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True Trade Path

Apprenticeship

Roofer Apprenticeships

What a roofer apprenticeship pays, how long it runs, what the application requires, and what the licence at the end lets you do.

Length
3 years
Tuition
None
Journeyman median
$50,030/yr

Roofers install, repair and replace roof systems — asphalt shingle, metal, tile, single-ply membrane and built-up. Residential and commercial roofing are distinct businesses with different materials, crews and economics. It is physically punishing work with a high injury rate, but it converts into ownership faster than almost any other trade because the capital requirements are low.

Year one pay
$22,514
About 45% of journeyman scale
Journeyman median
$50,030
$24.05 per hour
Tuition debt
$0
You are paid to train

What you earn at each step

Apprentice wages are set as a percentage of journeyman scale and step up on a published schedule as you accumulate hours and classroom credits. The figures below apply the typical step schedule to the national median — your local’s wage sheet is the authoritative number.

StepShare of scaleApproximate hourlyApproximate annual
Year 145%$10.82$22,514
Year 255%$13.23$27,517
Year 368%$16.35$34,020
Year 482%$19.72$41,025
Journeyman100%$24.05$50,030

What the application requires

Education
No formal educational credential
Training route
On-the-job training, or a 3-year apprenticeship
Age
18 or over. Registered programmes cannot set a maximum age.
Mathematics
One year of high school algebra with a passing grade. This is the most common reason applications stall, and one semester at a community college clears it.
Aptitude test
Most programmes test algebra and reading comprehension, with some mechanical and spatial reasoning. Free practice material is widely available; preparing genuinely moves your ranking.
Physical
The most physically demanding trade on this list. Steep slopes, extreme roof-surface heat, heavy carries up ladders, and a fall risk that requires continuous fall-protection discipline.
Licensing outcome
Many states license roofing contractors specifically; individual roofers usually are not licensed.

Where to find programmes

Search the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Finder at apprenticeship.gov, then contact the union local, the ABC or IEC chapter, and licensed contractors in your area directly. Apply to all three routes in the same cycle — they have different intake calendars and different selection criteria.

Where it leads

After licensing, pay diverges by specialization far more than by years served. These are the paths most roofers choose between.

  • Asphalt shingle (residential)
  • Metal roofing
  • Tile and slate
  • Single-ply membrane (TPO/EPDM)
  • Built-up and modified bitumen
  • Low-slope commercial
  • Storm and insurance restoration
  • Roof coatings and restoration

Common questions

How much do roofer apprentices make?
Apprentices typically start near 45 percent of journeyman scale and step up on a published schedule. Against a national journeyman median of $50,030, that is roughly $22,514 in year one, rising to around $41,025 by the final year. Local scale varies substantially.
How long is a roofer apprenticeship?
3 years. The hours, not the calendar, are what qualify you to sit the licence exam, so working consistently matters more than time elapsed.
What do I need to apply?
No formal educational credential is the baseline, plus being 18 or over, a valid driver's licence, reliable transportation, and one year of high school algebra with a passing grade. Most programmes also require passing an aptitude test, an interview, and a drug screen.
What licence does this lead to?
Many states license roofing contractors specifically; individual roofers usually are not licensed.

Licensing authority by state

Apprenticeship hours are portable, but licensing is not. Confirm the requirements with the board in the state where you intend to work before you start accumulating hours somewhere else.