Roofer Salary and Income: Employees, Subcontractors, and Company Owners
Roofing income from laborer to company owner. State-by-state pay, storm restoration earnings, and how specializations like metal and commercial roofing pay more.
Roofing is one of the most physically demanding trades, and compensation reflects both the skill required and the risk involved. The median roofer salary is $48,290 per year according to BLS data, but this number significantly understates what experienced roofers and roofing company owners actually earn. Subcontractors and business owners in active markets regularly take home $80,000 to $200,000+.
How Much Do Roofers Make Per Year?
The national median for roofers is $48,290. The bottom 10% earn approximately $31,000, while the top 10% exceed $72,000 as employees. Roofing has one of the widest pay gaps between entry-level and experienced workers in the construction industry.
Laborers and helpers start at $28,000 to $36,000. Experienced roofers who can lead a crew earn $45,000 to $65,000. Foremen and project managers for roofing companies earn $60,000 to $85,000. Storm damage restoration specialists in active storm markets (Texas, Florida, Midwest) can earn $70,000 to $100,000+ through commission-based structures.
The seasonal nature of roofing in northern states compresses earning into fewer months, which means daily and weekly rates are higher than they appear on an annualized basis.
Roofer Salary by State: Where You Earn the Most
Top-paying states for roofers:
- Illinois: $67,100 average (union rates, large commercial market)
- New Jersey: $63,200 average (proximity to NYC metro, strong demand)
- Massachusetts: $62,800 average (union presence, high residential demand)
- Alaska: $62,400 average (short season but premium pay)
- New York: $61,500 average (commercial projects, union contracts)
Lower-paying states include Mississippi ($33,100), Arkansas ($35,200), and Louisiana ($35,800). However, these states often have more year-round roofing seasons, which offsets lower daily rates with more working days.
Storm-prone states like Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma offer boom periods after major weather events where demand spikes and prices increase 20% to 50%.
Hourly Rate vs Annual Salary: What the Numbers Really Mean
The average roofer earns $23.22 per hour as an employee. Independent roofing contractors charge very differently: most price by the square (100 square feet) rather than by the hour. A typical asphalt shingle replacement runs $350 to $550 per square installed.
A two-person crew installing 15 squares per day generates $5,250 to $8,250 in revenue daily. Over a full working season (200 to 250 days depending on location), that translates to $1.05M to $2.06M in annual revenue for a small roofing company. After materials (40% to 50% of revenue), labor, insurance, and overhead, the owner typically takes home 10% to 20% of revenue.
How Experience Affects Your Roofing Income
- Laborer/Helper (Year 1 to 2): $13 to $18/hr ($28,000 to $37,000/year). Carrying materials, cleanup, basic installation under supervision.
- Installer (Year 3 to 5): $18 to $25/hr ($37,000 to $52,000/year). Independent shingle and flat roof installation.
- Lead Installer/Crew Leader (Year 5 to 10): $25 to $33/hr ($52,000 to $69,000/year). Running a crew, quality control, customer interaction.
- Foreman/Project Manager (Year 10+): $30 to $42/hr ($62,000 to $87,000/year). Managing multiple crews, estimating, scheduling.
- Business Owner (Year 5+): Variable, typically $70,000 to $250,000+ based on volume and market.
Roofing has a faster path to business ownership than most trades because licensing requirements are less stringent in many states. Some successful roofing company owners started their business within 3 to 5 years of entering the trade.
Specializations That Pay More
- Commercial/flat roofing: TPO, EPDM, and built-up roofing systems pay 20% to 30% more than residential shingle work. Requires specialized training.
- Metal roofing: Standing seam and metal panel installation commands premium pricing. Materials cost more, but installation crews earn $5 to $15/hr above standard shingle rates.
- Slate and tile: High-end roofing materials require specialized skills. Slate roofers can charge $800 to $1,500+ per square, compared to $350 to $550 for asphalt.
- Storm damage restoration: Insurance restoration work in storm-prone areas is lucrative. Companies specializing in storm work often earn 30% to 50% margins on insurance-covered jobs.
- Solar roofing integration: Combining roof replacement with solar panel installation increases per-job revenue by $10,000 to $30,000.
- Green/cool roofing: Growing demand for energy-efficient roofing systems, especially in urban areas with cool roof mandates.
Employee vs Business Owner: The Income Gap
| Role | Typical Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Employed installer | $37,000 to $52,000 |
| Crew leader/foreman | $52,000 to $87,000 |
| Storm damage sales rep | $60,000 to $120,000 (commission) |
| Solo owner-operator | $70,000 to $120,000 |
| Owner with 2 to 4 crews | $120,000 to $300,000 |
| Owner with 5+ crews | $200,000 to $500,000+ |
Roofing is one of the trades where the employee-to-owner income gap is largest. This is because roofing jobs have relatively high ticket prices ($8,000 to $25,000+ for a full replacement) and the volume of work available in most markets supports rapid scaling.
How to Increase Your Roofing Income
- Learn commercial roofing systems. TPO, EPDM, and PVC installation opens the door to higher-paying commercial projects with more predictable schedules.
- Get manufacturer certifications. GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT, and Owens Corning Preferred Contractor certifications help you win more residential bids.
- Build storm restoration expertise. Insurance claim processes, supplement negotiation, and rapid deployment skills are extremely valuable in storm-prone markets.
- Offer financing to homeowners. Roofing companies that offer financing close 30% to 50% more estimates because they remove the payment barrier.
- Scale with subcontracted crews. The fastest path to higher income in roofing is running multiple crews. Each crew represents a revenue multiplier.
- Add gutters, siding, and windows. Bundling related exterior services increases average job value and customer lifetime revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can roofers make $100,000 a year? Yes. Roofing company owners, experienced foremen in high-cost markets, and storm damage sales reps with strong closing skills regularly exceed $100,000. Employee roofers can approach six figures with overtime in union markets.
Is roofing the hardest trade physically? Roofing is widely considered one of the most physically demanding construction trades. The combination of heavy lifting, heat exposure, heights, and repetitive motion makes it challenging. This physical demand is one reason pay tends to increase sharply with experience as fewer workers remain in the field long-term.
How much do roofing apprentices make? Roofing laborers and helpers start at $13 to $18/hr ($28,000 to $37,000/year). Unlike electrical and plumbing, roofing does not have formalized multi-year apprenticeship programs in most states, so advancement is based on demonstrated skill rather than time served.
What is the highest-paying roofing specialty? Slate, tile, and copper roofing are the highest-paying installation specialties. Storm damage restoration sales positions can also generate very high income ($80,000 to $150,000+) through commission structures.
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