A commercial journeyman roofer puts on and repairs flat and low-slope roofs on their own: TPO, PVC and EPDM single-ply, torch-applied modified bitumen, and the flashings at curbs, drains, walls and pipes. They build to the roof plan and the manufacturer's details so the roof passes the warranty inspection.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
The Journeyman Roofer is responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining commercial roofing systems with minimal supervision. This role ensures high-quality workmanship, effective problem-solving, and compliance with all safety standards. The position plays a key role in supporting our commercial roofing projects and overall operational efficiency.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Install new commercial roofing systems according to project specifications and industry standards.
Repair and maintain existing commercial roofs to ensure long-term durability and safety.
Inspect roofs pre- and post-installation to verify completed work meets quality and safety guidelines.
Collaborate with team members and project managers to plan and execute roofing projects.
Adhere to all safety protocols and OSHA regulations on-site at all times.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct detailed inspections of roofing systems to identify repair needs and maintenance priorities.
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and specifications to guide installation and repair work.
Operate and maintain roofing equipment and tools efficiently throughout the workday.
Engage with site supervisors and clients to provide project updates and resolve issues promptly.
Document all project activities and report on progress and any observed discrepancies.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Revenue per hour: Achieve a minimum of $150 per productive hour.
Callback rate: Maintain a callback percentage of less than 5%.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: Secure a rating of greater than 4.8 stars on post-service surveys.
Project Completion Efficiency: Complete at least 90% of projects on or before the scheduled deadlines.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or GED, with additional vocational training preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in roofing or relevant construction fields.
Demonstrated ability to install, repair, and maintain commercial roofing systems independently.
Strong knowledge of roofing materials, tools, and safety protocols.
Excellent problem-solving skills and effective communication abilities.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior experience working in commercial roofing projects or large-scale construction environments.
Familiarity with advanced roofing installation techniques and modern roofing systems.
Experience in reading complex technical documents and blueprints.
Proven track record of independently managing projects and delivering quality outcomes.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs consistently.
Comfortable working at heights and on sloped surfaces.
Endurance to perform repetitive physical tasks in outdoor environments.
Adaptability to varying weather conditions, including working in hot, cold, or rainy environments.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical working hours are from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Work primarily takes place outdoors at various commercial sites.
Occasional overtime may be required to meet project deadlines.
Minimal travel between job sites is expected as part of the role.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly rate between $25 and $35 depending on experience and qualifications.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses upon meeting project KPIs.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance benefits.
Participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Access to ongoing training programs and opportunities for career advancement.
10. Company Culture and Overview
We are a dynamic and growth-oriented company committed to excellence in commercial roofing services.
Our team values collaboration, continuous learning, and innovation in every project we undertake.
We foster an inclusive work environment that supports personal and professional growth.
Our commitment to customer satisfaction drives us to maintain the highest standards in quality and safety.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
A commercial roofer works on a wide, nearly flat deck, often above people at work, with heat guns, torches and machines. On a warranted roof, the job isn't done until the manufacturer's inspector signs off.
Torch work has its own card
The trade's torch safety program is NRCA's CERTA. The card belongs to the roofer, not the company, and lasts three years before the roofer must recertify. NRCA says some insurers require it as a condition of coverage, some owners, military branches and general contractors write it into contracts, and some state and local agencies require it for code compliance. Check the card's date before you send anyone to a torch job. Source: NRCA: CERTA (Certified Roofing Torch Applicator) FAQ.
Torch fires start where no one is looking
OSHA's fire prevention rule covers heating work as well as welding and cutting, so treat torching as covered. Move or shield what can burn, have an extinguisher on the roof within reach, and post a fire watch when those steps aren't enough. The watch lasts through the torching and long enough after to be sure nothing is still burning. On a reroof, the danger hides in wood nailers at the parapet, gaps around curbs and debris inside the old roof. Source: 29 CFR 1926.352: Fire prevention during welding, cutting and heating (Cornell LII).
Machines move the warning line back
OSHA counts any wheeled equipment used for roofing, except wheelbarrows and mop carts, as mechanical equipment. That includes robotic seam welders and power tear-off machines. While one is in use, warning lines go at least 6 feet from edges parallel to its path and at least 10 feet from edges it is heading toward. Keep it out of any area where roofers rely on a safety monitor. Source: 29 CFR 1926.502: Fall protection systems criteria and practices (Cornell LII).
Wet insulation gets found before it's covered
Tear-off often turns up wet insulation or a soft deck the moisture survey missed. Check suspect board with a moisture meter or a core cut, mark the area and tell the foreman before anything goes over it. New membrane laid over wet insulation seals the water in, and the new roof can fail from below.
Rooftop units belong to someone else
Curbs, exhaust fans, gas lines and conduit cross most commercial roofs, and other trades own them. The journeyman asks the foreman to have units shut down or disconnected by their trade, never cuts a line to make flashing easier, and builds each curb and pipe detail exactly as the manufacturer draws it.
How much commercial journeyman roofers make
Roofers who work for roofing contractors earned a median of $26.86 an hour ($55,860 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $55,440 median for roofers in all industries. About 122,140 of the 135,490 roofers in that survey work for roofing contractors.
Hourly pay is the template's plan, with KPI bonuses added. Consider a raise step for each certification a roofer earns, such as torch safety or a single-ply installer credential, since both widen the jobs you can send them on.
Roofing contractors
$55,860$55,860 median Middle half $46,340–$65,210 10th–90th $37,540–$81,290
All industries
$55,440$55,440 median Middle half $46,260–$65,390 10th–90th $37,460–$81,720
$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Roofing contractors
$37,540
$46,340
$55,860
$65,210
$81,290
All industries
$37,460
$46,260
$55,440
$65,390
$81,720
BLS reports residential and commercial roofing contractors together. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Welds and probes TPO or PVC seams that hold, day after day
Flashes curbs, drains and pipe penetrations to the manufacturer's details
Reads a roof plan and catches where it doesn't match the roof
Stays inside the warning lines or ties off without reminders
Checks suspect board with a moisture meter before covering it
Teach these on the job
The details and warranty checklists of the membrane brands you install
Torch-applied modified bitumen, after CERTA training
EPDM seam tape and primer for crews who mostly weld thermoplastics
Robotic welder setup and test welds as the weather changes
How you want wet areas marked, measured and reported
Journeyman roofers run hand-held and robotic hot-air welders, seam probes, rollers, screw guns and fastening tools, and torches for modified bitumen once trained. They carry hook knives, tin snips, hand seamers and a moisture meter. Name the systems you install most, such as TPO, PVC, EPDM or modified bitumen, so roofers can judge the fit.
Commercial journeyman roofer interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Handling wet insulation not on the survey
During tear-off you find wet insulation that isn't marked on the moisture survey. What do you do?
A strong answer: Stops, marks it, photographs and measures it, tells the foreman so it's tracked as a unit-price item, and replaces it before covering. Never covers wet insulation.
Behavioral · Learning from a leak
Tell me about a leak traced back to a detail you installed on a low-slope roof, such as a seam, curb or drain. What did you change afterward?
A strong answer: Names the specific cause, owns their part and names a habit they changed, such as probing every seam or following the curb detail exactly.
The template's figures can carry the first season. After that, your job costing and callback log will show what your roofers can really hit.
Revenue per hour
Billed value of the roofer's finished work divided by their productive hours, from job costing and payroll. Compare roofers on the same kind of roof, such as one TPO recover against another.
Callback rate
Leaks and warranty repairs traced to the roofer's seams or flashings, against the roofs they installed. Tag each leak to the detail at fault and the person who built it.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Scores from owners, property managers and general contractors' superintendents once a job closes. Ask about the roofer's own work: tidy details, a clean roof at day's end and how they handled tenants' questions.
Project Completion Efficiency
Phases assigned to the roofer that met the lead's plan for the day or week. Note causes outside their control, like late material or a rooftop unit nobody shut down.
Career path
Apprentice rooferLearns seams, fasteners and flashings under a lead.
Journeyman rooferInstalls and repairs low-slope systems with little oversight.
Lead rooferRuns the roof crew and closes out the warranty punch list.
Field supervisorOversees several commercial roofs and their crews at once.
Does a commercial journeyman roofer need a license?
Licensing rules vary by state. Florida licenses roofing contractors: a certified contractor may work anywhere in the state, while a registered one may work only in the places where it met local requirements. Arizona splits roofing contractor licenses into commercial (C-42), residential (R-42) and dual (CR-42) classes. Both are licenses for the contracting business. Ask your state's licensing board whether an individual roofer needs anything of their own.
How much does a commercial journeyman roofer make?
Roofers who work for roofing contractors earned a median of $26.86 an hour ($55,860 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $46,340 and $65,210 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Is there a certification for single-ply roofers?
Yes, a voluntary one. NRCA's ProCertified Thermoplastic Systems Installer asks for at least 24 months installing thermoplastic roofs, including pipe and curb flashings, sheet layout and attachment, with recent work in the past 12 months. The roofer passes an online exam, gets the employer's sign-off and passes a hands-on skills assessment. NRCA has a separate EPDM installer credential too.
How is a journeyman different from a lead roofer on a commercial crew?
The journeyman builds; the lead builds and runs the roof. A journeyman can weld, flash and repair without checks. The lead also sets the day's work area, trains the apprentices, checks every seam before the crew leaves and walks the roof with the manufacturer's inspector. A journeyman who already coaches apprentices without being asked is often ready to try leading.
What's a fair skills test for a commercial roofer?
A short weld test at ground level. Set out a table, scrap TPO or PVC and a hand welder, with a lead watching. Ask for a test weld, a probe once it cools and a strip cut to show the weld. Give every finalist the same test and pay for the time. Under EEOC guidance, a hands-on job test isn't a medical exam, so let it, not the template's endurance line, show you what a roofer can do.
