Trade hub
Roofer
Install and repair the roof systems that keep water out of residential and commercial buildings.
- Median pay
- $50,030/yr
- Entry path
- 3 years
- Job outlook
- +2%
What roofers do
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.
- Median annual pay
- $50,030
- $24.05 per hour
- Typical range
- $35,910–$78,100
- 10th to 90th percentile
- Projected growth
- +2%
- 2023–2033 projections
- Annual openings
- 14,100
- Growth plus replacement
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2023 national wage estimates. Local pay varies substantially with union scale, prevailing wage projects and regional demand. Estimate pay for your area.
The work itself
A typical day
- Inspect and document roof condition and leaks
- Tear off and dispose of existing roofing
- Install underlayment, flashing and the roof covering
- Detail penetrations, valleys and terminations
- Set and maintain fall protection
Where you work
- Residential rooftops in all weather
- Commercial low-slope roofs
- Elevated work with fall protection requirements
- Highly seasonal in cold or wet climates
Physical demands
The honest tradeoffs
What works in your favor
- Lowest barrier to entry of any trade here
- Fast path to running your own crew and company
- Storm restoration work can be extremely lucrative
- Immediate hiring in most markets
What to go in knowing
- Highest injury and fatality rate among these trades
- Extreme heat exposure on roof surfaces
- Seasonal income swings
- Least transferable skill set if you need to leave the trade
Getting in
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Training route
- On-the-job training, or a 3-year apprenticeship
- Apprenticeship length
- 3 years
- Licensing
- Many states license roofing contractors specifically; individual roofers usually are not licensed.
Where the trade splits
Pay and working conditions diverge sharply by specialization. These are the paths most roofers end up choosing 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
Credentials that matter
- Manufacturer Certified InstallerGAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed and others
- NRCA ProCertificationNational Roofing Contractors Association
- OSHA 30-Hour ConstructionOSHA-authorized trainer
- Roofing Contractor LicenseState contractor licensing board
Roofer field tools
The calculators this trade uses on the job. Everything runs in the browser.
- CalculatorJob PricingBuild a defensible price from labor, materials, overhead and your target profit margin.
- CalculatorShop RateDetermine the hourly rate you must charge to cover overhead and hit your income target.
- CalculatorJob ProfitabilityCompare quoted price against actual hours and material to see what a job really earned.
- CalculatorBreak-EvenFind the revenue and billable hours required to cover fixed and variable costs.
- CalculatorMarkup / MarginConvert between markup and gross margin so you stop pricing below your intended profit.
For homeowners: when you need a roofer
- Active leaks or ceiling stains after rain
- Missing, curling or granule-bare shingles
- A roof approaching 20 years of age
- Storm or hail damage and an insurance claim
- Ice dams forming at the eaves
Diagnose it first
What it should cost
Decide what to do
- EstimatorRepair CostEstimate what a common home repair should cost in your area before you call anyone.
- ComparisonRepair vs. ReplaceCompare the economics of repairing a failing system against replacing it outright.
- ComparisonDIY vs. ProWeigh cost, time, tools, permits, risk and consequences before you take on a job yourself.
- DiagnosticQuote AnalyzerBreak down a contractor's quote and see whether the price and the terms are reasonable.
- PlannerMaintenance PlannerGenerate a seasonal maintenance schedule tailored to your home's systems, age and climate.
- DiagnosticHome HealthAssess the remaining life of your major systems and see what is likely to fail next.
- ChecklistHiring ChecklistWork through license, insurance, contract and payment checks before you sign anything.
Find roofers near you
Consent-based listings ranked by distance, relevance and verification date — never by payment.
- Roofers in New York
- Roofers in Los Angeles
- Roofers in Chicago
- Roofers in Houston
- Roofers in Phoenix
- Roofers in Philadelphia
- Roofers in San Antonio
- Roofers in San Diego
Related trades
Trades that share skills, tools or career adjacency.
- CarpenterFrame, finish and build the structures and interiors of residential and commercial buildings.
- HVAC TechnicianInstall, service and troubleshoot the heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems buildings depend on.
- Heavy Equipment OperatorRun excavators, dozers, loaders and cranes to move earth and place material on construction sites.