Should I Pursue Roofing as a Career? An Honest Look at the Trade

Roofing is one of the best-paying trades you can enter without a college degree, and it is always hiring. But it is also hot, heavy, and done at height, so it is not for everyone. If you are weighing a career in roofing, you deserve the honest version.

This guide lays out the real pros and cons, what a roofer actually earns, and how to break in. Furthermore, it covers who the trade rewards and who tends to wash out. By the end, you'll know whether roofing fits you.

Is Roofing a Good Career? The Honest Answer

Yes, roofing is a good career for the right person, and a rough one for everyone else. It's one of the few careers that pays well without a degree. Plus, roofers make more income with experience, so it's very scalable as an actual career. 

For some, its a way of financial freedom. For example, 3 out of 10 experienced traders start a roofing company after accumulating experience and capital. But like every career path, roofing has some hitches.

Roofing is a hard career, with extensive physical demands. The career forces you to work in all kinds of weather, and it carries real risk. Mind you, plenty of roofing professionals love it for exactly those reasons.

The easiest way to find out if the career is meant for you is to join a roofing company as an apprentice. Do a few shifts, work, walk in a roofer's shoes, and you'll have your answer. That's the answer most experts will give you.

What a Roofer Actually Does

A roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs using shingles, asphalt, and metal among other types of roofing materials. The job changes by the day and by the season. One week is a steep residential tear-off, the next is a flat commercial roof.

Residential roofers handle homes and asphalt shingle work, while commercial roofing covers flat roofs on stores, schools, and industrial buildings. Furthermore, every roof brings some problem solving, since no two leaks or decks are quite the same.

It is a rewarding career for people who love the trader. Instead of making the choice for you, lets look at the pros and cons of roofing careers. Weigh both and choose the one that feels better.

Pros of a Career in Roofing

The biggest draw is money without a mountain of student debt. With other careers, you have to get a 4 year degree to learn the trade while accumulating a mountain of debt. Roofing frees you from those shackles and you can earn while you work.

Roofing careers also offer better job security because:

• The roofing industry is growing.
• Roofs always fail eventually.
• Wave of older roofers is retiring. 
• Skilled roofers can estimate, run a roofing crew, or start a business.

Roofing careers are still secure, even when the US roofing industry is in a slump. Plus you do build some good muscles when you're lugging around heavy materials every day. This also brings us to the cons.

Cons of a Career in Roofing

Roofing is physically demanding, and there is no way around it. You climb, kneel, bend, and haul heavy materials all day. It takes stamina, endurance, and knees that hold up over time, which honestly a lot of us lack.

Roofers have one of the highest injury and fatality rates of any occupation, mostly from falls and heat. Furthermore, the work is seasonal in the north. You will get jobs but expect your pay checks to shrink or expand with the seasons.

The career offers experienced workers to start their own roofing business but that has risks. Unfortunately, most roofing companies fail by their 4th year because various reasons. Your business isn't necessarily doomed to fail but it requires skill and experience.

Roofing Career Pay and Growth

Roofing is one of the highest paying and fulfilling careers in the US. The median roofer earned about $50,970 a year in May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10% cleared more than $80,780.

Apprentices usually begin near half of a journey worker's pay and climb with each step. Commercial roofing tends to pay more than residential, so the lane you choose shapes your ceiling.

How to Start a Career in Roofing

Most roofers learn on the job, so you do not need a degree to begin. Join a roofing apprenticeship program to learn the trade. An apprenticeship pays you while you build real work experience.

Formal training helps you move up faster and safer. When you're ready to become a full fledge roofer, get a roofing license. After that, you can work on your own commercial or residential roofing projects as a licensed roofing contractor.

Getting a license is perhaps the most difficult part because of the exam. Fortunately, we can help you with that bit through our classes.

Who Roofing Is (and Isn't) For

Roofing rewards people with:

• Strong work ethics
• Decent stamina
• Willingness to learn

People with good physiques, strong muscles will do well in this career. Anyone with a background in the crafts or DIY projects will also do great. All in all roofing fits you if you:

• Would rather be outside and hands-on than behind a desk
• Have the stamina and endurance for physical work
• Are comfortable working at heights
• Bring a strong work ethic and take pride in quality work
• Have the willingness to learn the trade from the ground up

You should never pursue roofing if you have asthma or a debilitating health condition. Don't like outdoor work, roofing isn't a career for you either. 

FAQs About a Roofing Career

Is roofing a good career choice?

Roofing is a good career for someone who wants strong pay without a degree and does not mind hard physical work. It offers job security in a growing industry and a path to running your own business. It is not a fit if you dislike heights or heat.

How much can you make as a roofer?

The median roofer made about $50,970 in 2024, and the top 10% earned over $80,780. Apprentices start near half of a journey worker's pay and climb from there. Commercial roofing usually pays more than residential.

Do you need a degree to become a roofer?

No, you do not need a college degree to become a roofer. Most roofers learn on the job or through an apprenticeship. Formal safety training and NRCA courses help you advance faster.

Is roofing a hard job?

Yes, roofing is physically demanding and can be dangerous. It involves climbing, heavy lifting, heat, and working at heights, and it has one of the highest injury rates in construction. Good safety practices lower the risk a great deal.

Is there job security in roofing?

Roofing offers strong job security. Roofs always wear out and need replacement, employment is projected to grow about 6% through 2034, and many older roofers are retiring. That combination keeps demand for skilled roofers high.

How do I start a career in roofing with no experience?

Start by joining a roofing crew as a laborer or apprentice and learn the trade on the job. Focus on safety training and building work experience. Over time you can earn journey-level pay, get licensed, and even start your own roofing company.

Bottom Line On Pursuing a Roofing Career

Roofing is a genuine and great career for people with stamina, ethics, and patience. It pays well, has great job security, and offer entrepeneurial ventures. On the downside, it's not for everyone because of the physical taxation.

Roofing can be a rewarding career for you if you prefer the outdoors. Learn the trade, respect the safety practices, and work toward your license. Do that, and roofing can carry you from apprentice all the way to owner.