Helpers–Roofers

Career Overview

Help roofers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Also Known As

  • Roofer Helper

Alternate Job Titles

  • Commercial Roofing Helper
  • Commercial Roofing Laborer
  • Hot Tar Roofer Helper
  • Industrial Roofer Helper
  • Residential Roofer Helper
  • Roofer Apprentice
  • Roofer Assistant
  • Roofer Helper
  • Roofing Helper
  • Rooftop Loader
  • Shingles Roofer Helper
  • Slate Roofer Helper
  • Terra Cotta Roofer Helper

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Check to ensure that completed roofs are watertight.
  • Sweep and clean roofs to prepare them for the application of new roofing materials.
  • Locate worn or torn areas in roofs.
  • Clean work areas and equipment.
  • Maintain tools and equipment.
  • Cover roofs with layers of roofing felt or asphalt strips before installing tile, slate, or composition materials.
  • Remove old roofing materials.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Building and Construction
  • Administration and Management

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Trunk Strength
  • Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Multilimb Coordination
  • Speech Clarity
  • Visualization
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Speech Recognition
  • Depth Perception

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cautiousness
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Working Conditions
  • Achievement
  • Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Tools & Equipment

  • A-frame hoists
  • Adhesive spreaders
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Air compressors
  • Asphalt spreaders
  • Aviation snips
  • Axes
  • Backpack blowers
  • Bitumen kettles
  • Bitumen mops
  • Blow torches
  • Caulking guns
  • Chalk lines
  • Clipping shears
  • Concrete saws

Work Environment

  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  • Spend Time Standing
  • Exposed to High Places
  • Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$27,780
Median$40,590
Top Earners (90th percentile)$55,310

Workers Employed Nationally: 5,170

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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