Roofers held about 160,600 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of roofers were as follows:
| Roofing contractors | 72% |
| Self-employed workers | 20 |
| Construction of buildings | 3 |
Roofing work can be physically demanding because it involves heavy lifting, as well as climbing, bending, and kneeling. Roofers work outdoors in very hot or very cold weather, but they do not work when there is precipitation or when it is very windy.
Although some roofers work alone, many work as part of a crew.
Injuries and Illnesses
Roofers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. And although fatalities are uncommon, roofers experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations.
Workers may slip or fall from scaffolds, ladders, or roofs, where they do most of their work. They may also be burned by hot bitumen. Roofs can become extremely hot during the summer, causing heat-related illnesses. Proper safety precautions and equipment can prevent most accidents and fatalities.
Work Schedules
Like many construction workers, most roofers work full time. In northern states, roofing work is limited during the winter months. During the summer, roofers may work overtime to complete jobs quickly, especially before rainfall.
Although most roofers learn on the job, some may enter the occupation through an apprenticeship program. There are no specific education requirements for roofers.
Education
There are no specific education requirements for roofers.
Training
Most on-the-job training programs consist of instruction in which experienced workers teach new workers how to use roofing tools, equipment, machines, and materials. Trainees begin with tasks such as carrying equipment and material and erecting scaffolds and hoists. Within 2 or 3 months, they are taught to measure, cut, and fit roofing materials. Later they are shown how to lay asphalt or fiberglass shingles. Because some roofing materials, such as solar tiles, are used infrequently, it can take several years to gain experience on all types of roofing. As training progresses, new workers are able to learn more complex roofing techniques.
A few groups, including the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers and some contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs for roofers. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction.
Roofers typically have an interest in the Building and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a roofer, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Roofers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Balance. Roofing is often done on steep slopes at significant heights. Because of this, workers should have excellent balance to avoid falling.
Physical stamina. Roofers must have endurance to perform strenuous duties throughout the day. They may spend hours on their feet, bending and stooping—often in hot temperatures—with few breaks.
Physical strength. Roofers often lift and carry heavy materials. Some roofers, for example, must carry bundles of shingles that weigh 60 pounds or more.
Unafraid of heights. Because work is often done at significant heights, roofers must not fear working far above the ground.
The median annual wage for roofers was $42,100 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,540, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $70,920.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for roofers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Roofing contractors | $42,320 |
| Construction of buildings | 39,160 |
Like many construction workers, most roofers work full time. In northern states, roofing work is limited during the winter months. During the summer, roofers may work overtime to complete jobs quickly, especially before rainfall.
Employment of roofers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Replacement and repair of roofs, as well as the installation of new roofs, will create demand for roofers.
Roofs deteriorate more quickly than most other parts of buildings, and as a result, they need to be replaced or repaired more often. Demand for roofers will be driven by the need to repair and replace roofs on existing buildings. In addition to replacement and repair work, the need to install roofs on new buildings is expected to result in job growth. Some demand for roofers may come from the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on building rooftops.
Job Prospects
Job opportunities for roofers should be good. Many jobs will stem from the need to replace the many workers who leave the occupation each year, some of whom seek jobs in other construction trades. Jobs are generally easier to find during spring and summer.
Demand for roofers is less vulnerable to downturns than demand for other construction workers, because much roofing work consists of repair and reroofing, in addition to new construction. Still, workers may experience periods of unemployment when the overall level of new construction falls, and shortages of workers may occur in some areas during peak periods of building activity.
For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities for roofers, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local contractors or firms that employ roofers, or local union–management apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online, or by phone at 877-872-5627.
For more information about the work of roofers, visit
National Roofing Contractors Association
United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers