Solar Photovoltaic Installers Salary
The median pay for a solar photovoltaic installers in North Carolina is $43,860/year ($21.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $47,334 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 42.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in North Carolina?
About solar photovoltaic installers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for solar photovoltaic installers in North Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $53K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 43.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for solar photovoltaic installerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level solar photovoltaic installers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers salary by metro in North Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $46K | +5% | 150 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a solar photovoltaic installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 43.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for solar photovoltaic installers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new solar photovoltaic installers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,246/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is solar photovoltaic installer a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $44K here vs. $53K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for solar photovoltaic installers?
North Carolina pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do solar photovoltaic installers make in North Carolina?
The median is $43,860 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,440, and experienced solar photovoltaic installers can clear $60,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,942/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 43.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a solar photovoltaic installers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median solar photovoltaic installers salary is worth about $47,334 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do solar photovoltaic installers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.