Quick answer: Roofers earn a median of about $50,970 a year in the US (BLS, May 2024), which works out to roughly $25 an hour. The lowest-paid 10 percent earn under about $37,060, while the top 10 percent earn more than $80,780. Pay rises with experience, commercial and metal work, leading a crew, and running your own jobs. Roofing employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034.
"How much do roofers make" is a smart thing to ask before you climb onto a roof for a living, and the honest answer is that it pays above the typical US wage and rewards people who stick with it, stay safe, and move up to leading work.
The median is a good anchor, but the spread is the real story. A first-season roofer carrying bundles and a commercial crew lead pulling metal and flat-roof systems are on very different pay. This guide breaks down what roofers actually earn in 2026, what moves you up the scale, and how to stay booked through the seasons.
About the numbers: all figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2024, the most recent full release for roofers. "Median" means half of roofers earn more and half earn less. Your pay depends heavily on your region, the type of roofing, and whether you are on a crew or running your own jobs.
The short answer: roofer pay in 2026
- Median: about $50,970 a year, or roughly $25 an hour.
- Lower end (about the bottom 10 percent): under about $37,060 a year, typically first-season roofers and helpers.
- Top end (about the top 10 percent): more than $80,780 a year, typically experienced roofers in commercial or metal work, crew leads, and owners.
- Demand: roofing employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), about as fast as the average job.
- For context: the median wage for all US jobs was $49,500 in May 2024, so the typical roofer earns a bit above the typical worker.
That spread, from under $38,000 to over $80,000, is what to understand. Where you land depends on the factors below.
What moves a roofer's pay up
1. Experience and the ability to lead (the biggest everyday lever)
Roofing rewards people who stay in it. A roofer who can lay out a job, set a pace, keep a crew safe, and finish a watertight roof without callbacks is worth far more than someone on their first season. Moving from laborer to crew lead is the clearest pay jump on the scale.
2. Roof type: shingle vs flat vs metal vs commercial
Standard residential shingle work tends to sit lower on the scale. Flat and low-slope systems, metal roofing, and large commercial jobs typically pay above the median because they take more skill and fewer roofers do them well.
3. Location and season
Pay varies a lot by state and metro, and roofing is weather-driven. High-cost and high-demand regions pay above the national median, and steady year-round work (or storm and insurance work) can lift annual earnings well past what a short season allows.
4. Employee vs business owner
A roofer on a company's crew earns a steady wage. One who runs their own jobs has a higher ceiling, with more risk, more time spent quoting and managing crews, and the job of keeping work coming in through the off-season.
Roofer pay by stage
| Stage | Typical pay direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Helper / first season | Lowest (near the bottom 10 percent, under ~$37,060) | Carrying material, tear-off, learning safety |
| Experienced roofer | Around the median (~$50,970) and up | Installs solo, trusted on the roof |
| Crew lead / specialist / owner | Toward the top 10 percent (>$80,780) | Commercial, metal, flat-roof, crew lead, or business owner |
All figures BLS, May 2024. These are reference points, not guarantees. Local pay varies by region, roof type, and season, framed qualitatively here because BLS does not publish a clean experience-by-experience table. Pay also varies by state and metro area; the BLS OEWS state and metropolitan wage tables list local figures if you want to check your area.
Is becoming a roofer worth it financially?
For a lot of people, yes. A few reasons the math works:
- Low cost to enter. Most roofers learn on the job rather than paying for school, so you can reach an above-median wage without student debt. (See how to become a roofer.)
- Steady demand. Roofing employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, with roofs always needing repair and replacement.
- A real ceiling. The path from laborer to crew lead to commercial or metal specialist to business owner keeps raising your income, with the top 10 percent clearing $80,000.
If you want to see how roofer pay stacks up against other trades, see our guide to the highest-paying trade jobs.
How to earn more as a roofer
- Build the experience to lead. Crew leads who run a safe, fast, watertight job earn well above first-season pay.
- Move into metal, flat-roof, and commercial work. These pay above standard residential shingle jobs.
- Beat the season. Storm, insurance, and year-round regions keep your annual earnings up when residential work slows.
- Build a reputation. Reviews and repeat clients let you charge more, especially if you go independent.
- Keep your schedule full. Idle weeks are lost income. A free platform like Qiggz helps you find local roofing jobs and gigs so you stay booked. Browse roofing jobs or create your free profile.
The bottom line
Roofers earn a median of about $50,970 in 2026, a bit above the typical US worker, and the top earners clear $80,000. The difference comes down to experience, the ability to lead a crew, the type of roofing you do, your region and season, and whether you work for someone or for yourself. With low-cost entry, steady 6 percent projected growth, and a real top tier, it is one of the better-paying trades you can start without a four-year degree.
When you are ready to put your skills to work, Qiggz helps roofers find local jobs and gigs for free, with no fees to apply. Find roofing work near you or browse all trade jobs.
Frequently asked questions
How much do roofers make per hour in 2026?
The median is roughly $25 an hour, based on a median annual wage of about $50,970 (BLS, May 2024). First-season roofers and helpers earn less, while experienced roofers in commercial or metal work earn well above it, with top earners over $80,780 a year.
How much do roofers make starting out?
Entry-level roofers and helpers typically start near the lower end of the scale, often under about $37,060 a year (BLS, May 2024). Most roofers learn on the job and avoid the debt of years of schooling, and pay climbs steadily as you gain experience and move toward leading a crew.
What is the highest a roofer can earn?
The top 10 percent of roofers earn more than $80,780 a year (BLS, May 2024), and roofers who lead crews, specialize in commercial or metal systems, or run their own businesses can earn more still, depending on how steadily they stay booked through the seasons.
Is roofing a growing career?
Yes. The BLS projects roofing employment to grow about 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, roughly as fast as the average occupation, because roofs constantly need repair and replacement and the work cannot be sent overseas.
Do roofers make good money compared to other jobs?
The median roofer wage ($50,970) is a bit above the median for all US workers ($49,500 in May 2024), and roofing requires no four-year degree, so most roofers avoid student debt while building toward a top tier above $80,000.
How do roofers find higher-paying work?
By gaining experience, moving up to crew lead, specializing in commercial or metal work, beating the off-season, and keeping a steady pipeline of jobs. Qiggz helps roofers find local jobs and gigs free, with no fees to apply, so you can stay booked. Browse roofing jobs.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Roofers, Occupational Outlook Handbook (median annual wage $50,970; bottom 10% under $37,060; top 10% over $80,780; projected 6% growth 2024 to 2034; all May 2024).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all-occupations median wage ($49,500, May 2024), OEWS overview.
