technician), PV Installation Tech (Photovoltaic Installation Technician), PV Installer (Photovoltaic Installer), PV Panel Installer (Photovoltaic Panel Installer), PV Technician (Photovoltaic Technician), PV Testing Technician (Photovoltaic Testing Technician), Residential Solar Installer, Solar Designer, Solar Electric Installer, Solar Electric Practitioner.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2231.00