All About Roofers

Roofer Job Description 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.

Life as a Roofer: What Do They Do?

• Install solar roofing systems that have energy-collecting photovoltaic panels built into roofing membranes, shingles, or tiles.
• Install skylights on roofs to increase natural light inside structures or to reduce energy costs.
• Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms.
• Attach solar panels to existing roofs, according to specifications and without damaging roofing materials or the structural integrity of buildings.
• 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.
• Install attic ventilation systems, such as turbine vents, gable or ridge vents, or conventional or solar-powered exhaust fans.

Skills Needed to be a Roofer

Below is a list of the skills most Roofers say are important on the job.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Residential Roofer
• Commercial Roofer
• Roof Tile Layer
• Gravel Roofer
• Roofing Technician

Job Demand for Roofers

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 146,200 jobs in the United States for Roofers.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,200 new jobs for Roofers by 2026. The BLS estimates 16,500 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Roofers are Florida, California, and Texas.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Roofer Average Salary

Roofers Make between $25,540 and $66,510 a year. A Roofer median salary is $39,970.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
New York	$65,520
Illinois	$61,870
New Jersey	$58,870
Hawaii	$58,170
Massachusetts	$57,920
Connecticut	$55,630
Rhode Island	$54,600
Minnesota	$53,980
Washington	$53,550
Missouri	$52,150
Alaska	$51,560
California	$50,740
Pennsylvania	$49,650
Maryland	$46,330
District of Columbia	$44,570
North Dakota	$44,070
Indiana	$43,990
Michigan	$43,850
Nevada	$43,490
Virginia	$43,400
Wisconsin	$43,140
Delaware	$42,910
Kentucky	$42,110
Colorado	$42,070
Oregon	$41,790
Ohio	$41,240
Kansas	$40,840
Idaho	$39,280
Iowa	$38,790
New Hampshire	$38,620
Wyoming	$38,600
Montana	$38,540
Arizona	$38,390
West Virginia	$38,010
Utah	$37,560
Georgia	$36,790
Maine	$36,570
South Carolina	$36,000
North Carolina	$35,640
Vermont	$35,300
Texas	$35,230
Alabama	$35,160
Florida	$34,900
Tennessee	$34,230
Oklahoma	$34,220
Louisiana	$33,630
Nebraska	$33,390
Arkansas	$32,360
Mississippi	$32,190
New Mexico	$31,510
South Dakota	$30,800

What Tools & Technology do Roofers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Roofers:

• ASR Software TopView LE
• ASR Software TopView ME
• Microsoft Word
• Ziatek RoofDraw
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office
• AppliCad Roof Wizard
• ASR Software Taper-Plus
• ASR Software LWC-Plus
• DigiTools Roof CAD

How do I Become a Roofer?

Individuals working as Roofers have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become Roofer?

Where Roofers Work

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons