Sector

Roofing Contractors Careers

Roofing contractors protect buildings from weather โ€” installing and repairing the membranes, shingles, and systems that keep water out. It's physically demanding work with inherent fall risks, typically seasonal in northern climates.

249K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$59K
Median salary
Across all roles
Roofing Contractors jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Roofing Contractors employment by metro ยท ~360 areas
1.Abilene, TX97
2.Akron, OH528
3.Albany, GA25
4.Albany, OR242
5.Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY577

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Roofing Contractors

Roofing draws people who don't mind heights and want physical work with clear results โ€” there's satisfaction in protecting buildings from weather and the visible completion of each job. Many find accessible entry into construction trades.

The challenge can come from the physical demands and exposure. Roofing means heights, hot surfaces in summer, and working in most weather conditions. The work is strenuous and injury rates are elevated. Speed pressure is real; weather windows are limited. Pay varies significantly.

The field varies by material and market. Residential shingles operate differently than commercial flat roofs, metal systems, or specialty materials. Storm damage creates surges of work. Some crews travel extensively following weather.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: good pay without extensive training, visible job completion, crew camaraderie, and physical work that builds fitness. If you handle heights well, don't mind physical demands, and want trade work with quick entry, roofing offers accessible opportunities.

How people break in

Entry is accessible for those comfortable with heights and physical work. Skills develop through experience. Supervision and contracting require demonstrated competence and sometimes licensing.

Work environment tends toward
Physical demandsHeight exposureAccessible entryWeather exposureSafety critical
Industries it connects to
Residential ConstructionCommercial ConstructionManufacturingReal Estate
Salary vs. national average
-17%
$59K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$39K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all roofing contractors roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$90K
2. Boulder$78K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$73K
4. Trenton-Princeton$69K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$69K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$102K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $102K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $87K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $79K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $90K adj.
Boulder ยท $78K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $73K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 18.7M
Los Angeles ยท 12.4M
Chicago ยท 9.3M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Roofing Contractors.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Construction data
19%
People tend to stay in Construction. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 3%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
97%
Small
<50
3%
Mid
50โ€“249
0%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Hybrid common
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Construction data
~12%
Moderate union coverage varies by employer and role. Some positions are covered, others aren't.
โ†‘ 12%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.