Our experts analyzed how much roofers charge per hour across the country and how this affects your total cost. That way, you’ll know precisely how much roofers make hourly.

This 2026 hourly roofing cost guide answers all your questions about hourly roofing costs and employee labor rates.

We put this guide together for roofers comparing different job hourly pay rates or homeowners comparing price quotes from roofing contractors.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what our roofing cost per hour guide covers:

What Do Roofers Charge Hourly in 2026?

Professional roofers charge $78 per hour on average for a residential roofing job in the United States as of 2026.

However, to be upfront, hourly rates may vary wildly between states, cities, and even individual roofing contractors.

Indeed, some states, like Illinois, California, or New York, are more expensive than the national average. The states with the lowest hourly rates are Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

How much roofers charge per hour is based on the labor rates, insurance, material costs, and the overhead costs of running a roofing company in your particular state.

It’s key to understand the different average hourly rates that roofers charge for roof work, such as repairs and full replacements.

With this in mind, our expert roofing professionals share the results of our comprehensive study on the hourly salary rates charged by roofers below, state by state.

Ready to find a contractor you can actually trust? Start with our step-by-step guide to choosing a reliable roofer.

Hourly Roofing Salary State By State

Here is our comprehensive list of how much roofing contractors charge per hour by state in 2026, based on local labor rates and job site pricing data.

Remember that because of material and overhead costs, roofers charge homeowners 2-3 times more than the hourly wage they pay their employees on average.

State	Estimated Hourly Salary	Estimated Consumer Charge Range
Alabama	$21.14	$53–$79
Alaska	$30.62	$79–$107
Arizona	$24.50	$60–$98
Arkansas	$25.06	$61–$94
California	$29.57	$81–$142
Colorado	$24.40	$59–$98
Connecticut	$23.12	$72–$109
Delaware	$25.76	$67–$103
Florida	$21.97	$64–$88
Georgia	$21.61	$53–$80
Hawaii	$32.03	$78–$119
Idaho	$25.74	$65–$96
Illinois	$27.59	$67–$103
Indiana	$20.78	$62–$77
Iowa	$24.27	$59–$90
Kansas	$23.46	$57–$94
Kentucky	$20.10	$50–$78
Louisiana	$22.24	$54–$83
Maine	$23.32	$57–$87
Maryland	$26.35	$77–$98
Massachusetts	$28.23	$69–$105
Michigan	$22.98	$56–$85
Minnesota	$26.50	$64–$99
Mississippi	$16.34	$51–$66
Missouri	$23.97	$58–$89
Montana	$23.67	$58–$88
Nebraska	$21.87	$53–$81
Nevada	$25.84	$63–$96
New Hampshire	$23.80	$58–$88
New Jersey	$23.50	$69–$108
New Mexico	$21.41	$54–$80
New York	$26.70	$80–$124
North Carolina	$20.70	$50–$83
North Dakota	$26.57	$65–$99
Ohio	$24.69	$60–$92
Oklahoma	$23.09	$56–$86
Oregon	$23.43	$67–$87
Pennsylvania	$23.01	$56–$86
Rhode Island	$41.88	$94–$128
South Carolina	$19.17	$54–$77
South Dakota	$19.97	$54–$80
Tennessee	$21.38	$52–$86
Texas	$21.91	$53–$88
Utah	$22.83	$56–$92
Vermont	$24.54	$69–$98
Virginia	$21.21	$55–$85
Washington	$30.21	$83–$137
West Virginia	$19.31	$51–$78
Wisconsin	$23.92	$58–$96
Wyoming	$33.35	$79–$121

Before calling your insurance, see if your damage is worth trying to repair instead of replacing the whole roof.

How Much Roofers Charge Homeowners Vs. Employee Labor Rates

It’s important to mention that the hourly price a roofer charges a homeowner is different than the hourly labor rate that roofers pay their employees.

Later, we’ll break down real-life roofing project costs using actual examples.

But first, let’s take a look at an example of what a roofer charges versus average roofing labor rates per hour.

According to Indeed, a roofing contractor in Illinois pays employees $27.59 per hour on average.

In turn, an Illinois roofing contractor charges a homeowner $84.83 per hour on average, with all labor-related overhead costs baked in.

Remember, overhead also includes all labor taxes, benefits, insurance, and profit for the business.

What Costs Make Up An Hour of Roofing

An hour of roof labor is made up of not only the employee’s pay, but also costs like taxes and insurance, as well as business expenses and profit.

Here is the typical breakdown of what goes into your hourly roofing price:

• Payroll tax
• Liability insurance
• Workers’ comp
• Admin, trucks, software
• Profit margin

As you can imagine, a $30 per hour wage turns into a $75 to $100 invoice once all overhead costs are factored in.

Below is a pie chart that clearly illustrates the costs that go into a $100 per hour roofing bill:

No question, insurance rates and obtaining a proper and up-to-date roof license take time and money. And that’s just to get started as a roofing contractor.

Factor in equipment like ladders, safety gear, and tools, and the startup cost of opening a roofing company can easily reach $20,000-$40,000.

All without any roofing work income coming in yet.

Matt walks through a real inspection on a Naperville home in our full article on how mansard roofs work.

What Factors Affect Roofing Costs Per Hour Most?

Our in-depth roofing hourly cost study found the following six factors affect the cost per hour of a roofing project most in the United States as of 2026.

Did You Know? According to DataUSA, women made more than men in the roofing industry. The website reports that in 2023, the average female salary in roofing was $49,633 compared to just $45,198 for males. 

1. Geographic Location

The location of your roofing project and the contractor affect the price you pay for each hour of labor the most.

Local roofer labor rates certainly make up a significant portion of costs and may vary across states, regions, or even neighboring suburbs or cities.

No question, the cost of living in your geographic area affects hourly labor rates and the cost of roofing jobs significantly.

Likewise, roof material costs can vary based on the availability of nearby supply warehouses. The more roof suppliers near you, the better pricing you’re roofing contractor will likely get.

Hopefully, your contractor passes on those savings to you as the consumer, as reflected in your final bill.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 168,100 roofing jobs in the US as of 2023.

2. Type Of Roofing Materials

The type of roofing material chosen, such as asphalt shingles, metal roofing, slate tiles, or wood shakes, makes up the second largest portion of hourly roofer rates you’ll pay.

For example, choosing to install a metal roof on a 2,000 sqft home costs $36,512 on average versus $13,483 for a new asphalt shingle roof on the same house.

Oftentimes, specialty roof systems require more skill than your average asphalt shingle roof. Discover how long the average roof lasts in Midwest states like Illinois.

3. Job Complexity and Roof Access

Complex roof jobs with steep pitches and multiple ridges, hips, or valleys require additional safety measures and training, so the hourly cost is higher.

Moreover, roofs with high numbers of penetrations, like vents, pipes, and skylights, require a higher skill level, resulting in a higher hourly labor cost.

All in all, complicated roofs can require a 20-40% higher hourly price, resulting in a higher total invoice.

4. Overhead Costs Like Insurance

Insurance rates and workers’ compensation coverage vary between regions and even roofing companies. Roofers who have been in the industry longer often get better insurance rates than newer outfits.

However, more experience doesn’t necessarily translate to lower hourly rates or better deals on roof work.

Some seasoned roofers may have 25 or more years of experience, but have a crummy reputation and know how to take advantage of homeowners.

Recently, IBIS reported that there are 98,980 roofing contractors in the US as of 2024.

Accordingly, don’t let experience be your only factor in comparing roofers, especially ones without online reviews from real customers.

5. Time of Year

You’ll get a better deal on hourly roofing costs and the subsequent total cost of roofing work if you schedule a roof inspection in off-peak months during the winter.

The best hourly rates are charged during less busy months for roofers, like January, February, and December.

Even if you pre-book the work in off-peak months to start in the Spring, you’ll likely receive better pricing due to the seasonal slowdown roofing contractors experience each year.

6. Total Square Footage of Your Roof

While it’s certainly helpful to understand how much a roofer charges per hour, most roofers charge you a flat rate determined by the number of squares or the size of the roof area.

Larger roofs require more hours, which will drive the cost per hour down significantly since you are getting a bulk discount on labor.

That’s why more minor roof leak repairs requiring under 8 hours cost more hourly, averaging well over $100 per hour.

Wrong. You went to school for accounting, and unless you’ve picked up a second shift as a roofer, you’ll take 3 to 5 times as long to complete the same work.

So your hourly DIY roofing cost triples to $102 per hour in the best-case scenario.

On the bright side, you won’t have to pull a permit if you DIY replace your roof in most states. Our expert exterior designers reveal the top paint colors that complement brown roofs in our new post.

Roof Replacement DIY Costs Can Be Expensive

No question, the costs of materials, equipment, and the countless trips to Home Depot likely outweigh the benefits of DIY-ing your home’s roof.

Budget at least $5,000-$15,000 for shingles, nails, underlayment, ice and water shielding, wood roof decking or sheathing, and items such as new exhaust boots, caulk, and flashing.

You’ll also need to have connections at a good roofing supply warehouse nearby, like ABC or SRS Building Products.

Pro Tip: If you’re in Illinois or the Chicagoland area, SRS supplies in Naperville is an awesome supplier and has gone above and beyond for us at HomeHero Roofing. We highly recommend them if you’re a new roofing contractor just getting started.

Despite the costs and time required to DIY a tear-down and install a new roof, it still can be worth it for some adventurous and handy homeowners.

By all means, if you love that type of work as a homeowner, aren’t afraid of heights, or are enjoying an early retirement, then have at it!

How Much Do Roofers Make?

As of 2026, Roofing employees make $24 per hour on average across all states in the US. This translates to a full-time salary of $52,032 per year for roofing laborers nationally.

However, this is the average across all roofing jobs, but not all roof labor positions are paid equally.

Here are the different tiers of roofing laborers and their average hourly pay or yearly salary.

• Helper/Laborer: $19 per hour ($39,520)
• Project Lead: $30 per hour ($62,400)
• Standard Roofer: $24 per hour ($49,920)
• Roofing Apprentice: $21 per hour ($43,680)

Depending on the level of skill and complexity of a roofing project, you’d typically see a project lead with 3-5 roofing crew members per job.

The project lead may be managing 2-4 different roofing jobs at once.

In addition, you’d have 1-3 apprentices or helpers available for demo, cleanup, and other labor-intensive tasks that don’t require years of experience.

They typically cycle between crews depending on the stage of each project. See ZipRecruiter’s average hourly pay for journeymen roofers.

What Roofing Business Owners and Salespeople Make

What a roofing business owner or salesperson makes is based on their performance or the business’s performance.

Here are the average salaries of roofing business owners and roof salespeople across the nation:

• Roof Salesperson: $28 per hour ($58,240)
• Business Owner: $39 per hour ($80,291)

Roofing business owners make an average salary of $80,291, based on profitability and the size of the business.

Roofing salespeople make an average of $58,240 per year, depending on their sales volume.

Often, they are paid a $47,922 base salary on average, with a 4-6% commission on each roof sold.

Hourly Pricing of Roof Repairs Versus Roofing Replacement

You’ll pay more the smaller your roof job is. Similar to Costco, the more labor hours needed to produce a job, the lower the hourly labor cost you need to pay.

That’s because the fixed costs of travel and gas to come to a job or the time it takes to order specialized materials are the same for a small roof repair versus an entire roof replacement.

The average roof installation takes 46 hours of labor for a single-person roofing crew, while the average roof repair takes 3 hours.

Additionally, more complicated roofing jobs require more skilled roofing labor, such as steep roofs and roofing with lots of penetrations, like skylights or roof vents.

Below, we compare average hourly costs of minor repairs versus entire home roof replacements or tear-offs.

Average Cost Per Hour for Roof Repairs

The cost of repairs, such as roof leaks, skylight fixes, and drip edge flashing replacement, depends on the size and complexity of the repair.

Roof repairs cost an average of $124 per hour. The larger the repair, the less you’ll pay per hour.

Repairs that take over 8 hours of labor to complete or at least one day of labor are the sweet spot when it comes to hourly roofing pricing.

You’ll save around 20% per hour versus roofing repair jobs under 8 hours because roofing contractors often pay their people per day of labor.

So if your repair takes most of the day, but is short a few hours, let’s say 5 hours total, they still need to pay for the whole day of labor.

That cost gets passed on to you as the consumer unless they have another minor repair scheduled for the same day.

Hourly Costs for Whole Home Roof Replacements

The cost per hour of labor for whole-home roof replacement projects is $78 on average across the United States.

Indeed, this is lower than your average roofing repair job cost. Learn about the best shingle roof colors of 2026.

That’s because complete roof replacement requires at least 4-12 full days of labor for one roofing employee to produce the job, so you get a bulk discount.

As previously mentioned, your typical crew size is 3-5 team members for roof replacement, depending on the square footage. That’s why you see entire re-roofs completed in only a day or two.

Luckily, you only have to set up and wind down or clean up each entire roof replacement project once, so you also save on those costs.

In turn, the savings per hour of roof labor are passed on to consumers or go towards profit margins and overhead costs.

Types Of Roofing Materials Affect Roof Installation or Repair Costs

When you replace an old roof, you have the choice of installing different types of roof materials.

Asphalt shingles are the most common and cost just $78 per hour on average to install.

Premium asphalt shingle installation costs slightly more at $84 per hour on average.

Slate Roofing installation labor rates are more expensive, averaging $88 per hour.

Metal roof installation labor is most expensive at $94 per hour because it requires higher material costs and pricier skilled labor to complete.

Luckily, metal roofs have one of the longest lifespans of any roof system despite the expense.

Our roof system diagram shows how vents, flashing, and shingles all play a role in protecting your home.

Are Roofing Inspections Actually Free?

From a contractor’s perspective, there’s no such thing as a free roof inspection.

When a roofer goes out to your property, they are burning gas or electricity for travel and, most importantly, spending their time helping you.

The inspection may or may not turn into an actual job, so roofers have to be careful to pick the opportunities that are most valuable to them as business owners.

However, larger roofing companies often have roofing salespeople performing free roof inspections or estimates instead of the owner.

The cost per hour of a salesperson conducting an inspection depends on their sales performance and conversion rate.

On average, a free roof inspection performed by a salesperson costs a roofing business $28 per hour.

In the end, the cost of free inspections, whether or not they turn into jobs, is built into the hourly cost paid by the consumer in their invoices.

A recent Microsoft study highlights that roofing is one of the least likely professions to be replaced by AI anytime soon.

Why Roofers Charge More in Wealthier Cities and Suburbs

Roofers in wealthier areas often charge more because there is less affordable, skilled roofing labor available in their geographic location.

They will often need to source their workers from surrounding towns or cities, which means they’ll have to pay more per hour to attract top talent.

Given the added commute and time spent driving to the job, a higher hourly salary is necessary. Based on our roofing service areas in Chicago’s western suburbs, we know a thing or two about wealthy neighborhoods.

Not to mention, the complexity and specialized roofing materials needed for jobs in wealthier suburbs like Hinsdale, IL, drive the average hourly roofing labor cost up.

As a result, the average cost of an hour of residential roofing in wealthy areas averages $86-$93 per hour, depending on the size of the job.

This cost per hour of roof work is 20-30% higher than your average hourly roof rate.

Do You Think Your Roofer Is Overcharging?

This higher cost for roof labor hours doesn’t apply to all homes and varies based on local access to qualified labor and the complexity of your roofing project.

The best way to determine if your local roofing contractor is overcharging is to get multiple quotes from different companies.

You’ll find that some roofers legitimately have higher overhead costs than others, while other roofers are intentionally greedy or deceptive.

Find out how to tell if a roofing contractor is lying to you in our latest trending article.

Oftentimes, the price quotes you’ll get could range anywhere from $8,032 to over $15,000 for a standard 1,500 sqft house, a smaller roof replacement job.

Indeed, the roofing industry is ripe with scammers, especially when it comes to insurance claims or areas with storm damage. This is why home insurance rates are skyrocketing across the country.

They’ll often knock on your door and talk a great game until you look up their company online and read the reviews. For example, Ameripro Roofers and their storm-chasing teams are notorious for this.

Hourly Cost of Residential Versus Commercial Roofing Services

Residential roofing costs more per hour than your average commercial roofing project.

This is because commercial roofing jobs are larger in scale, and labor is calculated in wholesale terms.f

Remember how we mentioned that roofing labor costs per hour decrease as the total project hours increase? The same concept applies to commercial versus residential roofing labor rates.

That is why the average commercial roofing labor rate is $72 per hour compared to the residential rate, which is $78 per hour.

Now, commercial roof labor is often faster and less detailed than that of a standard residential roofer.

This is because commercial finishes are not put under the same level of scrutiny as a residential roofing project, and require less warranty coverage.

Average Cost Per Hour to Install Gutters

The average cost per hour to install gutters is $71 across the US, including all supplies and labor.

However, most roofers provide a 10-20% discount on gutter installation hourly pricing if you bundle a roof replacement and gutters together.

Again, the average labor hour cost to install gutters is lower when the total job size is higher.

So, a gutter job that costs $6,500 alone may drop to a $5,200 line item when combined with a $12,800 roofing job.

This assumes the roofer has skilled enough labor specializing in both gutters and roofing, versus having to source a separate gutter crew altogether.

Roofing Hourly Rates FAQs

The following are some more FAQs that homeowners and roofing employees may have about hourly roof costs.

Are flat roofs more expensive per hour than regular asphalt shingles?

Flat roofing hourly rates are higher than regular asphalt shingle roofing hourly labor costs due to the complexity of the job and potential liability.

As a result, the average cost of replacing a flat roof is $83 per hour, including materials and labor.

In general, flat roofs are more likely to leak than standard pitched shingle roofs so they are more expensive.

Since residential roofers often warranty their work, on some level, the cost of coming back to fix a leak on a flat roof must be included in the invoice price.

When is roofing labor the cheapest?

Roofers often charge more per hour for emergency services and during peak season in the summer months.

Save money by booking a roof inspection during the Spring or Fall, before an emergency (and expensive) leak occurs.

Smart homeowners book roof inspections during the Winter or early Spring. Most roofers charge less per hour during off-peak months.

How do I know I can trust a roofing contractor that charges hourly?

Getting at least three roofing quotes to compare hourly prices from different roofers is always great advice.

However, not every roofing estimate is the same. There are many roofers out there who don’t have valid insurance or up-to-date licensing, often charging you a lower hourly rate.

Furthermore, many roofers cut corners or leave out essential elements in a quote and upcharge you later. This is even more dangerous if you get an hourly quote for a roofing job from a contractor.

Most Roofing Contractors Charge By The Square

Keep in mind that the majority of reputable roofing contractors don’t charge hourly; they charge a flat price, calculated by the square or total sqft of the job.

In roofing, a 1-foot by 1-foot section of roofing is known as a square. The average home in the US has 15-25 squares.

Accordingly, the cost per square varies by geographic location, similar to hourly labor rates. For example, in Chicago, our experts report that roofers charge from $5 to $8 per square on average.