How Much Do Roofers Make?
National median $50,970/yr ($24.50/hr)
Roofers earned a median of $50,970 per year as of May 2024, which works out to about $24.50 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of all roofers made more than that and half made less. The bottom 10 percent earned under $37,060 a year, and the top 10 percent earned more than $80,780. So the trade runs from roughly $18 to $39 an hour depending on where you are, who you work for, and how much you know.
The gap between the bottom and the top is wide, and it is not luck. Pay climbs when you go union, when you work commercial and industrial roofs instead of houses, when you master a specialty like metal, TPO, or torch-down flat roofing, and when you chase overtime and storm work. Location matters too. States like Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California pay well above the national median, and big-metro union locals lift the ceiling higher still.
The work is steady. BLS projects roofer employment to grow about 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average job, with roughly 12,700 openings a year. Solar panel installs and constant repair and replacement keep the demand coming, so a skilled roofer who shows up and produces has room to raise their pay for a long time.
Pay by experience
Highest-paying paths
Big-city locals often post journeyman scale around $35 to $45 an hour, and once pension, health, and annuity are counted the total package runs $58 to $75 an hour. Union density is the single biggest reason some states pay far above median.
Flat and low-slope work on warehouses, hospitals, and plants (TPO, EPDM, torch-down, built-up) pays more than typical residential shingle work and runs more consistent hours year round.
Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California post annual means in the roughly $68,000 to $78,000 range, well above the $50,970 national median. The Chicago metro tops $70,000 on strong union coverage.
After hail and hurricanes, crews chase overtime and out-of-town jobs that add tax-free per-diem plus 1.5x pay past 40 hours. A steady base can jump 20 to 40 percent during a heavy storm season.
Metal roofing, solar-ready installs, and certified single-ply systems command premium rates because fewer roofers can do them well. Manufacturer certifications (GAF, Carlisle, Firestone) let you charge and earn more.
How to earn more
- Join a union local or a registered apprenticeship. The journeyman scale plus benefits package is often worth far more than the same hours nstandard residential pay, and the training is paid.
- Move from residential shingles into commercial and industrial flat roofing. TPO, EPDM, and built-up systems pay more and give you steadier year-round hours.
- Get manufacturer certified (GAF, Carlisle, Firestone) and add a specialty like metal or solar. Certifications let you and your employer bid higher-value jobs.
- Chase overtime and storm-restoration work. Hours past 40 pay time-and-a-half, and travel jobs add per-diem on top of the hourly rate.
- Learn to run a crew. Foreman and lead pay sits several dollars an hour above journeyman, and it is the step before estimating or owning a company.
- Relocate or take travel work in high-paying states like Illinois, Massachusetts, or California if you are early in your career and mobile.
- Get your contractor license and go out on your own once you know the business side. Owners who bid and manage well can clear six figures.
See who's hiring
Browse Roofer jobs with pay shown upfront, or read the full Roofer career guide.
Roofer pay: common questions
How much do roofers make an hour?
The national median is about $24.50 an hour as of May 2024, per the BLS. Most roofers fall between roughly $18 an hour at the low end and $39 an hour at the top. Union journeymen in big metros often post $35 to $45 an hour in base wages before benefits.
Do roofers make good money?
Yes, for a trade you can enter without a college degree. The median is $50,970 a year and the top 10 percent clear $80,780. Because so much of the pay depends on skill, specialty, union status, and overtime, a motivated roofer can grow their income steadily rather than hitting a ceiling.
What are the highest-paying roofing jobs?
Union commercial and industrial work pays the most. Journeyman scale plus a full benefits package can total $58 to $75 an hour in major metros. Specialties like metal roofing and single-ply commercial systems, plus foreman roles and storm/travel jobs with per-diem, sit at the top of the range.
Can you make $100,000 a year as a roofer?
It is realistic but not typical for an hourly roofer. You usually reach six figures by stacking overtime and storm work on a high union scale, moving into foreman or estimating, or becoming a licensed roofing contractor who owns the business. Straight residential shingle work rarely gets there on its own.
Which states pay roofers the most?
Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California lead, with annual means in the roughly $68,000 to $78,000 range, well above the $50,970 national median. Strong union presence and higher cost of living drive those numbers, and metros like Chicago pay even more than their statewide average.