By 2030, the market size of the roofing industry worldwide will be a little below $160 billion. That’s a lot of revenue for an industry, but not surprisingly, considering the number of roofers has grown by 15% since 2018.
With us all experiencing challenging economic times, growth isn’t always the winning factor to bring people to an industry. Income is what people want to know. That’s why one of the biggest questions for people looking to get started in roofing ask is, “How much do roofers make?”
Unfortunately, the seemingly simple question has a more complicated answer.
In this article, we’ll explore what impacts the income of a roofing contractor, including
- The average salary of roofing contractors
- Other benefits for roofing contractors
- How you can increase your income as a roofer
- How roofing companies can help grow without much overhead (using tools like Roofr)
How much do roofing contractors make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a roofing contractor's median income in 2022 hour is $23.04, which translates to $47,920 in a year. However, this amount can vary, with the highest earners pocketing $29 an hour and the lowest earners pocketing just $11 in an hour. Roofing business owners will earn even more.
Impacts on salary: What determines how much a roofer makes
The jump in pay comes from experience. Highly skilled and experienced roofers will earn more than a new roofer. Also, those who undergo a formal apprentice and get more formal training may receive higher pay for their skill.
Other things that can affect how much a roofer earns are:
- Type of roof installation (metal vs shingle vs slate vs solar)
- Location, both city and state
- Tax rules
- Position on a team
- Number of years at the company
Non-monetary benefits of being a roofer
While pay is a major concern for people considering the roofing industry, houraly wages and income isn’t the only factor to think about when it comes to career benefits. Roofing has a number of other benefits. Here’s some of our top ones:
Plenty of physical exercise
Roofing is a job that requires roofers to climb on rooftops, enabling them to exercise and stay physically fit. In contrast, many workers doing office jobs that run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. find it challenging to get time to exercise.
High demand
Since roofing services will always be in need, highly-experienced roofers have an easier time getting new jobs due to high demand. Since COVID-19, the desire for “recession-proof” careers has grown. Roofing is one of the many labor industries that will always be in demand.
Growth opportunities
Roofing provides ambitious people plenty of opportunities to climb the ladder of success (pun intended). From general installer to team leaders, permanent employment, sales, and even all the way up to running your own roofing business, skys the limit on your roofing career.
Strong community
If you’re looking for a job that is a lifestyle, thenroofing is for you. This industry lives on relationships, and roofers love to network with each other. The roofing community is incredibly strong, with plenty of events, trade shows, conferences, and leaning opportunities to connect with other roofers and grow your skills.
How to increase your salary as a roofer
While the income talked about above is a median, there are ways that you as an individual can work towards a higher income. These include apprenticeships and training, software knowledge, specializing in unique roofing materials, or moving to different locations.
Apprenticeships and training
Becoming a roofer doesn't require a standard apprenticeship, but those who go through the more formal training programs could expect to earn more in their early years. Most roofing apprenticeships take three years and involves both classwork and on-the-job training. The minimum requirement for this apprenticeship is a high school diploma.
One of the benefits of apprenticeship is that you build more connections with people in the industry, get more one-to-one attention and training, and could develop high-quality roofing craftsmanship skills quicker.
To be an apprentice, you’ll need to be 18 years of age or older. This could be a downside for roofers who have family connections and start roofing much earlier than 18. Not all locations or companies offer apprenticeships and may look for on-the-job experience over technical training.
Software knowledge
As roofing becomes a more technical industry, knowledge in satellite measurements, drones, CRM software, and other tech will become an in-demand skill. For roofers who are knowledgeable in the tech side of the industry and roofing software, you may be able to learn more than those who don’t know how to use these tools.
Speciality roofing materials
Installing metal roofs, slate or solar may require specific skills that not all roofers have. The more unique and specialized a roofing installation project becomes, the higher you can be paid.
This is the same for installing roof accessories like skylights.
If you want to earn more as a roofer, learning how to install speciality roofing materials could help.
Location
The amount of money a roofer earns depends on their physical location. If a roofer moves to an area with a high income, the chances of pocketing more money are high. Houses get bigger, roof jobs are larger, and homeowners with disposable income are more likely to choose higher-quality products.
Not all roofers are able to move location just for the chance to earn more, but it is something that can make a difference.
How much do roofing company owners make?
Profit is a crucial factor in determining whether a business should continue with its operations. Research shows that a roofing company with the least annual income pockets $35,000, while the ones that earn the most take home $200,000.
Of course, just like with individual roofing contractors, the income of roofing companies depends on what type of roofing jobs they do, employees number, cost to maintain their business, location, and other expenses.
It’s important to note that income of a company is not the same as salary for a company owner. Companies need to have money in the bank to pay their employees, buy materials, etc. The more a roofing company owner takes home for a salary, the less “revenue” the company will make.
Growing income and revenue as a roofing business
Roofing companies are constantly looking for ways to reduce their overhead while scaling in a sustainable way. Software and tech tools are one of the best ways to work more efficiently for less.
Roofr is one example of a software that helps roofing companies work smarter. As an all-in-one roofing CRM, Roofr helps companies track leads, monitor sales progress, send proposals, capture satellite measurements, communicate with homeowners, and collect payment all in one tool. This helps roofing companies grow by:
- Reducing the number of software tools or subscriptions a business needs
- Simplifying the creation of processes that keep sales teams working efficiently
- Improving speed to lead, which results in more roof sales
- Growing your reputation and driving referrals from past customers
Sign up today and try Roofr for free, or book a demo with our team to see Roofr in action.