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Roofers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $55,440 Median per year · $26.65/hr Most earn $37,460–$81,720

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
  • Attach solar panels to existing roofs, according to specifications and without damaging roofing materials or the structural integrity of buildings.
  • Apply alternate layers of hot asphalt or tar and roofing paper to roofs.
  • Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms.
  • Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.
  • Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 12,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Roofing contractors72.3%
  • Self-employed (their own business)19.8%
  • Residential building construction2.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

Roofing is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn on the job, usually within a few months, before working as a roofer on their own crew.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic education most roofing employers ask for, and shop, math, and physical fitness classes are useful background.

  2. Roofing Helper

    1-3 months

    Helpers carry materials, clean up job sites, and assist experienced roofers, which teaches you tools, safety habits, and how a roof goes together.

  3. Roofer

    Ongoing

    Once you can work safely and install shingles or other roofing materials with little supervision, you are doing the job of a roofer.

Where it can lead

  1. Roofing Foreman

    3-5 years of experience first

    A foreman leads a roofing crew, plans daily work, checks quality, and keeps the crew safe, so you need strong skills and good communication with people.

  2. Roofing Contractor

    5+ years of experience first

    Contractors run their own roofing business, which means bidding on jobs, managing money and permits, and hiring crews, so you need both trade skills and business skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop or construction classesWoodworking, building trades, or drafting classes teach you tools and how structures are put together.
  • Build your fitness and balanceRoofing involves lifting, climbing, and kneeling all day, so regular exercise helps you handle the physical demands.
  • Get a summer or part-time job doing yard work or laborOutdoor work and carrying heavy loads show employers you can handle a physical job and show up on time.
  • Volunteer on a home repair or building projectHabitat for Humanity-style builds or community repair events, where many are offered, give you a first look at construction work.
  • Ask a roofer or contractor about their jobA short conversation or job shadow can tell you what a typical day looks like and what skills they wish they had learned sooner.

In college

  • Take a construction management or building trades courseClasses in construction methods, blueprints, and job site safety give you a foundation if you want to move from roofer to foreman or contractor.
  • Work a summer job with a construction or roofing crewPaid field experience helps you learn the trade and gives you a reference when you apply for full-time work.
  • Look into OSHA safety trainingMany schools and local trade groups offer OSHA 10-hour construction safety courses, which employers often value because roofing is a high-risk job.
  • Join a trades or construction clubStudent groups tied to construction or skilled trades help you meet people in the field and learn about job openings.
  • Learn basic business and bookkeeping skillsIf you think you might someday run your own roofing company, skills in estimating, invoicing, and managing money will be important.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local roofing company whether they hire summer helpers or laborers. Hands-on work is the fastest way to see if you like the job.
  • Learn basic safety rules early. Working at heights is the biggest risk in roofing, and workers who take safety seriously are valued by employers.
  • Get comfortable with ladders, tools, and being outside in all kinds of weather. Physical stamina matters as much as any class.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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