An apprentice roofer learns to install and repair home roofs as part of a crew, under a lead roofer. The first weeks are mostly carrying, tear-off and cleanup. Then come underlayment and shingles, and last the flashing details, each one checked before they do it alone.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
The Apprentice Roofer plays a crucial role in supporting lead roofers on job sites while learning essential roofing trade skills. This entry-level position offers hands-on training and the opportunity to develop technical and safety practices that contribute to quality job execution and overall company success.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Assist lead roofers in preparing and executing roofing projects.
Help set up, dismantle, and clean up work sites in a safe manner.
Learn and apply proper techniques for various roofing materials and installations.
Maintain and organize tools and materials used on the job site.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Support daily roofing tasks under the supervision of experienced roofers.
Prepare materials and equipment for each roofing project.
Follow safety procedures and assist in identifying and mitigating potential hazards.
Communicate with team members and occasionally interact with customers on-site.
Quality of Work: Reach a benchmark where 100% of assignments meet supervisory quality checks.
Safety Compliance: Maintain a record of 0 safety incidents per quarter.
Learning Progress: Demonstrate skill improvement with at least 80% proficiency on monthly assessments.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent with a strong interest in the roofing trade.
Basic understanding of construction terminology and safety practices.
Strong work ethic and a willingness to learn in a hands-on environment.
Effective communication skills and ability to follow instructions precisely.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior exposure to construction or roofing projects, even in a volunteer capacity.
Experience working in a team-oriented environment on outdoor job sites.
Familiarity with basic hand and power tools used in roofing.
Demonstrated interest in pursuing a long-term career in the home services industry.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds frequently.
Capacity to work at heights and in various weather conditions.
Endurance for prolonged periods of physical activity on job sites.
Flexibility to perform tasks in both confined and open work environments.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Occasional overtime or weekend work may be required to meet project deadlines.
Job sites may involve outdoor settings with exposure to varying weather conditions.
Minimal travel is expected between local job sites.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly rate ranging from $15 to $20 per hour, commensurate with experience.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses as skills and responsibilities increase.
Comprehensive benefits package including Health, Dental, and Vision coverage.
Access to a 401(k) retirement plan and additional employee fringe benefits.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we are committed to fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment. We value safety, innovation, and the professional development of every team member. With a strong emphasis on mentoring and continuous learning, we empower our employees to excel in their roles and build rewarding careers. Our welcoming culture and hands-on training program ensure that even entry-level team members feel valued and equipped to contribute to our success.
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].
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On a roof, the first lesson is how not to fall. After that, the classroom moves to a new house with every job, and rain sends the lessons into the shop.
Fall training before the first climb
Before an apprentice climbs, OSHA requires training in spotting fall hazards and using the fall gear you provide, and the trainer must be a competent person. Write down who was trained, when, and who trained them, and sign it. Retrain them when the job site or the equipment changes, or when they show they've forgotten part of it. Source: OSHA: Fall protection training requirements (29 CFR 1926.503).
Start them on a sequential-trigger nailer
A NIOSH and OSHA guide says the risk of a nail gun injury is twice as high with a multi-shot contact trigger as with a single-shot sequential trigger. Its first advice is to use full sequential trigger nailers. The guide also cites a study in which 2 out of 5 residential carpenter apprentices were hurt by a nail gun over four years. New roofers use the same tool all day. Source: NIOSH and OSHA: Nail gun safety, a guide for construction contractors.
The skills come in a set order
BLS says roofing trainees start by carrying equipment and material and putting up scaffolds and hoists. Within a few months they learn to measure, cut and fit materials, and later they lay shingles. On most crews, flashing walls, chimneys and valleys comes last. Write those steps down as a list so the lead can sign off each one. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Roofers.
You can register your own program
BLS says roofers typically learn on the job, and only a few groups sponsor apprenticeships. A company can start its own. To register it, you need approval from your State Apprenticeship Agency or the U.S. Department of Labor. In return you commit to structured training with a mentor, extra classroom lessons, wages that step up as skills grow, and a credential recognized nationwide. Source: Apprenticeship.gov: Registered Apprenticeship for employers.
Rain days are shop days
BLS notes that roofers usually don't work in bad weather, and that northern winters can limit roofing. A rained-out apprentice can still learn: bending step flashing in the shop, practicing a valley on a mockup, or studying your shingles and accessories. A short indoor lesson plan keeps them learning instead of losing the day. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Roofers.
How much apprentice roofers make
The closest BLS group for apprentice roofers is Helpers--Roofers. Helpers--Roofers who work for roofing contractors earned a median of $21.37 an hour ($44,440 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $44,160 median for Helpers--Roofers in all industries. About 5,680 of the 6,030 Helpers--Roofers in that survey work for roofing contractors.
Apprentice roofers have no BLS pay line of their own, because BLS counts apprentices as part of the trade they're learning. What you see here is pay for roofer helpers, which is nearer to what a new apprentice starts at. Expect hourly pay plus overtime, and a raise or the template's bonus as each new skill is signed off.
Roofing contractors
$44,440$44,440 median Middle half $37,140–$48,900 10th–90th $29,870–$64,000
All industries
$44,160$44,160 median Middle half $37,030–$48,970 10th–90th $30,140–$62,400
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k
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
$29,870
$37,140
$44,440
$48,900
$64,000
All industries
$30,140
$37,030
$44,160
$48,970
$62,400
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
Gets to the shop before the trucks roll out, day after day
Clips in before stepping onto the roof, even on a rushed day
Comfortable climbing ladders and walking a pitched roof
Learns from being shown and asks when unsure
Wants to make roofing a career
Teach these on the job
Tear-off, deck checks and drying in a roof
Underlayment, starter strip and shingle layout with a chalk line
Nailing patterns and safe nail gun use
Step flashing, valleys and pipe boots
Fall gear setup, anchors and ladder safety
Apprentices start with a roofing hatchet or hammer, a utility knife with hook blades, a tape measure, a chalk line and a tool belt, then move up to a coil roofing nailer once trained. If you buy the starter tools or pay for safety classes, say so when you post the job; applicants read it as a sign you plan to train them.
Apprentice roofer interview questions
They have their own page: 6 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
In the first season, go by the template's targets. After that, set them by how your past apprentices progressed, and expect a little more independence each month.
Project Assistance Efficiency
Tasks the lead assigns on each job, like staging materials or running starter courses, finished in the time the lead planned. The lead tracks them on the job sheet for a weekly check-in.
Quality of Work
Share of the apprentice's work that passes the lead's check the first time, such as nail placement, shingle exposure and flashing laps. Use the same checklist on every job.
Safety Compliance
Incidents, near misses and safety corrections involving the apprentice each quarter, from your incident log and the lead's notes. Thank them for reporting near misses so the count stays honest.
Learning Progress
A monthly hands-on check of the skills on the apprentice's list, scored by the lead or foreman. Record which skills were signed off so you can see if progress has stalled.
Career path
Roofing laborerHauls and cleans up, and learns the crew's routine.
Apprentice rooferLearns to install and repair roofs under a lead.
Journeyman rooferWorks through a full install or repair without checks.
Lead rooferRuns a crew and teaches new hires the skills list.
On a typical day they load materials, help set ladders and anchors, tear off old roofing, and clean up as they go. As they learn, they lay underlayment and shingles beside a journeyman or lead, and later cut in valleys and flashing. They also talk with homeowners now and then, so manners on site count.
How much does an apprentice roofer make?
Helpers--Roofers who work for roofing contractors earned a median of $21.37 an hour ($44,440 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $37,140 and $48,900 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
How long does a roofing apprenticeship take?
Union roofing apprenticeships generally run three to five years, according to the roofers' union, and they're sponsored jointly by labor and management at the local level. BLS says apprenticeships combine work on the job with technical classes, and usually set a number of hours for each. If you train without a registered program, how long it takes is up to you and your lead.
What is the difference between an apprentice roofer and a roofing laborer?
An apprentice is on a path to becoming a roofer, with training to match. A laborer helps the crew without being on that path. BLS draws the same line: it counts apprentices under the occupation they'll grow into and lists helpers on their own. If you call the job an apprenticeship, applicants will expect a skills list, a lead who signs off each step, and raises as they progress, so have those ready before you post.
What gear should an apprentice roofer bring?
Boots with good grip, work clothes, and any basic hand tools you list. OSHA makes the employer pay for required protective gear, such as hard hats and fall harnesses, and for replacements unless the worker lost the gear or damaged it on purpose. Ordinary work boots, safety-toe boots you let them wear off the job, everyday clothes and weather gear are the exceptions.
When is an apprentice roofer ready to work without a lead?
When they can do every step on your skills list to standard, with no corrections, on several roofs in a row. That list should cover tear-off and deck checks, underlayment, layout, nailing, valleys, step and chimney flashing, vents and ridge, plus a simple leak repair. Have the lead sign off each skill and go over the list with the apprentice every month.
