How much do solar installers make in South Carolina in 2026?

The median solar installer in South Carolina earns $50,490 a year, which works out to roughly $24.27 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits in the middle of the statewide range — a quarter of installers earn less than $47,760 ($22.96/hr), and a quarter earn more than $59,270 ($28.50/hr). All figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

That $11,510 spread between the 25th and 75th percentile tells you something real: what you earn as a solar installer in South Carolina depends heavily on how long you've been doing the work, which company you're with, and where in the state you're working. Entry-level helpers running wire and staging panels typically land near the bottom of that range. Crew leads and experienced installers who can commission systems, handle roof penetrations cleanly, and troubleshoot inverters are the ones pushing toward $59,270 and above.

South Carolina's solar market has grown steadily, with utility-scale, commercial, and residential installations spread across the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry. Upstate cities like Greenville and Spartanburg tend to have more commercial and industrial work tied to the manufacturing corridor there — that can mean steadier hours and larger crews, which helps hourly workers rack up more total pay over a year. Coastal markets around Charleston and Myrtle Beach skew more toward residential rooftop work, where crew size is smaller and scheduling can depend more on homeowner timelines.

Overtime is common in this trade, especially during spring and fall when installation demand peaks and daylight hours are long enough to work a full day. If your employer pays time-and-a-half past 40 hours, a consistent 45-hour week can add $3,000–$5,000 to your annual take-home on top of base pay — though the BLS figures above reflect straight-time wages and don't automatically capture that.

Licensing matters in South Carolina. The state requires a contractor's license for the business, but individual installers typically work under that license. Getting your NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the most recognized credential in the trade and is frequently the dividing line between a $24/hr role and one that pays $28/hr or more. Some employers will pay for the training and exam if you commit to staying with them.

Experience progression is the most direct lever most installers have. Workers new to the trade often spend their first year on ground work — hauling equipment, setting racking, pulling wire under supervision. By year two or three, workers who can lead a two- or three-person crew, read plans, and interface with inspectors are genuinely more valuable to employers and should be earning toward or above the median. If your pay hasn't moved after 18 to 24 months and your skills have, that's a conversation worth having — or a signal to shop your experience elsewhere.

Some solar installers in South Carolina work under collective bargaining agreements, depending on the company and the type of project. If you're in or considering a union position, the pay and benefit terms will be set in your local's agreement, which is the document to read — not general wage surveys.

The BLS numbers here are statewide averages and don't capture every variable. They won't show what you'd earn with a specific employer, on a specific project type, or with benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions factored in. Use the percentile range as a benchmark to know whether an offer is reasonable, then dig into the specifics of the job itself.