Education
There is typically no formal educational credential required to become a roofer. Individual apprenticeship sponsors may establish their own education or eligibility requirements.
National Apprenticeship Pathway
Roofer Apprenticeship Guide
Apprenticeship Snapshot
- Apprenticeship Length
- Varies by program
- On-the-Job Training
- Paid hands-on roofing installation and repair training; hours and duration vary by apprenticeship program
- Paid Training
- Yes
- Technical Instruction
- Technical instruction in roofing systems, materials, safety, measurements, drawings, tools, installation methods, and related construction skills
Apprenticeship Guide Navigation
What Is a Roofer Apprenticeship?
A roofer apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training with related technical instruction to develop the skills needed to install, replace, repair, and maintain roofing systems. Apprentices may learn to work with shingles, asphalt, membranes, metal roofing, insulation, vapor barriers, flashing, roof ventilation, sealants, and other roofing materials while following jobsite safety procedures.
Roofers are classified under SOC 47-2181. O*NET identifies Roofer as an approved Registered Apprenticeship title and lists common occupational titles including Commercial Roofer, Journeyman Roofer, Metal Roofing Mechanic, Roof Mechanic, Roof Service Technician, Roofing Technician, and Single Ply Roofer.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most roofers learn through on-the-job training, while some enter the occupation through apprenticeship programs. Roofer apprenticeships combine structured workplace learning with technical instruction and typically establish a predetermined number of hours for both components.
Roofer Apprenticeship Entry Requirements
Math and Measurement Skills
Applicants benefit from basic mathematics and measurement skills because roofers measure roof areas, calculate material quantities, align roofing materials, and cut materials to fit around roof features.
Tool and Material Readiness
Roofer apprentices should be prepared to learn the safe use of hand tools, power tools, ladders, hoists, scaffolds, cutting tools, roofing equipment, and a variety of roofing materials and systems.
Heights and Physical Readiness
Roofing work requires comfort working at heights and the physical ability to climb, bend, kneel, lift, carry materials, and work outdoors in changing temperatures. Apprentices must be prepared to follow fall-protection and other jobsite safety procedures.
Sponsor-Specific Requirements
Minimum age, driver's-license requirements, physical requirements, aptitude assessments, drug screening, background checks, prior construction experience, and other eligibility standards may vary by apprenticeship sponsor or employer. Applicants should verify each program's current requirements before applying.
How Much Do Roofer Apprentices Earn?
Roofer apprentices are paid while completing structured workplace training. BLS reports that the starting pay for roofer apprentices is usually about 50 percent of the wage paid to journey-level workers, with pay increases as apprentices progress through the program.
There is no single national roofer apprentice wage. Actual starting pay, progression steps, and journey-level rates depend on the sponsor, employer, geographic area, collective bargaining agreement where applicable, and the standards of the apprenticeship program.
For occupational context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median annual wage of $55,440, or $26.65 per hour, for Roofers. This occupational median should not be treated as the universal journey-level wage or used to calculate an exact apprentice wage for every program.
How to Apply for a Roofer Apprenticeship
Search for Roofer Apprenticeships
Use Apprenticeship.gov and local roofing contractors, union-management apprenticeship committees, state apprenticeship agencies, workforce organizations, and construction employers to identify Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.
Review Program Requirements
Compare each program's eligibility requirements, roofing systems covered, work locations, training duration, on-the-job learning requirements, technical instruction, wage progression, and safety expectations.
Submit Your Application
Complete the sponsor's application and provide any requested education, identification, employment, or other documentation. Required materials vary by apprenticeship sponsor.
Complete the Selection Process
Depending on the sponsor, applicants may complete interviews, orientation, employer screening, physical or job-readiness evaluations, or other selection steps before receiving an apprenticeship offer.
Begin Paid Roofing Training
Once selected and employed, begin supervised roofing work and related technical instruction while progressing through the work processes, safety training, and skill milestones required by the apprenticeship program.
Who Sponsors Roofer Apprenticeships?
Roofing Contractors
Roofing contractors may sponsor or participate in apprenticeship programs that provide structured workplace training in roof installation, repair, waterproofing, materials, safety, and related roofing systems.
Union and Joint Apprenticeship Programs
Local unions and joint labor-management apprenticeship committees may sponsor roofer apprenticeships that combine contractor employment with structured on-the-job training and technical instruction.
Construction Employers
Building contractors and other construction employers may provide or participate in structured training for workers involved in roofing, waterproofing, exterior building systems, and related construction work.
Employer and Training Partnerships
Roofing employers may partner with industry organizations, apprenticeship committees, technical training providers, or construction education organizations to deliver related instruction alongside paid workplace training.
Do You Need Trade School Before a Roofer Apprenticeship?
Trade school is not a universal prerequisite for becoming a roofer or entering a roofer apprenticeship. BLS reports that there are typically no formal educational requirements for roofers and that most workers learn through on-the-job training.
Construction and roofing training programs can still provide useful preparation in safety, roofing materials, drawings, measurements, tools, steep-slope systems, low-slope systems, and installation methods. Industry-developed curricula may also support apprenticeship-related classroom instruction.
Applicants should not assume that completing a standalone roofing course replaces the paid workplace training required by a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor. The value of prior training depends on the program and employer.
How Apprenticeship Relates to Roofer Licensing
Completing a roofer apprenticeship does not create one universal nationwide roofer license. Occupational, contractor, and business licensing requirements may vary by state and locality and may depend on the type and value of work performed.
BLS does not identify one national roofer occupational license. Apprentices should distinguish apprenticeship completion from contractor licensing, employer requirements, and local building-code requirements.
Before working independently, supervising regulated roofing work, or operating a roofing business, verify the current requirements of the applicable state or local licensing authority.
Certifications for Roofer Apprentices
Safety training and industry credentials may be important for roofer apprentices, but certification and apprenticeship are separate parts of the career pathway. Completing an apprenticeship does not automatically create one universal national roofing certification.
BLS reports that most employers require roofers to complete safety certification that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, either before or after being hired. Additional roofing credentials may be available through industry organizations and training providers.
NCCER offers a two-level Roofing curriculum developed with the National Roofing Contractors Association. Completion of the full curriculum prepares learners for NRCA ProCertification assessments, which evaluate installation expertise in different roof-system categories. The curriculum also complies with U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship standards.
How to Find a Roofer Apprenticeship
Start with Apprenticeship.gov when looking for Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for roofers. O*NET identifies Roofer as an approved apprenticeship title associated with SOC 47-2181.
Also check local roofing contractors, union-management apprenticeship committees, state apprenticeship agencies, state employment services, construction employers, and industry training organizations. BLS specifically recommends these resources for people seeking roofing apprenticeships and work opportunities.
Compare each program’s sponsor, geographic coverage, roofing systems, paid training, technical instruction, wage progression, safety requirements, and completion standards before applying.
Roofer Career & Apprenticeship Guides by State
Explore state-specific roofer salary data, training pathways, apprenticeship information, and licensing requirements.
AlabamaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Alabama Guide AlaskaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Alaska Guide ArizonaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Arizona Guide ArkansasState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Arkansas Guide CaliforniaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView California Guide ColoradoState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Colorado Guide ConnecticutState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Connecticut Guide DelawareState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Delaware Guide FloridaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Florida Guide GeorgiaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Georgia Guide HawaiiState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Hawaii Guide IdahoState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Idaho Guide IllinoisState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Illinois Guide IndianaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Indiana Guide IowaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Iowa Guide KansasState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Kansas Guide KentuckyState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Kentucky Guide LouisianaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Louisiana Guide MaineState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Maine Guide MarylandState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Maryland Guide MassachusettsState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Massachusetts Guide MichiganState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Michigan Guide MinnesotaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Minnesota Guide MississippiState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Mississippi Guide MissouriState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Missouri Guide MontanaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Montana Guide NebraskaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Nebraska Guide NevadaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Nevada Guide New HampshireState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView New Hampshire Guide New JerseyState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView New Jersey Guide New MexicoState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView New Mexico Guide New YorkState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView New York Guide North CarolinaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView North Carolina Guide North DakotaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView North Dakota Guide OhioState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Ohio Guide OklahomaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Oklahoma Guide OregonState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Oregon Guide PennsylvaniaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Pennsylvania Guide Rhode IslandState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Rhode Island Guide South CarolinaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView South Carolina Guide South DakotaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView South Dakota Guide TennesseeState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Tennessee Guide TexasState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Texas Guide UtahState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Utah Guide VermontState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Vermont Guide VirginiaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Virginia Guide WashingtonState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Washington Guide West VirginiaState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView West Virginia Guide WisconsinState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Wisconsin Guide WyomingState salary, training, apprenticeship & licensing informationView Wyoming Guide
Roofer Apprenticeship FAQ
Are roofer apprenticeships paid?
Yes. Roofer apprentices earn wages while completing workplace training. BLS reports that starting pay for roofer apprentices is usually about 50 percent of the wage paid to journey-level workers, with pay increases as apprentices advance through the program.
How long does a roofer apprenticeship take?
Program length varies. BLS confirms that roofer apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with technical instruction and use predetermined training-hour requirements, but it does not specify one nationwide apprenticeship duration for all programs. Applicants should verify the length and completion standards of the specific sponsor.
Do I need a high school diploma to start a roofer apprenticeship?
Not necessarily as a national occupational requirement. BLS reports that roofers typically have no formal educational credential requirement. However, individual apprenticeship sponsors may establish their own education and eligibility standards.
Do roofers need OSHA safety training?
Safety training is important in roofing because workers face fall, tool, material, and weather-related hazards. BLS reports that most employers require roofers to complete safety certification that meets OSHA guidelines, either before or after being hired.
What types of roofing systems do apprentices learn?
Training varies by sponsor, but roofer apprentices may learn steep-slope and low-slope roofing systems and work with materials such as shingles, asphalt, membranes, metal, insulation, vapor barriers, flashing, sealants, and related roof components.
Where can I find registered roofer apprenticeships?
Search Apprenticeship.gov and also check local roofing contractors, union-management apprenticeship committees, state apprenticeship agencies, state employment services, and construction employers. O*NET identifies Roofer as an approved Registered Apprenticeship occupation title.
Sources
- Roofers — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Data: May 2025 wages; 2025–2035 projections) Supports: Occupation definition, education requirements, on-the-job training, apprenticeship pathway, apprentice pay progression, roofing duties, tools and materials, work environment, safety requirements, occupational wages, employment outlook, and resources for finding apprenticeships.. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Roofers — 47-2181.00 — O*NET OnLine (Data: Updated 2026) Supports: SOC occupation mapping, common roofer job titles, occupational tasks, training characteristics, and the approved Roofer Registered Apprenticeship occupation title.. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Apprenticeship Job Finder — U.S. Department of Labor — Apprenticeship.gov (Data: Current) Supports: Official search resource for current Registered Apprenticeship opportunities and the primary external resource used by this guide for locating roofer apprenticeship openings and registered sponsors.. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Roofing — NCCER (Data: 2021, 2nd Edition; current curriculum information) Supports: Roofing technical curriculum, safety, drawings, substrates, steep-slope and low-slope roofing systems, two-level training structure, NRCA ProCertification preparation, and curriculum compliance with U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship standards.. Accessed September 30, 2026.