Roofer

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Work Tasks

• Replace or fix roofs, and put roofs on new buildings
• Insulate the surface, waterproof it, then cover it with tar and gravel, asphalt, metal, or shingles
• May work on flat or pitched (sloped) roofs, and may specialize in one kind of roofing material
• May waterproof masonry and concrete walls and floors
• Work outdoors on roofs for roofing contractors, their own roofing business, all kinds of businesses and industries, and the government
• Work with shingles, tar, gravel, rubber, thermoplastic, metal, insulation, adhesives, nails, stone ballasts, hand tools, paints, sprays, caulking guns, tar kettles, power-operated hoists, compressors, spray rigs, ladders, and scaffolding

Salary, Size & Growth

• $39,000 average per year ($18.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (99,300 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow slowly (0.4% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma and an apprenticeship in roofing
• Skills/Courses: Courses in applied math, metal shop, and mechanical drawing; able to measure, cut, and fit roofing materials, and to lay asphalt or fiberglass shingles.