# Roofers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/roofers
- SOC code: 47-2181.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $55,440 (10th percentile $37,460, 90th percentile $81,720)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.3%
- Openings a year: 12,000
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 5 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 8 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 42 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 87/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 77/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 76/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 74/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Coordination, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Time Management, Active Listening, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Mechanical, Mathematics, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Design, Engineering and Technology, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Physics

## Also called

Aluminum Shingle Roofer, Asbestos Shingle Roofer, Commercial Roofer, Commercial Roofing Technician (Commercial Roofing Tech), Composition Roofer, Cool Roofing Installer, Flat Roofer, Gravel Roofer, Gutter Installer, Gypsum Roofer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4604) (CIP 4604, 319 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $82,443 | $97,793 | $11,042 |
| [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-2767) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,627 | $90,691 | $17,750 |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,054 | $87,107 | not reported |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $69,819 | $74,310 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Helpers--Roofers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-roofers): $44,160 median pay
- [Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers): $58,930 median pay
- [Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-floor-ceiling-and-wall): $49,120 median pay
- [Plasterers and Stucco Masons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/plasterers-and-stucco-masons): $57,660 median pay
- [Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/floor-layers-except-carpet-wood-and-hard-tiles): $56,460 median pay
- [Insulation Workers, Mechanical](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-mechanical): $58,340 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.