In many Indian towns, the rooftop solar installer has quietly become as familiar as the AC mechanic. A small team arrives on a two-wheeler or a pickup with aluminium rails, a few panels and a drill, spends a day on the terrace, and leaves behind a system that cuts the family’s electricity bill. Behind that day of work is a fast-growing job category: the solar panel installation technician. Since the launch of the PM Surya Ghar rooftop scheme, the number of homes applying for rooftop solar has jumped, and installers are in short supply in many districts.
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This article focuses only on installation work: what installers do on a rooftop, how the PM Surya Ghar scheme creates jobs, what pay is commonly advertised, and how to start, whether you are an ITI pass-out, an electrician already working locally, or a 12th-pass candidate willing to learn.
How PM Surya Ghar Creates Installer Jobs
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a central government scheme to help households install rooftop solar with a subsidy. Homeowners apply through the national portal, choose a registered vendor, get the system installed and inspected, and then receive the subsidy in their bank account after net metering is completed. The scheme is overseen by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and state electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) handle local approvals and meter installation.
Every one of these installations needs people on the ground: site surveyors, installers, electricians, helpers and someone to coordinate paperwork. Registered vendors, EPC companies and solar manufacturers’ channel partners all hire for these roles, and many of them prefer local technicians who know the area.
What a Solar Installation Technician Does
Site survey
The technician checks the roof type (RCC, tin sheet or tiled), direction, available shadow-free area, structural condition and the route for cables to the inverter and meter. Photos and measurements go into the proposal.
Mounting structure installation
Rails or elevated structures are fixed with anchors or ballast so that panels face the right direction and tilt. This is the most physical part of the job and must be done carefully to survive strong winds.
Panel fixing and DC wiring
Panels are clamped onto the structure, connected in strings with MC4 connectors and DC cable, and routed to a DC distribution box with protection devices.
Inverter and AC side
The inverter is mounted in a shaded, ventilated spot, connected to the DC side and to the home’s AC distribution board through an ACDB with breakers and surge protection.
Earthing and lightning protection
Proper earthing pits and a lightning arrester are installed as per the vendor’s design and local requirements.
Commissioning and handover
The technician checks string voltages, switches the system on in the correct sequence, sets up the inverter monitoring app for the customer and explains basic care like cleaning and what to do if the inverter shows an error.
Who Hires Solar Installation Technicians
- Registered rooftop vendors empanelled with DISCOMs under the scheme.
- EPC companies that build commercial rooftop and ground-mounted plants.
- Manufacturers and their channel networks, including large companies such as Tata Power and module makers like Waaree and Adani Solar, which work with installer partners.
- O&M service companies that maintain installed systems.
Openings are also listed on the National Career Service portal, especially for districts where the scheme is expanding.
Approximate Salary of Solar Installation Technicians
Pay for installers varies widely by city, experience and whether you are salaried or paid per installation. The ranges below are approximate figures commonly advertised for salaried roles and are not official rates of any employer or scheme.
| Role | Approximate monthly pay (commonly advertised) |
|---|---|
| Installation helper (fresher) | ₹15,000 – ₹22,000 |
| Solar panel installation technician | ₹18,000 – ₹28,000 |
| Site electrician (ITI) for rooftop projects | ₹18,000 – ₹28,000 |
| Factory-side module production operator (for comparison) | ₹16,000 – ₹24,000 |
Field roles may add daily site allowance, travel reimbursement or incentives per completed installation. Ask whether these are fixed or depend on targets, and get it in writing.
Skills Needed for Rooftop Solar Work
- Electrical basics: DC versus AC, series and parallel strings, polarity, use of a multimeter.
- Correct crimping of MC4 connectors and cable termination.
- Use of drill machines, spanners, measuring tape and spirit level.
- Working safely at height with harness and ladder.
- Reading a simple layout drawing and single-line diagram.
- Explaining things politely to homeowners, often in the local language.
- Using a smartphone for photos, geo-tagged reports and inverter apps.
Training That Makes You Job-Ready
Employers strongly prefer ITI Electricians or Wiremen. Solar-specific training through programmes linked to the National Institute of Solar Energy such as Suryamitra adds credibility. ITI pass-outs can also look for apprenticeship seats with solar companies on the Apprenticeship India portal. If you are already an electrician, even a short course plus a few weeks as a helper with an experienced installer can be enough to start.
How to Apply
- Prepare a short resume listing your trade, tools you can use and any rooftop jobs you have helped on, with photos if possible.
- Find registered rooftop vendors in your district (DISCOM websites and the scheme portal list empanelled vendors) and approach them directly.
- Apply on the careers pages of larger companies such as Tata Power for field and O&M roles.
- Register on the NCS portal and set alerts for solar installation jobs.
- Ask your ITI placement cell about solar company drives.
Selection Process
Phone screening
Vendors often call to check your trade, location and whether you have a two-wheeler and can travel.
Practical round
You may be asked to crimp a connector, wire a small DC box or explain how you would earth a system.
Trial day
Smaller installers sometimes take new technicians on one or two paid site visits before confirming.
Offer and joining
A written offer with salary, allowances, PF and ESI details should follow. Check ESI coverage on the ESIC website once you join.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Aadhaar and PAN
- ITI / diploma certificate and any solar training certificate
- Driving licence (two-wheeler or four-wheeler), useful for field roles
- Bank account details
- Experience letters or photos of past installations
A Typical Installation Day
The team reaches the house early to avoid the afternoon heat. The supervisor checks the design and material list, the helpers carry rails and panels to the roof, and the technician marks the layout. By midday the structure is fixed and panels are going up. After lunch, the DC wiring and inverter connections are done, and by evening the system is tested and handed over, unless the DISCOM still has to install the net meter. A small 2 to 3 kW home system is often finished in one to two days by an experienced team.
Common Rooftop Mistakes That Cost Installers Their Reputation
Experienced vendors say that most complaints from homeowners come from a handful of avoidable mistakes. The first is poor waterproofing: drilling anchors into an RCC roof without sealing the holes properly leads to leaks during the monsoon, and the customer blames solar for a damp ceiling. The second is shading. A water tank, a neighbour’s staircase or a tree that looks harmless in the morning can cast a shadow across one panel in the afternoon and pull down the output of the whole string. The third is loose or badly crimped connectors, which heat up over time and can damage cables. The fourth is untidy cable routing, with wires lying loose on the roof where they degrade in the sun or get stepped on. Finally, many installers forget to explain to the family how to read the inverter app, so the customer panics at the first cloudy day. A technician who avoids these mistakes gets repeat referrals, and in rooftop solar, referrals are how vendors grow.
Monsoon and Summer: Working Through the Seasons
Installation work in India follows the weather. Demand is usually strong before summer, when families notice their electricity bills rising, and work slows during heavy monsoon weeks when wet roofs are unsafe. Good teams plan structure work on dry days, use non-slip footwear, and keep a buffer of indoor tasks such as inverter servicing or preparing material kits for rainy days. In peak summer, starting at sunrise and finishing roof work before the hottest hours protects both the workers and the quality of the job.
Starting Your Own Installation Business Later
Many installers work for a vendor for two or three years, learn the paperwork and customer handling, and then start their own business. Becoming a registered vendor involves meeting the DISCOM’s empanelment conditions, which differ by state, so study the requirements on your DISCOM’s and the scheme’s official pages before investing. Building a reputation for neat, safe installations and honest after-sales service is the real asset.
Career Growth
From helper to technician, then team leader responsible for several sites, then site engineer or project coordinator. Technicians who understand larger commercial systems and inverters from multiple brands can move into O&M or commissioning roles for solar parks, which often pay more.
Beware of Fake Solar Installer Job Offers
Watch out for messages that ask you to pay a “vendor registration fee” to an individual, buy a “solar installer ID card”, or deposit money for a “government solar job”. Rooftop work under the scheme is done by private registered vendors; there is no government job for installers that you can buy. Never share OTPs or bank PINs, and verify any company online before joining. Report fraud on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or call 1930, and flag scam numbers through Sanchar Saathi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a solar installation technician a government job under PM Surya Ghar?
No. The scheme gives subsidies to households; installation is done by private registered vendors who hire technicians.
What is the approximate salary of a solar panel installation technician?
Commonly advertised pay is roughly ₹18,000 to ₹28,000 a month for salaried technicians, plus field allowances in some companies.
Do I need an ITI to become a solar installer?
It is strongly preferred, especially Electrician or Wireman. Helpers can start without ITI but need training to become technicians.
Is rooftop solar work safe?
It is safe when you use a harness, isolate DC circuits before handling them and follow the vendor’s safety procedures.
Can I work as a freelance solar installer?
Many experienced technicians work with several vendors on a per-installation basis, but salaried roles offer PF, ESI and steady income.
Final Thoughts
Rooftop solar is spreading across Indian homes, and the people who install it are becoming essential skilled workers. Learn the electrical basics well, build safe habits on the roof, work with a reputable registered vendor and apply only through genuine channels. It is outdoor, practical work with a clear path to becoming a team leader or even an independent installer.
Disclaimer
This article is an independent career guide written for information only. We are not a recruiter, placement agency or representative of Waaree, Adani Solar, Tata Power Solar, Premier Energies, Vikram Solar or any government scheme, and we do not collect applications or fees. Salary figures are approximate ranges commonly advertised for similar roles and change with city, shift, experience and employer; confirm the actual pay, deductions and benefits in a written offer letter. Always apply through the official careers pages and government portals linked above.
