by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Roofer explores Roofer. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Prepare, Install, And Maintain Exterior Roofing Materials And Roofs. Includes Instruction In Building Materials, Flashing, Lag Bolts, Site Safety, Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Layering, Site Preparation, Basic Internal Structural Design, Finishing, Waterproofing, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Continue reading for the essential details every roofer student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering roofer programs.
In the U.S., roofer is a widely-pursued major, with 37 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Roofer Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for roofer students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of roofer programs later in this article.
Studies in Roofer develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations roofer graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a roofer program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a roofer major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several roofer degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 33 |
People currently working in careers related to roofer tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 37.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 20.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.5% |
| Master’s degree | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in roofer careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying roofer can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to roofer.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to roofer.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Roofers | 520,582 | 7.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 360,116 | 4.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of roofer graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,822 |
| 4 years | $32,489 |
| 5 years | $37,102 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for roofer graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers roofer grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Roofers | $69,443 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | $32,563 |
With 2 different roofer programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased roofer school rankings to help you.
Those considering roofer, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
