State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Roofer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Roofers is $55,440 a year ($26.65/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% through 2034, with about 12,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
SOC 47-2181Construction and ExtractionLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $55,440
- Projected growth
- +5.9%
- Openings a year
- 12,700
- Typical education
- No formal credential
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Commercial Roofer, Industrial Roofer, Metal Roofing Mechanic, Residential Roofer, Roof Mechanic, Roof Service Technician.
How much do Roofers make?
10th percentile$37,460
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$46,260
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$55,440
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$65,390
Upper quartile
90th percentile$81,720
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $55,440 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $26.65/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $58,140 |
| People employed | 135,490 |
Versus all US occupations
At $55,440, Roofers earn 9% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,460 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $57,430, this is 3% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $81,720 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,460, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 36% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Illinois pays the most at $77,900, and still leads at $77,933 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Roofers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $77,900 | $77,933 | 5,300 |
| New Jersey | $76,600 | $70,401 | 1,860 |
| Minnesota | $74,490 | $75,532 | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 | $68,790 | 1,950 |
| Alaska | $66,750 | $65,212 | 310 |
| New York | $66,020 | $61,174 | 4,570 |
| California | $63,600 | $57,442 | 21,190 |
| Connecticut | $62,070 | $59,907 | 790 |
| District of Columbia | $61,750 | $56,187 | 100 |
| Rhode Island | $61,630 | $60,256 | 360 |
Is Roofer a growing career?
Roofers5.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+5.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Roofers to change 5.9% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 9,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,700 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 166,700 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Replacement and repair of roofs, as well as the installation of new roofs, will create demand for roofers. Some of this demand may come from the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on building rooftops.
How to become a Roofer
Working as a roofer for an employer is unlicensed in most of the country: BLS records no formal educational credential and lists only OSHA-compliant safety certification and possibly a driver's licence. Roofing contractors are a different matter, and the variation between states is unusually wide. Illinois licenses roofing contractors at state level and no municipality may issue a roofing building permit without proof of that licence. California treats roofing as contractor classification C-39 and requires four years of journey-level experience plus two exams. Several other states license roofing only as part of a general contractor licence, and some do not license it at all.
The credential path, step by step
- Get hired without a credential
BLS says no formal educational credential is typically required for roofers and that most learn on the job. Trainees begin by carrying equipment and material and erecting scaffolds and hoists, learn within a few months to measure, cut and fit roofing materials, then move on to laying asphalt or fiberglass shingles. Because some materials such as solar tiles are used infrequently, BLS notes it may take several years to gain experience across all types of roofing.
- Complete OSHA-compliant safety certification
BLS says most employers require roofers to complete safety certification meeting OSHA guidelines, either before or after being hired. The reason is the fall protection standard: in construction, employees working on a low-slope roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest, or a specified combination involving a warning line system, and steep roofs require guardrails with toeboards, safety nets or personal fall arrest. Residential construction carries its own 6-foot rule. Six feet is the number to remember.
- Look for an apprenticeship, but expect few
BLS says a few groups sponsor apprenticeship programmes for roofers, combining on-the-job training with technical instruction and usually requiring a predetermined number of hours for both. Registered apprenticeships are paid and end with a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship, but they are much thinner on the ground in roofing than in carpentry or the mechanical trades.
- Find out whether your state licenses roofing contractors, and how
This is where the real research is. Illinois runs a dedicated state licence under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, with two tiers: a limited roofing licence for businesses roofing residential properties of 8 units or fewer, and an unlimited licence covering residential, commercial and industrial work. California folds roofing into its contractor licensing system as classification C-39, defined as installing products and repairing surfaces that seal, waterproof and weatherproof structures. Other states license only general contractors, or delegate to counties and cities, or do not license roofing at all.
- If you are the licence holder, expect to be the one who sits the exam
Illinois requires each licensed roofing contractor to designate a qualifying party who takes the examination on the company's behalf: for a limited licence the technical portion covers current residential roofing practices, and for an unlimited licence it covers residential, commercial and industrial practices, with both covering Illinois jurisprudence as it relates to roofing. The qualifying party must be a W-2 employee of the licensee who receives compensation, is under the licensee's supervision and control, and has payroll tax and workers' compensation deducted or provided; they may not be paid on a Form 1099. They must be actively engaged in the day-to-day activities of the business and may generally qualify only one licensee. If the qualifying party leaves, the licence becomes inoperative and a new qualifying party has seven months after departmental approval to pass the exam and requalify it.
- Budget for the bond and the permit rule
Illinois requires a surety bond before a licence is issued or renewed: $10,000 for a limited licence and $25,000 for an unlimited licence, kept continuously in force, with the licence cancelled without hearing on the bond's termination date unless a replacement is filed. A municipality or county that requires a building permit may not issue one to a roofing contractor without sufficient proof of current state licensure, and holders of a limited licence are restricted to permits for residential properties of 8 units or fewer. Advertising must carry the licence number and the licensee's name.
- How long the training takes
No programme is required. BLS describes on-the-job training in which trainees learn to measure, cut and fit roofing materials within a few months but may need several years to gain experience across all roofing types. Apprenticeships exist but are sponsored by only a few groups. Where a state licenses roofing contractors, the experience requirement is separate again: California requires at least four years at journey level or above.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Individual roofers working for an employer are not licensed. Roofing contractors are, and the pattern varies more than in most trades. Illinois licenses roofing contractors directly through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, splits the licence into limited (residential up to 8 units) and unlimited tiers, requires a $10,000 or $25,000 surety bond respectively, requires a designated qualifying party who is a W-2 employee and has passed a state exam covering roofing practice and Illinois jurisprudence, and forbids any municipality or county from issuing a roofing building permit without proof of state licensure. California instead uses its general contractor licensing system, with roofing as classification C-39, requiring at least four years of journey-level or supervisory experience (up to three of which can come from training or education, with at least one year practical) plus a law and business exam and a trade exam, and prohibiting unlicensed contracting on any job requiring a permit, using employee labor, or exceeding $1,000. Elsewhere, roofing may sit inside a general contractor licence, be licensed at city or county level, or be unlicensed entirely. Check the state first and then the municipality, because the permit desk is usually where the requirement bites.
Who governs the credential
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Licenses roofing contractors in Illinois under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, authorises and administers the qualifying party examination, accepts or refuses the designated qualifying party, and can suspend or revoke that acceptance with fines of up to $15,000 per violation.
- California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Licenses roofing in California under classification C-39, sets the four-year journey-level experience requirement and the law and business plus trade examinations, and defines the threshold below which unlicensed work is permitted.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Sets the construction fall protection duty at 29 CFR 1926.501, including the 6 foot trigger for low-slope roofing work, steep roofs and residential construction, and the permitted combinations of guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest, warning line and safety monitoring systems.
Credential detail for roofers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Roofers, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- Illinois General Assembly — Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335 (limited and unlimited licences, qualifying party, examinations, $10,000 and $25,000 bonds, building permit restriction) · checked August 23, 2026
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Roofing Contractor licensing · checked August 23, 2026
- California Contractors State License Board — Licensing Classification C-39, Roofing Contractor · checked August 23, 2026
- California Contractors State License Board — Step 3: Qualifying Experience for the Examination · checked August 23, 2026
- California Contractors State License Board — Frequently Asked Questions About Journey-level Experience (the $1,000, permit and employee labor limits) · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 29 CFR 1926.501 — Duty to have fall protection (b)(10) low-slope roofing, (b)(11) steep roofs, (b)(13) residential construction · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
There are no specific education requirements for roofers. Although most learn on the job, some roofers enter the occupation through an apprenticeship.
| Typical entry-level education | No formal educational credential |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as roofers.
- High School Diploma48.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma26.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate10.8%
- Some College Courses7.5%
- First Professional Degree2.4%
What does a Roofer do?
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.
Roofers replace, repair, and install the roofs of buildings, using a variety of materials, including shingles, bitumen, and metal.
Day-to-day tasks
- Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
- 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.
- Install, repair, or replace single-ply roofing systems, using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric, or other asphaltic compositions.
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
- Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most roofers work full time. In northern states, roofing work may be limited during the winter months. During the busy summer months, roofers may work overtime to complete jobs.
Where the work happens
- Rarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space
- Outdoors in all weather at least weekly
Physical demands
- Regular bending or twisting
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where roofers work
| Roofing contractors | 73% |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 18% |
| Construction of buildings | 4% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.8/5
- Active Learning2.6/5
- Mathematics2.3/5
- Learning Strategies2.1/5
Transferable skills
- Coordination3.6/5
- Operations Monitoring3.0/5
- Operation and Control3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Instructing2.5/5
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Roofer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigative1.3
Artistic1.2
Social1.5
Enterprising1.6
Conventionalprimary3.5
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Roofer: frequently asked questions
How much do Roofers make?
Roofers earn a median of $55,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.65/hr. The middle half earn between $46,260 and $65,390. The top 10% earn $81,720 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Roofer?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Roofers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 48.9% hold high school diploma.
Is Roofer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 12,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Roofer do?
Roofers replace, repair, and install the roofs of buildings, using a variety of materials, including shingles, bitumen, and metal. A core O*NET task: remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Roofers the most?
The highest state medians for Roofers are Illinois ($77,900), New Jersey ($76,600), Minnesota ($74,490) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Roofer?
O*NET scores Roofers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Roofer?
No programme is required. BLS describes on-the-job training in which trainees learn to measure, cut and fit roofing materials within a few months but may need several years to gain experience across all roofing types. Apprenticeships exist but are sponsored by only a few groups. Where a state licenses roofing contractors, the experience requirement is separate again: California requires at least four years at journey level or above.
Do you need a license to work as a Roofer?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Individual roofers working for an employer are not licensed. Roofing contractors are, and the pattern varies more than in most trades. Illinois licenses roofing contractors directly through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, splits the licence into limited (residential up to 8 units) and unlimited tiers, requires a $10,000 or $25,000 surety bond respectively, requires a designated qualifying party who is a W-2 employee and has passed a state exam covering roofing practice and Illinois jurisprudence, and forbids any municipality or county from issuing a roofing building permit without proof of state licensure. California instead uses its general contractor licensing system, with roofing as classification C-39, requiring at least four years of journey-level or supervisory experience (up to three of which can come from training or education, with at least one year practical) plus a law and business exam and a trade exam, and prohibiting unlicensed contracting on any job requiring a permit, using employee labor, or exceeding $1,000. Elsewhere, roofing may sit inside a general contractor licence, be licensed at city or county level, or be unlicensed entirely. Check the state first and then the municipality, because the permit desk is usually where the requirement bites.