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Most roofers acquire their skills informally on the job; some roofers train through 3-year apprenticeship programs. Jobs for roofers should be plentiful because the work is hot, strenuous, and dirty, resulting in higher job turnover than in most construction trades. Demand for roofers is less susceptible to downturns in the economy than demand for other construction trades because most roofing work consists of repair and reroofing.
Roofers use shingles, bitumen and gravel, single-ply plastic or rubber sheets, or other materials to waterproof building surfaces. Workers in other occupations who cover surfaces with special materials for protection and decoration include carpenters; carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers; cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers; drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers; and plasterers and stucco masons.
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Roofers held about 166,000 jobs in 2002. Almost all wage and salary roofers worked for roofing contractors. About 1 out of every 3 roofers was self-employed. Many self-employed roofers specialized in residential work.
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Roofing work is strenuous. It involves heavy lifting, as well as climbing, bending, and kneeling. Roofers work outdoors in all types of weather, particularly when making repairs. These workers risk slips or falls from scaffolds, ladders, or roofs, or burns from hot bitumen. In addition, roofs become extremely hot during the summer.
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In 2002, median hourly earnings of roofers were $14.51. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.23 and $19.56. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.15, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25.35. The median hourly earnings of roofers in the foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors industry were $14.57 in 2002.
Apprentices usually start at about 40 percent to 50 percent of the rate paid to experienced roofers and receive periodic raises as they acquire the skills of the trade. Earnings for roofers are reduced on occasion because poor weather often limits the time they can work.
Some roofers are members of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers.
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