Career
Roofers
Build and repair roofs.
$55,440
Median pay
+5.3%
Job growth, 2025–35
12,000
Openings a year
No formal educational credential
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces.
- Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.
- Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
- Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on objects & tools, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Coordination, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Time Management.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though moderate-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $55,440 a year and 12,000 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- RooferCIP 46.0410
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Helpers--Roofers$44,160 · -0.1%
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$58,930 · +2.5%
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$49,120 · +2.4%
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons$57,660 · +2.8%
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$56,460 · +9.0%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.