WORKON ROOFS · RESEARCHED CAREER GUIDE
Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston and Miami offer very different wage benchmarks. Start with the numbers below, then compare the actual contractor, paid schedule and housing costs before choosing where to work.
This is a comparison shortlist, not a national “best cities” ranking. These metros illustrate different pay levels and include major places readers may consider. We have not scored job availability, safety, employer quality or affordability. The figures describe metropolitan areas, not only the named city.
| Metropolitan area | Median annual roofer wage | Useful question before moving |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN | $82,090 | Is the offer tied to a collective bargaining agreement, and how many paid weeks are realistic? |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA | $63,560 | Where does the crew report, and what will housing plus the daily commute cost? |
| Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL | $48,030 | Does the work cover one county or the full metro, and how is travel paid? |
| Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TX | $47,340 | Is the role installation, service or sales, and which roof systems dominate its workload? |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX | $46,990 | How far from the shop do crews travel, and are overnight assignments optional? |
| Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TX | $45,500 | What is the employer’s heat, weather-delay and service-call scheduling plan? |
Source: BLS May 2025 wage data displayed in O*NET’s detailed state/metro tables, checked October 23, 2026; OEWS release May 15, 2026. Occupation: Roofers, SOC 47-2181. Median means half of covered workers earn less and half earn more. These broad employee estimates combine roofing specialties, exclude self-employed workers and do not establish starting pay, a commercial-roofing premium or current openings. Annual estimates are not a promise of year-round paid hours.
Chicago’s benchmark is materially higher than the other selected metros, but request the actual wage sheet, benefits, dues where applicable, dispatch arrangement and expected paid weeks. A citywide median is not the rate every contractor offers.
Compare the service department itself: recurring maintenance accounts, crew coverage, overnight rotation, vehicle policy and repair authorization. A lower hourly offer with reliable paid hours may fit better than a nominally higher seasonal installation rate.
Prioritize a named trainer, supervised tasks and written wage progression. Check local apprenticeship intake directly. For example, Chicagoland Roofers JATC lists a five-year/5,500-hour program; its October 2026 page says Chicago-area online intake is closed until January 2027 and describes a contractor-sponsored direct-entry route. Recheck before applying.
Do not use the roofer table as your salary band. Compare the office role’s scope: estimating only, sales plus estimating, service management or full project responsibility. Search those titles separately.
Illustration, not market data: Offer A pays $30/hour for 40 hours over 44 paid weeks: $52,800 gross. Offer B pays $27/hour for 40 hours over 50 paid weeks: $54,000 gross. Neither includes overtime, bonuses, tax or benefits. Offer B produces $1,200 more gross despite the lower hourly rate. Ask how the employer supports its estimate of paid weeks; do not assume a guarantee.
Next list annual rent, commuting, parking, employee health premiums and any relocation expense. Keep reimbursements separate from wages. BEA’s Regional Price Parities compare broad metro price levels with the national level set to 100; they are useful context, but your actual rent and household budget are more decision-relevant than a generic index.
If you cannot find suitable live vacancies, keep the metro as a research option rather than treating this page as evidence that employers are hiring now.
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Research checked October 23, 2026. Examples and worksheets are editorial illustrations, not surveyed results.