The average roofer in 2026 earns about $51,000 per year or $20 to $25 per hour. But that number only tells part of the story. A crew lead can make $60,000+. A roofing salesperson on commission can clear six figures. And a business owner running a small operation can net $90,000 to $130,000 after expenses depending on how many crews they run and how well they price their jobs.
If you are thinking about getting into roofing or trying to figure out whether growing your business is worth it, this is the breakdown you need.
Roofer Pay by Experience Level
How much you make depends almost entirely on what you bring to the job site. The same zip code can produce a $19/hour laborer and a $40/hour foreman.
| Role | Hourly pay | Annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / Helper | $17 to $20 | $35,000 to $42,000 |
| Journeyman Roofer | $24 to $30 | $50,000 to $62,000 |
| Crew Lead / Foreman | $30 to $40 | $62,000 to $83,000 |
| Roofing Salesperson | Commission based | $80,000 to $150,000+ |
| Business Owner (small) | Varies | $90,000 to $200,000+ |
Apprentices start at the bottom doing tear-off, cleanup, and learning the basics. The skills that get you raises fastest are speed on tear-off, basic detail work like drip edge and pipe boots, and just showing up reliably every day.
Journeyman roofers who can run a section of roof unsupervised, install valleys and flashing correctly, and read a manufacturer spec earn toward the higher end.
Pay by State
Where you work matters almost as much as how skilled you are. Roofers in states with tough weather, strong unions, or higher cost of living bring home significantly more.
| State | Average hourly | Average annual |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $30+ | $62,000+ |
| Massachusetts | $28+ | $58,000+ |
| Illinois | $27+ | $56,000+ |
| California | $26+ | $54,000+ |
| Texas | $22 to $26 | $46,000 to $54,000 |
| Florida | $21 to $25 | $44,000 to $52,000 |
| National average | $24 to $25 | $50,000 to $52,000 |
In milder climates pay tends to be lower but work is usually available year round. In northern states you might earn more per hour but lose weeks or months to winter slowdowns.
What Drives the Difference
Several factors determine where you land on the pay scale.
- Experience because years on the job mean more speed, accuracy, and the ability to handle complex work
- Specializations like commercial roofing, metal, TPO, slate, or solar integration which all command higher rates
- Certifications from manufacturers like GAF Master Elite or Owens Corning Preferred Contractor which can bump your hourly rate
- Union vs non-union since union roofers typically earn more per hour with published progression schedules tied to documented hours
- Location and demand because roofers in areas with frequent storms or high housing costs earn more
- Employment type since business owners set their own rates and scale earnings across multiple crews
How Roofing Compares to Other Trades
Roofers often wonder how their pay stacks up against electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs.
| Trade | Average annual salary | Entry barrier |
|---|---|---|
| Roofer | $42,000 to $68,000 | Low, learn on the job |
| Electrician | $50,000 to $85,000 | Apprenticeship + license |
| Plumber | $45,000 to $80,000 | Apprenticeship + license |
| HVAC Tech | $45,000 to $75,000 | Trade school + certification |
Roofing has a lower barrier to entry than most trades. You can start earning on day one without a license or formal schooling in most states. The trade-off is that the work is physically demanding and weather dependent. But the ceiling for business owners is higher than almost any other trade because the average job ticket runs $8,500 to $14,300.
How Business Owners Actually Make Money
The real money in roofing is not in hourly wages. It is in owning the business. But revenue is not income and that distinction trips up a lot of new owners.
A solo or two person operation grossing $400,000 in revenue might net the owner $90,000 to $130,000 after materials, labor, equipment, insurance, marketing, taxes, and overhead. Pricing discipline is the difference between a profitable shop and a busy bankruptcy.
Larger operations with multiple crews can earn significantly more. According to industry data, more than half of roofing business owners surveyed earn $500,000 or more in annual revenue. And 72% expect further growth.
The biggest factors that determine whether a roofing business owner makes $80,000 or $300,000 are
- Pricing jobs correctly with real margin built in, not just covering costs
- Closing rate on leads since the businesses that respond fastest and follow up hardest win more jobs
- Knowing your market so you target the areas and services where demand is high and competition is low
- Keeping crews busy year round through a mix of referrals, online leads, and storm work
That last point is where most business owners get stuck. They are great at the work but they do not know where the next job is coming from. If that sounds familiar, read our guide on how to get roofing leads or our breakdown of roofing SEO to build a pipeline that runs while you are on the roof.
The Roofing Sales Path
Roofing sales is one of the fastest paths to six figures in the trades. Commission based salespeople who work storm and insurance markets can earn $100,000 to $200,000+ in a good year. The income is not capped like a salary position.
What separates the roofers earning $50,000 from the ones earning $150,000 is usually not skill on the roof. It is sales ability, follow-up discipline, and knowing which neighborhoods to target.
If you are considering starting your own roofing business, the combination of field skills and sales ability is what builds a real company. One without the other leaves money on the table.
How to Increase Your Earnings
Whether you work for someone else or run your own crew, here is how to move up.
- Get certified through GAF, Owens Corning, or CertainTeed because manufacturer certifications carry a wage premium and open doors to better jobs
- Learn commercial roofing since commercial contracts pay significantly more than residential and the work is often steadier
- Move into a lead or foreman role where you manage crews instead of just swinging a hammer
- Learn sales because roofing sales on commission is where the real money is
- Start your own business where you control your rates, your territory, and your income
- Know your market so you target the areas with the most demand and least competition
That last one is the one most roofers skip. They work hard but they work blind. They do not know which neighborhoods have the most homeowners searching for roofers, which search terms nobody is advertising for, or where the open ground is in their area.
That is exactly what we research at Roof Lead Report. Get your custom market research here and we will show you where the untapped opportunities are in your service area so you can focus your time where it actually pays.