A roofing foreman, also called a field supervisor, oversees the day's roofing jobs, whether your own crews or subcontractors do the work. They run the morning safety talk and check fall protection and workmanship on each roof. They also keep homeowners updated and log crew hours, materials and incidents.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Oversees roofing crews ensuring top-quality workmanship while upholding rigorous safety standards. Acts as the pivotal link between field crews and management to optimize workflow and project efficiency. Contributes to the company’s success by maintaining high productivity and customer satisfaction levels.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead, supervise, and motivate roofing crews on job sites to consistently meet project deadlines and quality benchmarks.
Inspect roofing installations to verify proper workmanship and compliance with industry and safety standards.
Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols and company policies during all phases of roofing projects.
Coordinate with project managers and other stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and project execution.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct daily pre-shift meetings to outline work objectives and safety reminders.
Perform on-site inspections to address and resolve any workmanship or safety issues immediately.
Engage with customers to provide project updates and address any concerns or questions.
Maintain detailed records of crew performance, material usage, and safety incidents for reporting purposes.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Project Completion Rate: 95% on-time completion per quarter.
Safety Compliance: 100% adherence to safety standards with <5% on-site incidents.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: Achieve >4.8 stars in post-project feedback.
Crew Productivity: Maintain average productivity rate of $150 revenue per hour per crew member.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in roofing or construction field supervision.
Solid understanding of roofing techniques, building codes, and safety regulations.
Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Proficient in basic computer applications for record keeping and reporting.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior experience in a supervisory capacity within the roofing or broader construction industry.
Familiarity with modern roofing materials and installation technologies.
Demonstrated history of managing multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment.
Experience in customer-facing roles with a proven track record of high satisfaction ratings.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently.
Comfortable working outdoors in variable weather conditions including extreme heat or cold.
Capable of standing, climbing, and performing physical tasks for extended periods.
Must handle the physical demands associated with roofing installations and inspections.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM with occasional overtime.
Minimal travel required between project sites within the local region.
Expect occasional on-call duties during high-demand periods or unexpected project issues.
Work in both outdoor environments and occasionally in office settings for administrative tasks.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly rate ranging from $25 to $35 per hour, commensurate with experience.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses tied to safety, productivity, and project completion.
Comprehensive benefits package including Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
Access to a 401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
10. Company Culture and Overview
Our company thrives on a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and mutual respect.
We foster an environment where all employees are encouraged to grow professionally and share innovative ideas.
Team collaboration and personal accountability are pillars of our thriving work culture.
We are committed to creating a supportive space that celebrates achievements and nurtures future leaders.
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 roofing foreman's crews are spread across several houses a day, and some of them are subcontractors. Each site is a steep roof over someone's home.
Often the competent person on site
In OSHA's terms, a competent person can spot the hazards on a site, even ones that haven't happened yet. They also have the power to correct them on the spot. On a roofing job, that is often the foreman. Give them that authority in writing, including the right to stop a crew that isn't tied off, and back them up when they use it. Source: OSHA: Construction definitions, including competent person (29 CFR 1926.32).
A written plan when harnesses won't work
Sometimes guardrails, nets and harnesses aren't workable on a house, or would be more dangerous. If the employer can show that, OSHA allows a written, site-specific plan instead. A qualified person must write it. A copy stays on the job, and a competent person oversees it. The foreman is often the one who carries it out. Source: OSHA: Fall protection systems criteria and practices (29 CFR 1926.502).
Sub crews meet the same standard
This business installs with its own crews and with subcontractors. The foreman checks sub crews' tie-off and workmanship to the same standard, because the homeowner sees one company. In California, every contractor with a roofing license must carry workers' comp, even with no employees. Have the office confirm a sub's coverage before the crew starts. Source: California Contractors State License Board: Workers' compensation requirements.
Daily records back up the insurance job
On insurance jobs, the office bills for what went on the roof. The foreman makes sure each job has photos from before, during and after. They also count what was installed, like squares of shingles, drip edge and vents, and note anything extra found at tear-off. Missing records can mean work the insurer never pays for.
Productivity without shortcuts
The template measures crew productivity as revenue per crew-member hour. A foreman raises it by planning deliveries, placing dumpsters well and keeping crews from waiting on materials, never by skipping tie-off or cleanup. Put productivity and safety findings on the same report so one doesn't hide the other.
How much roofing foremen make
The closest BLS group for roofing foremen is First-Line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers. First-Line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers who work for roofing contractors earned a median of $34.37 an hour ($71,500 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s below the $79,920 median for First-Line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers in all industries. About 23,510 of the 812,210 First-Line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers in that survey work for roofing contractors.
Hourly in the template, plus bonuses tied to safety, crew productivity and on-time jobs. Put each bonus formula in writing so the foreman knows what moves it.
Roofing contractors
$71,500$71,500 median Middle half $59,760–$80,940 10th–90th $49,680–$100,920
All industries
$79,920$79,920 median Middle half $63,400–$101,460 10th–90th $53,280–$128,260
$25k$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k
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
$49,680
$59,760
$71,500
$80,940
$100,920
All industries
$53,280
$63,400
$79,920
$101,460
$128,260
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
Has run roofing or construction crews, as the template asks
Spots a bad valley, high nails or loose flashing from the roof edge
Stops unsafe work and explains why, even when the schedule is slipping
Keeps homeowners informed without promising what the office hasn't approved
Keeps clean daily records of hours, materials, photos and incidents
Plans a day across several houses and crews
Teach these on the job
The checklist and photo set you expect on every roof
What the office needs for insurance billing and supplements
Your incident reporting and fall rescue steps
Your job software and crew time tracking
Coaching and correcting roofers they used to work beside
Foremen work from a truck stocked with ladders, spare harnesses and anchors, a moisture meter and a pitch gauge, and track photos, checklists and crew time on a phone or tablet. Many roofing companies manage jobs in AccuLynx, JobNimbus or similar software. A company truck and fuel card are worth listing if you provide them.
Roofing foreman interview questions
They have their own page: 7 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
Hold the template's targets for one season, then rebuild them from your job costing. Keep productivity and safety on the same page.
Project Completion Rate
Jobs the foreman's crews wrapped up on the booked date, as a share of each quarter's jobs. Count weather delays apart, and note why each other job slipped.
Safety Compliance
Results of the foreman's daily fall-gear and ladder checks, plus any injury or close call on their roofs, set against crew hours. Report sub crews and in-house crews on separate lines.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Post-project survey scores and reviews for jobs the foreman oversaw, each month. Homeowners judge how well they were kept up to date as much as the roof, so look for that in what they write.
Crew Productivity
Revenue from completed roofs divided by total crew labor hours, figured weekly from job costing and time sheets. Compare like roofs, since a cut-up roof with dormers takes more hours than a plain gable.
Career path
Lead rooferHeads a single crew and does the toughest details.
Roofing foremanSupervises several crews, in-house and subcontracted.
Production managerSchedules crews, subs and materials for the whole company.
A roofing foreman starts the day with a safety talk and the job plan, then drives between roofs. At each one they check tie-off, ladders and the drop zone, inspect the work in progress, and correct problems before the crew moves on. They answer homeowner questions, work out material shortages with the office, and end the day logging hours, materials, photos and any incidents.
How much does a roofing foreman make?
First-Line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers who work for roofing contractors earned a median of $34.37 an hour ($71,500 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $59,760 and $80,940 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
How is a roofing foreman different from a lead roofer?
A lead roofer works on one roof with one crew and does the hardest details. A foreman's day goes to driving between several crews to check their work and their tie-off rather than nailing. Some smaller companies give one person both jobs. If you do, say how many hours a week the person will spend on the roof.
Is there a certification for roofing foremen?
Yes, a voluntary one. NRCA offers a ProCertified Roofing Foreman credential. Candidates qualify with one of NRCA's roof system installer certifications or two or more years overseeing installs as a roofing foreman. A supervisor must confirm in writing that they handle safety and quality problems and lead well, and they must pass an online exam. It renews every three years with training.
What should a roofing foreman check on every roof?
Start with deck condition and nailing after tear-off. Then drip edge, underlayment and any ice barrier, starter and shingle layout, and the nail pattern the shingle maker calls for. Then valleys, flashing at walls, chimneys and pipes, vents and ridge. Finish with the yard and gutters. Photos of each step back up the job record and help with warranty and insurance questions.
Can a roofing foreman become a licensed roofing contractor?
In some states, foreman time counts. California is one example. Its contractor board wants the person who qualifies a license to have four full years of experience in the last ten. Time as a foreman or supervisor counts, as does time at the journeyman level or as a contractor. Rules differ elsewhere, so check with your state board. A clear path to production manager helps keep a foreman who could leave to start a company.
