Roofers

Career Overview

Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.

Also Known As

• Roof Mechanic
• Roof Service Technician
• Roofer
• Roofing Technician

Alternate Job Titles

• Aluminum Shingle Roofer
• Asbestos Shingle Roofer
• Commercial Roofer
• Commercial Roofing Tech (Commercial Roofing Technician)
• Composition Roofer
• Cool Roofing Installer
• Gravel Roofer
• Gutter Installer
• Gypsum Roofer
• Hot Tar Roofer
• Industrial Roofer
• Installer
• Journeyman Roofer
• Metal Roofer
• Metal Roofing Mechanic

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
• Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
• Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs.
• Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
• Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.
• Install partially overlapping layers of material over roof insulation surfaces, using chalk lines, gauges on shingling hatchets, or lines on shingles.
• Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Building and Construction
• Customer and Personal Service

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Coordination

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Trunk Strength
• Problem Sensitivity
• Extent Flexibility
• Near Vision
• Manual Dexterity
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Multilimb Coordination
• Oral Comprehension
• Gross Body Coordination

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

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

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Independence
• Working Conditions
• Relationships
• Recognition

Education & Preparation

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

On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

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

Popular Technologies & Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

• Adjustable roof brackets
• Air compressors
• Angle knives
• Axes
• Bench-mount hand brakes
• Bitumen applicators
• Carpenters' hatchets
• Caulking guns
• Chalk line markers
• Chicken ladders
• Circular saws
• Claw hammers
• Cleat benders
• Clipping shears
• Compound snips

Work Environment

• Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
• Exposed to High Places
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Telephone Conversations
• Contact With Others

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$37,060
Median	$50,970
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$80,780

Workers Employed Nationally: 136,740

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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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.