Work track · Pathway

Solar PV installer

From no experience to a certified solar installer earning steady income — and in time, running your own installation team.

₹24,000–36,000 a month, certified installer

About 90 days free residential training

10th + ITI or 12th pass to start

Record demand 60 lakh+ rooftop homes

Figures checked 10 October 2026 · sources at the bottom of the page

What you’ll earn

Certification and rooftop experience roughly double a helper’s pay.

Level	Typical pay in India	Source
Helper, no certificate	From ₹500 a day	QuickEstimate
Entry installer	₹15,000–20,000 a month	apna (Surat)
Certified installer (ITI Electrician + Solar PV Installer)	₹1,000–1,400 a day, about ₹24,000–33,600 a month	QuickEstimate
National average, solar installer	₹35,580 a month	Indeed
Rooftop site supervisor, 1+ year	₹33,000–41,000 a month	apna (Bengaluru)

Holding both ITI Electrician and the Solar PV Installer certificate gets the best rates. Pay varies by city, employer and season.

Cost and time

The best route, Suryamitra, is free and residential, with boarding and lodging included.

Route	Who it suits	Time	Cost
Suryamitra (MNRE, run by NISE)	10th pass + ITI (Electrician, Wireman, Electronics) or as per guidelines; degree holders not eligible	600 hours, about 90 days, residential	Free, boarding and lodging included
Solar PV Installer course at an SCGJ training partner	12th pass with no experience, or 10th pass with 3 years’ experience	Varies by centre	Free under government schemes, or paid — check the centre
ITI Electrician, then a solar certificate	10th pass, aiming for the highest pay	2 years + short solar course	Low fees at government ITIs

Check before you apply: confirm that new Suryamitra batches are open this year on suryamitra.nise.res.in or with your state nodal agency.

Six steps to a certified installer

Learn the basics free (1–2 weeks). Read the Solar PV Installer participant handbook and watch introductory videos on panels, inverters, wiring and earthing.
Check eligibility and apply. Apply for the next Suryamitra batch at suryamitra.nise.res.in or through your state nodal agency. If you are not eligible, find an SCGJ training partner on Skill India Digital.
Complete the training. Seven modules: site survey, procuring components, civil and mechanical installation, electrical installation, testing and commissioning, maintenance, and customer orientation.
Pass the assessment. The Skill Council for Green Jobs assesses and certifies you; the qualification is NSQF Level 4.
Get site practice. Join a rooftop installer registered under PM Surya Ghar as a trainee or helper. Suryamitra institutes also invite solar companies to recruit at the end of the course.
Add ITI Electrician and any electrical licence your state requires, to reach the top pay and work independently.

Proof of skill employers ask for

Certificate: SCGJ Solar PV Installer (Suryamitra), NSQF Level 4. ITI Electrician adds the most weight.
Practical test: install, wire and commission a small grid-connected system, such as the 1 kWp setup used in training. The SkilledMuslim practical test follows the same tasks.
Tools you use confidently: clamp meter, hand drill, spirit level, cable cutter, crimping and earthing tools.
Installation log: date, location, system size in kW and your role for each job, with photos taken with the owner’s permission.
Mentor endorsement and a reliability record on your SkilledMuslim profile.

Where the first income comes from

Rooftop solar demand is at a record high. PM Surya Ghar has passed 60 lakh households against a target of one crore, with more than 37,000 local vendors registered.

Course placement: Suryamitra institutes invite solar and EPC companies to recruit at the end of training.
Registered vendors near you: approach PM Surya Ghar vendors with your certificate and installation log — most need installers and helpers.
Suryamitra mobile app: NISE’s app connects trained Suryamitras with customers who need solar services.
Service and maintenance: panel cleaning, inspections and repairs for existing rooftop owners, which can start as weekend income.
Job platforms: solar installer roles are listed regularly on apna and Indeed.
Gulf openings: usually need 1–2 years’ experience first. Apply only through licensed recruiting agents listed on eMigrate.

Stay busy in slow months: rooftop additions slowed for two months in a row in late 2026, so add maintenance and general electrician skills too.

See solar openings hiring now

Your five-year picture

The official progression runs from installer to senior technician and supervisor, then to solar entrepreneur. Timing varies by person.

Year 1 · Trainee or helper: Suryamitra certificate, site practice, first installations.
Year 2 · Certified installer: completes 3–5 kW home systems independently; adds ITI Electrician if not already held.
Year 3 · Senior technician or site supervisor: leads a small crew and handles commissioning — ₹33,000–41,000 a month.
Year 4–5 · Your own installation team: register as a vendor, win rooftop jobs and hire helpers. SCGJ also offers a Rooftop Solar PV Entrepreneur qualification (NSQF Level 6).

Side routes: solar O&M technician for large plants, solar water pump technician (Varunmitra), or experienced installer roles in the Gulf.

Money step

Set aside a fixed share of every wage before spending; build an emergency fund of 3–6 months’ expenses.
Buy your tool kit piece by piece from savings, not on interest-based EMI.
Keep a separate goal for your future business: tools, ladder and harness set, and working capital.

Money & Savings →

Safety rules

Never work at height without a harness and a secured ladder.
Never touch DC connectors in daylight without isolating — treat strings as live.
Never go on site without insulated gloves, safety shoes and a helmet.
Never skip the earthing check or the commissioning checklist.
Never work the hottest hours in summer — start early, drink water, rest in shade.

Ready to start?

Begin with step 1 today — it’s free. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, ask us.

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