Photo: David Shankbone (CC BY 3.0)
Job description
A job usually starts with an inspection to figure out the best repair approach and an estimate of the materials and labor it will take, then moves into laying overlapping courses of shingles or other roofing material and cutting pieces to fit around vents and wall intersections. Some roofers specialize in single-ply systems, applying waterproof sheet materials like modified plastics or asphaltic compounds instead of traditional shingles. The work happens almost entirely outdoors, often at height and in whatever weather shows up, with a fast pace driven by tight project deadlines.
Pros
- Faster than average projected growth (5.9%) in a sizable field of 12,700 jobs
- Pay can reach over $81k at the top of the range with just a high school diploma
- Skilled trade with variety across materials: shingles, single-ply systems, and specialty roofing
Cons
- Among the more physically demanding and hazardous trades, working at heights on sloped surfaces
- Deadline-driven, fast-paced work often dictated by weather windows
- Constant outdoor exposure to sun, heat, and the elements
A typical day
Summer roofing starts at first light to beat the heat: the crew tears off the old shingles by 7am, the day's rhythm set by the tear-off, the inspection of decking underneath (two rotted sheets to replace — always something), and the dry-in race if weather threatens. The roofer's hands learn the trade's cadence: underlayment rolled and tacked, starter course true, then shingles nailed in courses with the chalk lines keeping everything honest. Flashing around the chimney is where craft shows — water always finds lazy flashing. Harnesses stay clipped; the fall statistics aren't abstractions. By 2pm the sun wins and the site gets cleaned magnetically for nails. Steep-slope skill, metal roofing, and foreman roles are the ladder up.
Tasks at the job
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
- 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.
- Install, repair, or replace single-ply roofing systems, using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric, or other asphaltic compositions.
- Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens primarily outdoors, exposed to whatever the weather is doing, and most of the day is spent on your feet, and you work in close physical proximity to coworkers or the public for much of the shift. Noise levels can be distracting or uncomfortable. The role involves regular exposure to hazardous equipment or conditions and contaminants and working at heights, and specialized protective equipment is standard.
The pace is often fast, with real time pressure to meet deadlines.
Education necessary or common
High school diploma; some on-the-job training or apprenticeship
Licenses & certifications
- OSHA 10 Construction (fall protection)
- Manufacturer installer certifications (GAF, CertainTeed — through employers)
- State contractor license (for running your own crew later)
Career path
Related fields
Courses to take
- Geometry — pitch, area, and material calculations
- Shop/Construction Trades — tool skills and building basics
- Physical Education — the trade demands strength and heat tolerance
- Consumer Math — material estimates and job bids
- Physics — water, load, and why flashing works
Clubs, activities & competitions
- SkillsUSA — construction pathways
- Habitat for Humanity builds — real roofing exposure sometimes included
- A construction or landscaping summer job
First steps you can take now
- Get OSHA 10 Construction online — fall protection knowledge matters here most of all
- Ask roofing companies about summer ground-crew work at 16-18 (tear-off and cleanup start many careers)
- Learn to calculate a roof's area and material needs from its footprint and pitch
- Watch installation videos for asphalt, metal, and flat systems to see the trade's range
