Roofers: licensing, jobs and pay in the United States
136,740 people work as roofers in the United States, and the median pay is $50,970 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 25,519 roofing contractor businesses with employees, with 215,242 employees and a payroll of $15,185,724,000 a year (2023 County Business Patterns).
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 136,740
- Median pay, a year
- $50,970
- Businesses with employees
- 25,519
Roofers by state
| State | Jobs | Median pay, a year | Businesses with employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 23,610 | $46,230 | 2,215 | 2.2 |
| California | 21,110 | $63,040 | 2,926 | 2.0 |
| Texas | 6,240 | $45,440 | 2,442 | 2.0 |
| Illinois | 6,070 | $66,940 | 1,026 | 1.9 |
| Washington | 4,840 | $60,330 | 990 | 3.0 |
| New York | 4,430 | $63,350 | 838 | 1.0 |
| Ohio | 4,230 | $56,420 | 908 | 1.7 |
| Arizona | 3,760 | $46,210 | 542 | 1.7 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,540 | $49,230 | 876 | 1.5 |
| Oregon | 3,490 | $56,320 | 515 | 2.8 |
| North Carolina | 3,340 | $48,090 | 816 | 1.7 |
| Colorado | 3,240 | $55,800 | 920 | 3.6 |
| Michigan | 3,150 | $56,290 | 509 | 1.1 |
| Utah | 2,940 | $49,800 | 354 | 2.9 |
| Indiana | 2,880 | $55,640 | 557 | 1.9 |
| Maryland | 2,520 | $52,010 | 341 | 1.3 |
| Virginia | 2,360 | $48,920 | 556 | 1.5 |
| Tennessee | 2,340 | $44,780 | 423 | 1.3 |
| Nevada | 2,230 | $49,180 | 121 | 0.9 |
| Massachusetts | 2,200 | $72,360 | 433 | 1.4 |
| Missouri | 2,050 | $53,430 | 503 | 1.8 |
| Wisconsin | 2,030 | $49,690 | 499 | 1.8 |
| Minnesota | 2,010 | $77,730 | 530 | 2.1 |
| Georgia | 2,000 | $47,460 | 806 | 1.8 |
| New Jersey | 1,870 | $73,410 | 374 | 1.0 |
| Nebraska | 1,580 | $45,970 | 267 | 3.1 |
| Kansas | 1,130 | $47,400 | 290 | 2.2 |
| Kentucky | 1,080 | $47,620 | 255 | 1.3 |
| Idaho | 1,070 | $48,140 | 291 | 3.7 |
| Iowa | 1,070 | $47,110 | 289 | 2.0 |
| New Mexico | 1,070 | $44,440 | 204 | 2.1 |
| South Carolina | 1,060 | $45,860 | 300 | 1.2 |
| Alabama | 1,010 | $45,220 | 305 | 1.3 |
| Hawaii | 1,000 | $56,950 | 95 | 1.7 |
| Oklahoma | 940 | $47,020 | 409 | 2.3 |
| Connecticut | 900 | $63,340 | 176 | 1.1 |
| Arkansas | 860 | $45,120 | 236 | 1.7 |
| Louisiana | 720 | $45,680 | 267 | 1.3 |
| Maine | 600 | $49,990 | 110 | 1.5 |
| West Virginia | 470 | $39,420 | 98 | 1.1 |
| Mississippi | 460 | $40,480 | 115 | 0.9 |
| South Dakota | 440 | $48,320 | 105 | 2.6 |
| Montana | 360 | $49,020 | 152 | 2.9 |
| New Hampshire | 320 | $50,250 | 75 | 1.2 |
| Alaska | 310 | $63,120 | 69 | 2.1 |
| North Dakota | 310 | $47,840 | 69 | 1.8 |
| Vermont | 270 | $54,340 | 84 | 2.5 |
| Wyoming | 270 | $38,650 | 86 | 3.1 |
| Delaware | 230 | $59,280 | 67 | 1.4 |
| District of Columbia | 140 | $57,150 | 6 | 0.2 |
| Rhode Island | — | $58,510 | 79 | 1.6 |
The highest median pay is in Minnesota ($77,730), New Jersey ($73,410), Massachusetts ($72,360).
The lowest is in Wyoming ($38,650), West Virginia ($39,420), Mississippi ($40,480).
What roofers earn
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $50,970 |
| Median pay, an hour | $24.51 |
| 10th percentile | $37,060 |
| 25th percentile | $45,300 |
| 75th percentile | $64,010 |
| 90th percentile | $80,780 |
| Average pay, a year | $57,090 |
Federal rules and model codes for roofers
On a construction job, a worker 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets or a personal fall arrest system, with the rules for roofs in OSHA’s fall protection standard (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M).
Work for pay that disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint inside, or 20 square feet outside, in a home or child-occupied facility built before 1978 must be done by an EPA- or state-certified firm, directed by a certified renovator and done with lead-safe work practices; replacing windows always counts (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).
Structural, roofing and finish work on homes is inspected against a building code most states and cities adopt from the International Residential Code, with their own edition and amendments.
A model code becomes law only where a state or city adopts it; the building or licensing department says which edition applies.
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- International Residential Code and International Building Code (ICC)
Licenses for roofers
Licensing for this trade is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; each state’s page links the official license lookup for it.
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Questions about Roofers
How much do roofers make?
The median pay for roofers in the United States is $50,970 a year, and half earn between $45,300 and $64,010 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many roofers are there in the United States?
136,740 people work as roofers, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Where do roofers earn the most?
The highest median pay is in Minnesota ($77,730), New Jersey ($73,410), Massachusetts ($72,360).
Do roofers need a license?
Licensing is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists the licenses each state requires and the agency that issues each.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop License Finder
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .