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.
National median · BLS
$55,440
▲ +8.77%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$58,140
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
135,490
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Roofers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,460
25th
$46,260
Median (50th)
$55,440
75th
$65,390
90th — top pay
$81,720
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Roofers
BLS projects employment of roofers to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 12,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
166,900 → 175,600
+8,800 jobs
Projected change
+5.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
12,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
19.8% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Roofers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Roofers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Coordination3.8
Critical Thinking3.0
Monitoring3.0
Operation and Control3.0
Time Management3.0
Active Listening2.9
Operations Monitoring2.9
Speaking2.9
Active Learning2.8
Complex Problem Solving2.8
Top knowledge areas
Building and Construction4.7
Mechanical4.0
Mathematics3.4
English Language3.2
Customer and Personal Service3.1
Design3.0
Engineering and Technology2.9
Public Safety and Security2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAppliCad Roof WizardASR Software LWC-PlusASR Software Taper-PlusASR Software TopView LEASR Software TopView MECADAFISDigiTools Roof CADEnergy cost evaluation softwareExele TopViewHumidity and vapor drive calculation softwareInsight Direct ServiceCEOMaintenance record softwareRoof Pro Estimate Software Roof ProRoofing Calculator
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What roofers do
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.
Also called
Commercial RooferRoof MechanicRoofing Technician (Roofing Tech)Single Ply RooferFlat RooferJourneyman RooferMetal Roofing MechanicRoof Service Technician (Roof Service Tech)Roofer MechanicSheet Metal Roofer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Roofers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $55,440.
