Roofing has a high turnover rate due to tough working conditions.
The employment outlook for roofers is fair. The occupation is only expected to grow by 4 percent between 2008 and 2018 (slower than many other jobs), and a high turnover rate is expected to open up some jobs. Roofing contractors are doing less new construction work as other construction workers take over putting in new roofs on buildings. However, the roofing business is less dependent on the economy, unlike many other construction sectors, as much of its business comes from repairs instead of new construction.
National
The hourly wage for a roofer on average is $17.98, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2009. The median hourly wage is $16.33. Those in the 90th percentile earn $28.35 per hour. The annual average salary for a roofer is $37,390, and the median annual salary is $33,970.
Industries
The building equipment industry pays the highest wage to roofers: $25.34 per hour on average, or $52,710 per year. Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors employ the most roofers, however. Roofers working for the federal executive branch can earn $25.28 per hour, or $52,570 each year. Roofers who work on elementary and secondary school roofs can earn $23.15 per hour or $48,140 annually. Local government pays $21.97 per hour on average or $45,700 per year. Finally, roofers who work on colleges, universities and professional schools can earn $20.99 per hour or $43,650 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
States
Florida has the highest concentration of roofers in the U.S., but Minnesota pays them the most at $24.86 per hour. Hawaii comes next, paying roofers $24.71 per hour. Massachusetts pays about a dollar and a half less at $23.26 per hour on average. Connecticut roofers earn, on average, $22.38 per hour, and Missouri roofers earn just less than their counterparts further north at $22.09 per hour.
Cities
Morristown, Tennessee, is home to the highest concentration of roofers in U.S. cities. Rockford, Illinois, pays them the best, though, at $31.17 per hour, making their annual salary $64,830. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin roofers earn about a dollar less per hour at $29.21, and Worcester, Massachusetts-Connecticut roofers earn an average hourly wage of $27.11. Out in California in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area, roofers earn $26.55 per hour. Honolulu pays roofers an average hourly wage of $26.12.
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