Roofers: 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.
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The Daily Work of Roofers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of roofers cover:
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
- Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs.
- Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
- Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.
- Install partially overlapping layers of material over roof insulation surfaces, using chalk lines, gauges on shingling hatchets, or lines on shingles.
- Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.
- Apply plastic coatings, membranes, fiberglass, or felt over sloped roofs before applying shingles.
What Roofers Need to Know
Successful roofers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Roofers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aluminum Shingle Roofer
- Asbestos Shingle Roofer
- Commercial Roofer
- Commercial Roofing Tech (Commercial Roofing Technician)
- Composition Roofer
- Cool Roofing Installer
- Gravel Roofer
- Gutter Installer
How Many Roofers Are There?
There are about 483,688 roofers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Roofers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,443 |
| Hourly median | $33.39 |
| 10th percentile | $49,707 |
| 25th percentile | $59,575 |
| 75th percentile | $79,311 |
| 90th percentile | $89,179 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Roofers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $77,730 |
| New Jersey | $73,410 |
| Massachusetts | $72,360 |
| Illinois | $66,940 |
| New York | $63,350 |
| Connecticut | $63,340 |
| Alaska | $63,120 |
| California | $63,040 |
| Washington | $60,330 |
| Delaware | $59,280 |
| Rhode Island | $58,510 |
| District of Columbia | $57,150 |
| Hawaii | $56,950 |
| Ohio | $56,420 |
| Oregon | $56,320 |
| Michigan | $56,290 |
| Colorado | $55,800 |
| Indiana | $55,640 |
| Vermont | $54,340 |
| Missouri | $53,430 |
| Maryland | $52,010 |
| New Hampshire | $50,250 |
| Maine | $49,990 |
| Utah | $49,800 |
| Wisconsin | $49,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,230 |
| Nevada | $49,180 |
| Montana | $49,020 |
| Virginia | $48,920 |
| South Dakota | $48,320 |
| Idaho | $48,140 |
| North Carolina | $48,090 |
| North Dakota | $47,840 |
| Kentucky | $47,620 |
| Georgia | $47,460 |
| Kansas | $47,400 |
| Iowa | $47,110 |
| Oklahoma | $47,020 |
| Florida | $46,230 |
| Arizona | $46,210 |
| Nebraska | $45,970 |
| South Carolina | $45,860 |
| Louisiana | $45,680 |
| Texas | $45,440 |
| Alabama | $45,220 |
| Arkansas | $45,120 |
| Tennessee | $44,780 |
| New Mexico | $44,440 |
| Mississippi | $40,480 |
| Virgin Islands | $40,330 |
| West Virginia | $39,420 |
| Wyoming | $38,650 |
| Guam | $35,800 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,040 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for roofers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $64,555 | 3.1% | 0.73 |
| Far Western US | $60,810 | 24.1% | 1.46 |
| Great Lakes | $59,009 | 13.4% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $58,514 | 9.3% | 0.66 |
| Plains States | $55,699 | 6.3% | 0.99 |
| Rocky Mountains | $51,623 | 5.8% | 1.51 |
| Southeast | $46,344 | 28.8% | 1.89 |
| Southwest | $45,715 | 8.8% | 0.86 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Roofers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $91,920 | 120 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $87,790 | 100 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $86,640 | 140 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | MN | $85,520 | 240 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $83,140 | 350 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $79,040 | 1,330 |
| Springfield, MA | MA | $78,900 | 320 |
| Springfield, IL | IL | $76,640 | 270 |
Top Industries Employing Roofers
The largest employers of roofers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 133,610 | $50,940 |
| Manufacturing | 1,190 | $49,710 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 830 | $50,750 |
| Educational Services | 360 | $59,200 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 80 | $47,730 |
| Wholesale Trade | 60 | $76,400 |
Roofers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for roofers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to High Places
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
How to Become Roofers
Entry-level roofers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Supplemental)
- Carpenters (Primary-Long)
- Carpet Installers (Supplemental)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Primary-Short)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Primary-Long)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Supplemental)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Primary-Long)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring roofers often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2181.00 (Roofers).
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