The median roofer in the United States makes about $24.50 per hour, or roughly $50,970 per year, based on the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release, the most recent full dataset. Pay runs from around $37,000 for entry-level helpers to $80,000 or more for experienced crew leads in high-wage states, and roofing business owners can clear six figures. What a roofer gets paid depends heavily on state, experience level, whether the work is union or non-union, and how much overtime the season brings.
The numbers below come from The Roofing Brief’s own analysis of federal wage data. For the full state-by-state breakdown, employment counts, and wage-growth history, see our Roofing Labor Wage Report 2026, the data source behind this guide.
How much does a roofer make per hour and per year?
A roofer earns a median of $24.50 an hour, which works out to about $50,970 a year for full-time work, per the May 2024 BLS OEWS data. The middle half of roofers earn between roughly $19 and $31 per hour. These figures cover employed roofers on payroll and do not include self-employed contractors, who often earn more once a business is established.
Annual pay scales with hours worked. Roofing is seasonal in most of the country, so a roofer’s take-home in a busy summer week looks very different from a slow January. The table below shows how the hourly median translates across common pay periods for a full-time roofer.
| Pay period | Median roofer earnings |
|---|---|
| Hourly | $24.50 |
| Weekly (40 hours) | $980 |
| Monthly | $4,250 |
| Annual (full-time) | $50,970 |
Overtime changes the math during peak season. Many crews run 50 to 60 hours a week from late spring through fall, and roofers earning time-and-a-half can add several hundred dollars to a weekly check. A roofer at or above the median can see $1,200 to $1,500 in a heavy overtime week.
How much do roofers make a year by experience level?
Experience is the single biggest lever on roofer pay after location. A first-year helper often starts near $15 to $18 an hour ($31,000 to $37,000 a year), while a seasoned crew lead or foreman can reach $70,000 to $80,000 in strong markets. The gap reflects speed, safety record, and the ability to run a job without supervision.
The stages below track a common career path in residential and commercial roofing. Exact figures vary by employer, region, and union status.
| Experience level | Typical hourly | Typical annual |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level helper / laborer | $15 to $18 | $31,000 to $37,000 |
| Roofer (1 to 4 years) | $19 to $24 | $39,000 to $50,000 |
| Experienced roofer (5+ years) | $25 to $31 | $52,000 to $64,000 |
| Crew lead / foreman | $31 to $39+ | $64,000 to $80,000+ |
| Roofing business owner | Varies | $100,000 to $300,000+ |
Certifications can move a roofer up faster. An OSHA 30 card, a manufacturer credential like GAF Master Elite installer status, or torch-down and single-ply membrane skills all justify higher pay because they expand the jobs a worker can staff.
Which states pay roofers the most and least?
Roofer pay swings widely by state, from the high $30,000s to the low $70,000s in mean annual wages. Massachusetts leads at about $72,390 mean annual, while Mississippi sits at the bottom near $39,310, per BLS OEWS state data. Higher-wage states cluster in the Northeast and upper Midwest, where cost of living, union density, and shorter working seasons all push rates up.
The table below shows the spread at the top and bottom. Cost of living matters as much as the headline number: a $72,000 wage in Massachusetts does not stretch as far as it looks against local housing costs.
| State | Mean annual wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Massachusetts | ~$72,390 |
| Illinois | ~$70,000s | |
| New Jersey | ~$70,000s | |
| Lowest | Mississippi | ~$39,310 |
| West Virginia | ~$39,000s |
For the complete ranking of all 50 states, plus the highest-paying metro areas and employment counts, see our Roofing Labor Wage Report 2026. How that pay compares to electricians, plumbers, and other trades is broken down in our roofing vs. other skilled trades report.
Do union roofers make more than non-union roofers?
Union roofers generally earn more per hour than non-union roofers doing the same work, and the gap widens once benefits are counted. Union roofers under a United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers agreement often earn negotiated scale wages plus employer-paid health insurance and a pension, which non-union shops rarely match.
The trade-off is that union work concentrates in commercial and industrial projects and in metro areas with strong locals, mostly in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast. In the residential-heavy South, most roofing is non-union and paid hourly or by the square. A non-union roofer who is fast and works piece-rate can still out-earn a union hourly worker in a busy season, but with less benefit security.
How much can a roofing business owner make?
A roofing business owner’s income depends on volume and margin, but established owners commonly clear $100,000 to $300,000 or more per year, well above what any employed roofer earns. The jump comes from capturing the profit on every crew’s labor rather than being paid an hourly wage, but it carries real risk: payroll, insurance, warranty callbacks, and seasonal cash flow.
Owners also add revenue streams beyond installation. The list below covers the common ways a roofing company lifts owner income past the wage ceiling.
- Insurance restoration work, where storm and hail claims fund full replacements.
- Maintenance and inspection contracts, which smooth out seasonal revenue.
- Adding gutters, solar, or exterior services to raise the average ticket per job.
- Running multiple crews so the business earns margin on more than one job at a time.
The path from paid roofer to owner is a real one in this trade. Our guides on how to start a roofing business and what a roofing business is worth cover the licensing, capital, and margin math behind that move.
Why do roofers get paid what they do?
Roofer pay reflects hard, hazardous, weather-dependent work with a persistent labor shortage. Roofing carries one of the highest fatal injury rates of any construction trade, and the physical demand plus safety risk keep entry wages above many unskilled jobs. At the same time, a shortage of trained roofers gives experienced workers real bargaining power on pay.
Demand is steady because every roof eventually fails, storm damage is not optional to repair, and new construction keeps adding roofs. That baseline demand, combined with a workforce that needs roughly 12,700 new roofers a year just to keep pace, supports wages even in softer housing markets. The full workforce picture is in our roofing apprenticeship and training report.
How to earn more as a roofer
The fastest ways to raise roofer pay are to gain experience, get certified, move into a higher-wage state or the commercial segment, and eventually run your own jobs. Each step below moves a roofer up the pay table shown earlier.
- Build speed and a clean safety record so you can run a crew, the jump from roofer to foreman is the biggest single raise for most workers.
- Earn certifications like OSHA 30 and manufacturer installer credentials that open up higher-paying jobs.
- Learn commercial systems such as TPO, EPDM, and single-ply membrane, which pay more than basic shingle work.
- Consider relocating to a higher-wage state or metro if cost of living still nets you ahead.
- Move toward ownership once you can sell and manage jobs, where the income ceiling is highest.
Frequently asked questions
How much do roofers make an hour?
The median roofer makes about $24.50 an hour, per May 2024 BLS OEWS data, with the middle half earning roughly $19 to $31 per hour. Entry-level helpers often start near $15 to $18, while experienced crew leads in high-wage states can reach $39 or more an hour before overtime.
How much do roofers make a year?
A full-time roofer earns a median of about $50,970 a year. Pay ranges from roughly $37,000 for entry-level workers to $80,000 or more for experienced foremen in states like Massachusetts and Illinois. Overtime during peak season can push annual earnings well above the median.
What state pays roofers the most?
Massachusetts pays roofers the most, at about $72,390 mean annual wage, per BLS OEWS state data, followed by other Northeast and upper-Midwest states such as Illinois and New Jersey. Mississippi and West Virginia sit at the bottom near $39,000. Cost of living offsets some of the gap between high and low states.
Do roofers make good money?
Roofing pays competitively for a trade with no college requirement, with a median near $50,970 and clear paths to $70,000-plus as a foreman or six figures as an owner. The trade-off is physically demanding, hazardous, weather-dependent work. For workers who advance to crew lead or ownership, the earning potential is strong.
How much do roofing business owners make?
Established roofing business owners commonly earn $100,000 to $300,000 or more per year, far above any employed roofer, by capturing the margin on their crews’ labor. Income depends on volume, crew count, and services offered. The risk is real, including payroll, insurance, and seasonal cash flow, so owner pay varies widely.
Is roofing a good career?
Roofing can be a good career for someone who wants skilled-trade pay without a degree and a clear path to running crews or a business. Demand is steady because roofs always need repair and replacement, and a labor shortage gives experienced roofers bargaining power on pay. The main downsides are physical wear and safety risk. New-construction demand adds to that baseline, as our housing starts and roofing demand report details.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.