Roofers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Mean (average) | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| 90th percentile | $81,720 | $39.29 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Roofers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,670 | $36,120 | $60,920 | 1,010 | 0.55 |
| Alaska | $66,750 | $48,630 | $92,450 | 310 | 1.09 |
| Arizona | $47,340 | $35,910 | $62,620 | 3,420 | 1.21 |
| Arkansas | $47,470 | $31,200 | $58,270 | 950 | 0.84 |
| California | $63,600 | $48,620 | $89,010 | 21,190 | 1.34 |
| Colorado | $51,750 | $45,820 | $73,370 | 3,340 | 1.33 |
| Connecticut | $62,070 | $47,730 | $96,070 | 790 | 0.54 |
| Delaware | $59,440 | $35,640 | $73,900 | 230 | 0.53 |
| District of Columbia | $61,750 | $47,470 | $101,570 | 100 | 0.16 |
| Florida | $47,590 | $33,240 | $63,810 | 23,550 | 2.72 |
| Georgia | $46,940 | $32,070 | $63,720 | 2,160 | 0.51 |
| Hawaii | $59,580 | $45,860 | $79,400 | 1,110 | 2.03 |
| Idaho | $57,790 | $35,780 | $71,860 | 1,190 | 1.59 |
| Illinois | $77,900 | $46,600 | $106,530 | 5,300 | 1 |
| Indiana | $57,980 | $39,830 | $89,240 | 2,980 | 1.07 |
| Iowa | $48,660 | $37,070 | $65,010 | 930 | 0.68 |
| Kansas | $47,190 | $37,240 | $81,540 | 900 | 0.72 |
| Kentucky | $46,940 | $38,220 | $65,470 | 1,080 | 0.62 |
| Louisiana | $48,760 | $36,140 | $84,590 | 760 | 0.45 |
| Maine | $50,120 | $44,890 | $64,430 | 610 | 1.09 |
| Maryland | $60,090 | $45,760 | $80,470 | 2,050 | 0.85 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 | $50,790 | $106,290 | 1,950 | 0.62 |
| Michigan | $59,530 | $41,910 | $80,270 | 3,090 | 0.8 |
| Minnesota | $74,490 | $46,020 | $99,170 | 1,890 | 0.73 |
| Mississippi | $44,940 | $35,280 | $62,830 | 480 | 0.47 |
| Missouri | $48,570 | $38,470 | $78,710 | 2,050 | 0.8 |
| Montana | $59,030 | $46,020 | $71,920 | 370 | 0.82 |
| Nebraska | $46,460 | $37,480 | $59,670 | 1,730 | 1.94 |
| Nevada | $51,090 | $37,960 | $79,680 | 2,120 | 1.57 |
| New Hampshire | $59,830 | $46,920 | $100,040 | 270 | 0.45 |
| New Jersey | $76,600 | $45,230 | $103,720 | 1,860 | 0.5 |
| New Mexico | $45,300 | $35,880 | $73,850 | 1,160 | 1.53 |
| New York | $66,020 | $47,000 | $95,040 | 4,570 | 0.54 |
| North Carolina | $49,010 | $36,760 | $60,600 | 3,060 | 0.71 |
| North Dakota | $59,740 | $46,050 | $87,360 | 290 | 0.78 |
| Ohio | $49,390 | $39,940 | $75,340 | 4,610 | 0.95 |
| Oklahoma | $43,680 | $30,800 | $81,720 | 1,260 | 0.85 |
| Oregon | $58,970 | $45,880 | $95,700 | 3,430 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,710 | $40,480 | $76,700 | 3,830 | 0.73 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,100 | $23,010 | $30,850 | 550 | 0.67 |
| Rhode Island | $61,630 | $43,450 | $93,740 | 360 | 0.82 |
| South Carolina | $45,760 | $36,030 | $61,860 | 850 | 0.43 |
| South Dakota | $47,710 | $34,550 | $59,200 | 400 | 0.99 |
| Tennessee | $45,690 | $32,180 | $61,340 | 2,110 | 0.74 |
| Texas | $46,030 | $34,120 | $61,560 | 5,740 | 0.47 |
| Utah | $48,680 | $30,160 | $67,390 | 2,710 | 1.79 |
| Vermont | $59,040 | $45,380 | $63,250 | 210 | 0.79 |
| Virginia | $48,420 | $38,220 | $66,420 | 2,070 | 0.58 |
| Washington | $60,640 | $47,860 | $104,000 | 5,890 | 1.9 |
| West Virginia | $51,170 | $28,660 | $69,820 | 440 | 0.73 |
| Wisconsin | $59,370 | $39,130 | $78,380 | 2,400 | 0.94 |
| Wyoming | $45,650 | $37,110 | $62,490 | 330 | 1.33 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for roofers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 12,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 19.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for roofers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Roofer CIP 46.0410
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces.
- Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.
- Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
- Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
- Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.
- Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.
- Cover roofs or exterior walls of structures with slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, gravel, gypsum, or related materials, using brushes, knives, punches, hammers, or other tools.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- ASR Software LWC-Plus
- ASR Software Taper-Plus
- ASR Software TopView LE
- ASR Software TopView ME
- AppliCad Roof Wizard
- CADAFIS
- DigiTools Roof CAD
- Energy cost evaluation software
- Exele TopView
- Humidity and vapor drive calculation software
- Insight Direct ServiceCEO
- Maintenance record software
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Operation and Control, Time Management, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Commercial Roofer, Flat Roofer, Journeyman Roofer, Metal Roofing Mechanic, Roof Mechanic, Roof Service Technician (Roof Service Tech), Roofer Mechanic, Roofing Technician (Roofing Tech), Sheet Metal Roofer, Single Ply Roofer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do roofers make?
The national median annual wage for roofers was $55,440 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,460 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $81,720. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do roofers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is roofers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of roofers to change +5.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 12,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay roofers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Illinois ($77,900), New Jersey ($76,600), Minnesota ($74,490). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.