### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Roofers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			roofers imageRoofers use a variety of tools when working on roofs depending on the type of roof being installed.							
						Quick Facts:     Roofers2023     Median Pay
            						$50,030     per year
										$24.05     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    No formal educational credentialWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Moderate-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    154,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    2% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,100What Roofers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Roofers replace, repair, and install the roofs of buildings.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Roofing work is physically demanding because it involves climbing, bending, kneeling, and heavy lifting. Roofers may work overtime in order to finish a particular job, especially during busy summer months.
            
                                                How to Become a Roofer
                                                
                        
There are typically no formal education requirements for roofers. Although most roofers learn on the job, some enter the occupation through an apprenticeship.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for roofers was $50,030 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of roofers is projected to grow							 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 12,200 openings for roofers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for roofers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of roofers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about roofers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Roofers Do 
            

			RoofersRoofers install shingles, asphalt, metal, or other materials to make the roof weatherproof.			
Roofers replace, repair, and install the roofs of buildings, using a variety of materials, including shingles, bitumen, and metal.
Duties
Roofers typically do the following:
Inspect problem roofs to determine the best way to repair them
Measure roofs to calculate the quantities of materials needed
Replace damaged or rotting joists or plywood
Remove existing roof systems
Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation
Install roof ventilation
Install shingles, asphalt, metal, or other materials to make the roof weatherproof
Align roofing materials with edges of the roof
Cut roofing materials to fit around walls or vents
Cover exposed nail or screw heads with roofing cement or caulk to prevent leakageProperly installing and repairing roofs keeps water from leaking into buildings and damaging the interior, including equipment and furnishings. Roofers install or repair two basic types of roofs: low slope and steep slope.
Low-slope roofs are the most common, as they are typical on commercial, industrial, and apartment buildings. The complexity of installing low-slope roofs varies with the type of building. Roofers may install these roofs in layers, building up piles of felt set in hot bitumen over insulation boards to form a waterproof membrane. They also may install a single-ply membrane of waterproof rubber or thermoplastic compound over roof insulation boards.
Steep-slope roofs are typical on single-family homes. Roofers commonly install asphalt shingles, although they may also lay tile, solar shingles, metal shingles, slate, or shakes (rough wooden shingles) on steep-slope roofs.
Roofers also install green technology rooftop applications. These include vegetative roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and photovoltaic products, such as solar shingles and solar tiles; however, solar photovoltaic (PV) installers typically install PV panels. Plumbers and heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics also may install solar thermal systems.
Roofers use a variety of tools when installing or repairing roofs. Their tools include roofing shovels, roof cutters, and pry bars to remove old roofing systems and hammers, nail guns, and framing squares to install new ones.
 Work Environment
			RoofersRoofing work can be physically demanding since it involves heavy lifting, climbing, bending, and kneeling.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Roofers held about 154,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of roofers were as follows:
        Roofing contractors
                76%Self-employed workers
                14Construction of buildings
                4Roofing work is physically demanding because it involves climbing, bending, kneeling, and heavy lifting. Roofers work outdoors in extreme temperatures, but they usually do not work during inclement weather.
Although some roofers work alone, many work as part of a crew.
Injuries and Illnesses
Roofers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, as well as one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities.
Workers may slip or fall from scaffolds, ladders, or roofs. They may also be burned by hot bitumen. Roofs can become extremely hot during the summer, causing heat-related illnesses. Roofers must wear proper safety equipment to reduce the risk of injuries.
Work Schedules
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.
 How to Become a Roofer

			RoofersMost roofers learn their trade on the job working with experienced coworkers.			
There are no specific education requirements for roofers. Although most learn on the job, some roofers enter the occupation through an apprenticeship.
Education
No formal educational credential is typically required for roofers.
Training
Roofers typically receive on-the-job training to become competent in the occupation. In most on-the-job training programs, experienced roofers teach new workers how to use roofing tools, equipment, machines, and materials. Trainees begin with tasks such as carrying equipment and material and erecting scaffolds and hoists. Within a few months, they learn to measure, cut, and fit roofing materials. Later, they lay asphalt or fiberglass shingles. Because some roofing materials, such as solar tiles, are used infrequently, it may take several years to gain experience for all types of roofing.
A few groups, including the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers and some contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs for roofers. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with technical instruction, usually requiring a predetermined number of hours for both.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Roofers may obtain specific certification to qualify for additional work opportunities or greater pay.
The National Roofing Contractors Association offers certification for experienced roofers. Experienced roofers may become certified in various roofing systems, such as thermoplastic systems or asphalt shingles. Certification as a roofing foreman is also available for experienced roofers.
Most employers require that roofers complete safety certification that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, either before or after being hired.
Some employers require roofers to have a driver’s license to enable commuting to different jobsites.
Advancement
After gaining experience in the occupation, roofers may have opportunities to advance to become a supervisor, job superintendent, or estimator or to start their own business. Roofers working in a union may advance within their local union to become a business manager or apprenticeship instructor or to other positions of union leadership.
Important Qualities
***Ability to work at heights.*** Roofers must be comfortable working at great heights.
***Attention to detail.*** Roofing materials must be installed to precisely match design patterns and to ensure that the roof is waterproof.
***Balance.*** Roofers should have excellent balance to avoid falling, because they often work on steep slopes at great heights.
***Manual dexterity.*** Roofers need to be precise in handling and installing roofing materials in order to prevent damage to the roof and building.
***Math skills.***Roofers use math to measure and calculate roofing areas.
***Physical stamina.*** Roofers must be able to endure spending hours on their feet or bending and stooping, often in hot weather.
***Physical strength.*** Roofers often lift and carry heavy materials, such as bundles of shingles that weigh 60 pounds or more.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                RoofersMedian annual wages, May 2023Construction trades workers$52,000  Roofers$50,030  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for roofers was $50,030 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,850.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for roofers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Construction of buildings
                $51,640Roofing contractors
                49,940Most 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.
The starting pay for apprentices is usually 50 percent of what journey workers receive. Apprentices get pay increases as they advance through the apprenticeship program.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               RoofersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Construction trades workers3%  Total, all occupations3%  Roofers2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of roofers is projected to grow				 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 12,200 openings for roofers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 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.
			Employment
	
			
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.
			

                        Employment projections data for     roofers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Roofers**
			47-2181
			154,500
			157,600
			2
			3,100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Roofers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of roofers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Carpenters**
            Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $56,350**Construction Laborers and Helpers**
            Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites.
            See How to Become One
            $44,310**Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers**
            Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboard for painting.
            No formal educational credential
            $57,010**Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters**
            Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, tile, and other materials.
            No formal educational credential
            $48,690**Insulation Workers**
            Insulation workers install and replace the materials used to insulate buildings or mechanical systems.
            See How to Become One
            $49,350**Masonry Workers**
            Masonry workers use bricks, concrete and concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build structures.
            See How to Become One
            $53,010**Sheet Metal Workers**
            Sheet metal workers fabricate or install products that are made from thin metal sheets.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $58,780**Solar Photovoltaic Installers**
            Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers assemble, set up, and maintain rooftop or other systems that convert sunlight into energy.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,800
 Contacts for More Information
								
For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities for roofers, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local contractors or firms that employ roofers, or local union–management apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online, or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.gov to search for apprenticeship opportunities.
For more information about the work of roofers, visit
National Roofing Contractors Association
United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers
For more information about OSHA training, visit
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Roofers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Roofers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/roofers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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