Free roofer job description templates: general, residential, commercial, laborer, and foreman. OSHA fall-protection and FLSA built in. Download as DOCX.
5 free templates for general, residential, commercial, laborer, and foreman roofers, with the OSHA fall-protection, FLSA, and state-licensing guidance the template farms skip. Download as DOCX.
A roofer job description has a clear core and a part the generic templates always skip. The core: a roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs, with the work splitting between steep-slope (residential shingle) and low-slope (commercial membrane) roofing. The part the templates skip: roofing has one of the highest fatality rates of any occupation, so OSHA fall protection is the substance of the role, not a footnote, and a roofer is always hourly and non-exempt. Name the fall-protection rules and the hourly classification, and the posting describes a safe, well-run crew.
At FirstHR, we build templates for the small roofing contractors that make this hire, the owner-run crews without an HR department, doing it over and over as the trade turns over, and we add the OSHA, FLSA, and licensing guidance the template farms leave out. The five below cover general, residential, commercial, laborer, and foreman. The guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
A roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs, with work splitting into steep-slope (residential shingle) and low-slope (commercial membrane). The defining requirement is OSHA fall protection: required at six feet, with stricter rules on steep roofs (no warning lines or safety monitors alone). The role is non-exempt and hourly, and state licensing varies widely. It maps to the federal roofers category (median $50,970 a year, May 2024). Download as DOCX.
What a Roofer Does
A roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs to make buildings weatherproof, working across tear-off and prep, installation, repair and maintenance, and safety. The work splits between steep-slope and low-slope roofing.
The federal data maps the role to the roofers occupation, which installs shingles, asphalt, metal, and other materials, and notes roofers have one of the highest rates of injuries and fatalities of all occupations, driven by falls.
Roofer Duties and Responsibilities
A roofer's duties cluster into tear-off and prep, installation, repair and maintenance, and safety. The materials and slope shift by job, but these four areas hold across the role.
Tear-off and prep
Remove and dispose of old roofing
Inspect and prep the deck
Stage materials safely
Installation
Install shingles, metal, or membrane
Install underlayment and flashing
Seal, seam, and detail
Repair and maintenance
Repair leaks and storm damage
Replace damaged sections
Inspect and identify issues
Safety
Set up fall protection
Use PPE and ladders safely
Follow OSHA and company rules
Residential work leans on steep-slope shingles; commercial on low-slope membrane systems. For a structured way to scope the role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by setting and level: general for most hires, residential or commercial for a specialty, laborer for entry-level, and foreman for a crew lead. The roofing-and-safety core runs through all five, but the slope, the systems, and the experience differ enough that the matched version reads credibly. Use this guide to choose.
General Roofer (W-2)
The core role
The standard roofer: tear-off, installing shingles and other materials, and repairs across steep-slope and low-slope work. The right starting point for most contractors.
Residential Roofer
Steep-slope, homes
For shingle and steep-slope work on homes, with ladder use, storm-damage repair, and customer interaction on occupied properties.
Commercial Roofer
Low-slope, membrane
For low-slope commercial systems (TPO, EPDM, PVC, built-up) on larger coordinated projects, with membrane welding and detailing.
Roofing Laborer / Helper
Entry-level
For an entry-level hire handling tear-off, material handling, and cleanup while learning the trade. No experience required.
Roofing Foreman
Crew leader
For a crew lead who runs the jobsite, enforces fall protection, manages quality and schedule, and often serves as the competent person.
Match the Template to the Hire
Most hires: General Roofer. Steep-slope shingle work on homes: Residential. Low-slope membrane on commercial buildings: Commercial. Entry-level with no experience: Roofing Laborer. Crew lead running the jobsite: Roofing Foreman. Whichever you pick, name OSHA fall protection and classify as non-exempt.
5 Free Roofer Job Description Templates
Download all five as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company overview, position summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, physical requirements, a safety and compliance note, and how to apply. Fill in the brackets, set the company and reporting line, and post.
Download All 5 Job Description Templates
General, residential, commercial, laborer/helper, and foreman roofer. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Roofer (General, W-2)
The standard roofer: tear-off, installing shingles and other materials, and repairs across steep-slope and low-slope work. The right starting point for most contractors.
Roofer Job Description (General, W-2)
ROOFER JOB DESCRIPTION (GENERAL, W-2)
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Foreman / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly; blue-collar)
Compensation: $______ per hour [+ overtime]
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[Company Name] is a roofing contractor in [City, State]. We are hiring a Roofer
to install, repair, and replace residential and commercial roofs safely and to
a high standard.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs using shingles, metal, and
other materials, on both steep-slope and low-slope roofs. You will work as part
of a crew, follow fall-protection requirements, and produce weatherproof,
quality work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Tear off and dispose of old roofing
•Install shingles, metal, and other roofing materials
•Repair and replace damaged roofs and flashing
•Set up and use fall protection on every roof
•Load, carry, and stage materials safely
•Inspect roofs and identify needed repairs
•Keep the worksite clean and safe
•Follow OSHA and company safety rules
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[1+] years of roofing experience (will train the right person)
•Comfortable working at height and in all weather
•Able to lift [50+] lbs and climb, bend, and kneel
•Knowledge of fall protection and roofing safety
•Driver's license preferred (travel between sites)
•OSHA 10 a plus
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This role requires working at height, climbing ladders, frequent bending and
kneeling, and lifting up to [50] lbs, outdoors in varying weather. We provide
fall protection and PPE, and reasonable accommodations are available where
possible.
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE NOTE (read before posting)
Roofing requires OSHA fall protection (6-foot threshold; steep-slope roofs above
4:12 cannot use warning lines or safety monitors alone). The role is non-exempt
(hourly) with overtime. Check your state's roofing license rules. This is general
information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations are
available for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $______ per hour [+ overtime]
To apply, email __ with your resume.
Template 2: Residential Roofer
For shingle and steep-slope work on homes, with ladder use, storm-damage repair, and customer interaction on occupied properties.
Residential Roofer Job Description
RESIDENTIAL ROOFER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Foreman / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly; blue-collar)
Compensation: $______ per hour [+ overtime]
ABOUT THIS ROLE
A residential roofer installs and repairs roofs on homes, mostly steep-slope
shingle work, with frequent ladder use and customer interaction at the property.
POSITION SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Residential Roofer to install and repair shingle and
other steep-slope roofs on homes. You will work on occupied properties, so safety
and a clean, professional jobsite matter.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Tear off and install shingle and steep-slope roofs
•Install underlayment, flashing, and ventilation
•Set up ladders and fall protection safely
•Repair leaks and storm damage
•Protect landscaping and property during work
•Keep the jobsite clean and tidy
•Communicate respectfully with homeowners
•Follow OSHA and company safety rules
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[1+] years of residential roofing (will train the right person)
•Comfortable on steep-slope roofs and ladders
•Able to lift [50+] lbs and work at height
•Knowledge of steep-slope fall protection
•Driver's license preferred
•Professional, customer-friendly attitude
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This role requires working at height on steep roofs, climbing ladders, frequent
bending and kneeling, and lifting up to [50] lbs, outdoors in varying weather. We
provide fall protection and PPE, and reasonable accommodations are available
where possible.
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE NOTE
Steep-slope roofs (above 4:12) require guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall
arrest; warning lines and safety monitors alone are not allowed. Non-exempt
(hourly) with overtime. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $______ per hour [+ overtime]
To apply, email __ with your resume.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
This is the part the template farms skip, and for roofing it is the substance of the job, since roofers have one of the highest fatality rates of any occupation and falls are the leading cause. The rules turn on roof slope.
The 6-foot threshold
In construction, OSHA requires fall protection whenever a worker is exposed to a fall of six feet or more to a lower level, under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1). For roofing, that means protection is required on essentially every job. The posting should state plainly that the company provides and requires fall protection, and the foreman or competent person enforces it. This is the single most-cited OSHA standard, and roofing is where it bites hardest.
Low-slope roofs (4:12 and below)
On low-slope roofs, OSHA allows a range of options: guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a warning-line system used together with a guardrail, net, fall arrest, or safety-monitoring system. The mix you choose depends on the roof and the work, but some protection is always required. Commercial membrane work (TPO, EPDM, PVC) is usually low-slope, so the commercial template reflects these options.
Steep-slope roofs (above 4:12)
On steep roofs, the rules are stricter because the slope pulls a worker toward the edge: OSHA requires guardrails with toeboards, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems, and warning lines and safety monitors alone are NOT permitted. Residential shingle work is typically steep-slope, so the residential template is written around personal fall arrest and proper anchorage rather than monitors.
Skylights and holes
Skylights and roof openings are protected regardless of height, under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4): use a cover able to support at least twice the expected load and marked, a guardrail, or a personal fall arrest system. Falls through skylights are a recurring cause of roofing fatalities, so a careful posting and onboarding flag this specifically rather than treating the roof as a uniform surface.
Fall protection is required at six feet. On steep-slope roofs (above 4:12), guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest are required, and warning lines and safety monitors alone are NOT allowed, since the slope pulls a worker toward the edge. Low-slope roofs allow more options. Skylights and holes are protected regardless of height. About two-thirds of fatal roof falls happen at companies with ten or fewer employees. This is general information, not legal advice.
Licensing, FLSA, and Workers' Comp
Beyond fall protection, a few more compliance points belong in the hiring decision, and the template farms skip these too. Here is the cheat sheet.
State licensing varies widely
Roofing licensing is set by the state, and the rules range from strict to none. Florida, California, and Illinois require a state roofing license, often with experience, a bond, exams, and continuing education. California's C-39 roofing classification, for example, applies to projects above a dollar threshold and requires a bond and qualifying experience. Other states, including Texas, Colorado, and Georgia, have no state-level roofing license, leaving it voluntary or to local jurisdictions. Before posting, check your own state's requirements and any city or county rules, and state any required license in the job description so candidates know up front.
Workers' comp and safety training
Workers' compensation is required in almost every state once you hire your first employee, and roofing is one of the highest-risk and highest-premium classifications, so factor it into compensation planning. Beyond insurance, safety training is the substance of running a roofing crew: OSHA fall-protection training, and OSHA 10 or 30 cards, are standard expectations, and many contractors document training and refreshers. Stating that you provide safety training and require it signals a safe operation, which matters for both candidates and your own liability.
FLSA: non-exempt and hourly
A roofer is non-exempt under the FLSA, an hourly role entitled to overtime at one and one-half times the regular rate over 40 hours in a workweek. The Department of Labor is explicit that the white-collar exemptions do not apply to construction workers, laborers, and craftsmen, no matter how highly paid, which covers roofers and most foremen whose work remains hands-on. So classify the role as non-exempt and hourly, track hours, and pay overtime. This is general information, not legal advice.
Driver's license, drug testing, background checks
A commercial driver's license is usually not required, but a regular driver's license is often expected so a roofer can travel between jobsites. Because roofing is safety-sensitive, pre-employment and random drug testing are common, as are background checks, and these are reasonable to state in the posting and handle at onboarding. Building these into a pre-hire checklist (license, drug screen, background check, I-9, safety orientation) keeps a small contractor consistent across a high-turnover, recurring hire.
For classification, the Department of Labor confirms in its overtime guidance that construction workers are non-exempt, and the O*NET profile covers the role's tasks and skills. Classify by actual duties.
Requirements and Qualifications
Roofing is a trade learned largely on the job, with no formal education typically required. Calibrate experience to the role and treat physical ability and safety training as essential.
Requirement
What to know
Education
No formal credential typically required
Experience
None for laborer; 1-2+ years general; 5+ foreman
Skills
Roofing systems, fall protection, hand and power tools
Physical
Work at height, climb, bend, kneel, lift heavy loads
License
Driver's license often expected; state roofing license varies
Classification
Non-exempt, hourly, with overtime
Match the requirements to the version and your state. The BLS data for roofers covers pay and outlook, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
How to Write a Roofer Job Description
A strong roofer posting takes shape once you pick the version, name the safety rules, and classify the role. Here is the process the templates are built around.
1
Choose the version
General roofer for most needs, or residential, commercial, laborer, or foreman. Pick the matching template.
2
List the real responsibilities
Tear-off and prep, installation, repair and maintenance, and safety, calibrated to steep-slope or low-slope work.
3
Set qualifications and physical requirements
The experience level you need, the ability to work at height and lift, and a driver's license where you travel. Describe physical requirements as essential functions.
4
Name OSHA fall protection
Fall protection at six feet, the low-slope versus steep-slope distinction, and the skylight rule. This is the substance of safe roofing.
5
Handle licensing, FLSA, and pay
Check your state's license rules and state any required license. Classify as non-exempt and hourly with overtime, and benchmark pay to your region.
Describe the physical demands as essential functions with reasonable-accommodation language, and keep the posting neutral, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on protected characteristics.
Roofer Pay and Outlook
Roofer pay varies by region, specialty, and experience, and the federal benchmark is the roofers occupation, a growing trade with steady, turnover-driven demand.
Pay and Demand (BLS)
Roofers had a median wage of $50,970 a year in May 2024 (lowest 10% under $37,060, highest 10% over $80,780), with about 166,700 employed, employment projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, and roughly 12,700 openings projected each year (BLS).
Pay shifts by setting and skill: experienced commercial membrane roofers and foremen tend to earn toward the higher end (75th percentile around $64,010), while entry-level laborers start lower (25th percentile around $45,300). Because the role is non-exempt, you pay an hourly wage plus overtime over 40 hours in a workweek, so describe the pay as an hourly rate, and note that roofing is seasonal in many regions, which affects annual earnings. For a posting, benchmark to your region and the specific role rather than the national median, since local markets and specialty vary widely, and include a good-faith hourly range where your state requires pay transparency. National compensation surveys are the right reference for region-specific and specialty detail.
Hiring a Roofer
Roofing is one of the strongest small-business hiring fits there is: most roofers work for roofing contractors, the large majority of which are small firms without an HR department, and high turnover makes this a recurring hire. Here is what actually matters.
Roofing is a small-contractor, recurring, high-turnover hire
Roofing is one of the strongest small-business hiring fits there is. The vast majority of roofers work directly for roofing contractors, and the contractor base is overwhelmingly small: the large majority of construction companies employ fewer than ten people, and most roofing firms run with a handful of crew and no HR department. On top of that, roofing has steady demand and high turnover, with roughly twelve thousand seven hundred openings projected each year nationally, most of them replacing workers who leave the trade. So writing a roofer job description is not a one-time event for a small contractor: it is a recurring task tied to crew turnover and seasonal demand. That is exactly the situation a ready, compliant template and a repeatable onboarding flow are built for, and where a small contractor without an HR function benefits most.
Safety compliance is the part that actually matters, and nobody templates it
Roofing has one of the highest fatality rates of any occupation, driven by falls, and that makes fall protection the substance of the job rather than a footnote. Critically for a small contractor, research has found that about two-thirds of fatal roof falls in construction happen at small establishments with ten or fewer employees, which is precisely the size of company writing these postings. Yet the generic template sites barely mention OSHA, usually a single line about following safety protocols. A serious posting names the real requirements: fall protection at six feet, the difference between low-slope and steep-slope rules, and the skylight rule, since steep roofs cannot rely on warning lines or safety monitors the way some low-slope work can. Naming this is both more accurate and a signal to good candidates that the company runs a safe crew, which is the operation that keeps people and reduces liability. This is general information, not legal advice.
Licensing, classification, and physical requirements need to be right
Three more details separate a careful roofer posting from a generic one. First, licensing varies entirely by state: Florida, California, and Illinois require a state roofing license while Texas, Colorado, and Georgia do not, so a contractor should check its own state and city rules and state any required license in the posting. Second, classification: a roofer is non-exempt and hourly, entitled to overtime, because the Department of Labor is clear that construction workers do not qualify for the white-collar exemptions, and that holds for most foremen too. Third, physical requirements: roofing demands working at height, climbing, bending, kneeling, and heavy lifting in all weather, and the posting should describe these honestly in terms of the job's essential functions, with reasonable accommodation language, rather than as a checklist that could screen out protected groups. Getting these right keeps the posting accurate, compliant, and fair. This is general information, not legal advice.
After You Hire: Onboarding
The job description is step one, and because roofing is high-risk and high-turnover, the onboarding should be repeatable and put safety at the center. Start with the employment basics: get the offer or employment agreement signed with the hourly rate and non-exempt status, complete Form I-9 within the first days along with the rest of the new hire paperwork, and gather tax forms.
Then handle the roofing-specific items as a standard pre-hire checklist: run any drug screening and background check, confirm a driver's license where required, set up workers' compensation, and complete safety orientation including OSHA fall-protection training before the new hire goes on a roof, the kind of structured start the employee onboarding guide describes. Collect signed safety acknowledgments, issue and record PPE, and store the signed onboarding documents, OSHA training records, and certifications centrally.
A documented, repeatable onboarding process matters here because the same steps repeat with every crew hire and the safety paperwork has to be right, with real consequences on a roof if it is not. FirstHR supports it directly: an onboarding wizard and task workflows so each step is tracked, a safety training module, e-signature for offers and safety acknowledgments, and document management to store training records, certifications, licensing, and workers' comp documents. Because pricing is flat rather than per seat, a small contractor pays one rate even through seasonal hiring swings. FirstHR does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with a payroll provider. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs, with work splitting into steep-slope (residential shingle) and low-slope (commercial membrane).
Roofing is one of the most hazardous occupations, so OSHA fall protection is the substance of the role, not a footnote.
Fall protection is required at six feet; steep roofs (above 4:12) cannot rely on warning lines or safety monitors alone.
A roofer is non-exempt and hourly with overtime, and most foremen are too, since the work stays hands-on.
State licensing varies widely (strict in FL, CA, IL; none in TX, CO, GA), so check your state before posting.
The role maps to the federal roofers category (median $50,970 a year, May 2024, about 166,700 employed, 6% growth).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a roofer do?
A roofer installs, repairs, and replaces roofs using shingles, metal, membrane, and other materials, making buildings weatherproof. The duties cluster into a few areas: tear-off and prep, including removing old roofing and preparing the deck; installation, including laying shingles, metal, or membrane and installing underlayment and flashing; repair and maintenance, including fixing leaks and storm damage and replacing damaged sections; and safety, including setting up fall protection and following OSHA rules. The work splits by roof type: steep-slope roofs (above a 4:12 pitch), typical of residential shingle work, and low-slope roofs (4:12 and below), typical of commercial membrane systems like TPO, EPDM, and PVC. Roofing is physically demanding and one of the most hazardous occupations, with work at height in all weather, which is why fall protection is central to the role. This page includes a general template plus residential, commercial, laborer, and foreman versions.
What OSHA fall protection does a roofer need?
Fall protection is the most important safety requirement in roofing, and it is required on essentially every job. In construction, OSHA requires fall protection whenever a worker is exposed to a fall of six feet or more to a lower level. The specific systems depend on the roof slope. On low-slope roofs (4:12 and below), OSHA allows guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a warning-line system combined with a guardrail, net, fall arrest, or safety-monitoring system. On steep-slope roofs (above 4:12), the rules are stricter because the slope pulls a worker toward the edge: guardrails with toeboards, safety nets, or personal fall arrest are required, and warning lines and safety monitors alone are not permitted. Skylights and roof openings must be protected regardless of height, with a cover that can support at least twice the expected load, a guardrail, or fall arrest. Roofers have one of the highest fatality rates of any occupation, driven by falls, and research has found that about two-thirds of fatal roof falls happen at small companies with ten or fewer employees, so a small contractor should treat fall protection as central, not optional. This is general information, not legal advice; consult OSHA resources and a safety professional.
Is a roofer exempt or non-exempt from overtime?
A roofer is non-exempt, which means an hourly role entitled to overtime at one and one-half times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Roofing is manual, blue-collar construction work, and the Department of Labor is explicit that the FLSA white-collar exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees do not apply to construction workers, laborers, and craftsmen, no matter how highly paid they are. That covers roofers squarely. It generally covers roofing foremen too: even though a foreman leads a crew, most foremen spend their time on hands-on roofing work rather than the kind of exempt management the exemptions require, so they usually remain non-exempt, though you should confirm based on actual duties. So classify roofers and most foremen as non-exempt and hourly, track hours worked, and pay overtime when it applies. Classification is based on actual job duties rather than title or pay level. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm classification with a professional.
Does a roofer need a license?
It depends entirely on the state, which is why a contractor should check its own state and local rules before posting. Some states require a state-level roofing license: Florida, California, and Illinois are among the stricter ones, often requiring qualifying experience, a bond, exams, and continuing education. California's C-39 roofing classification, for instance, applies to projects above a dollar threshold and requires a bond and experience. Other states, including Texas, Colorado, and Georgia, have no state-level roofing license, leaving it voluntary or handled by local jurisdictions, and some places regulate at the city or county level. Note that licensing usually applies to the contractor or business rather than to each individual roofer on the crew, though that varies. For a job posting, state any license you require, and if your state does not license roofers, you can still list relevant certifications such as OSHA 10 or 30 or manufacturer credentials as preferred. This is general information, not legal advice; check your state licensing board.
Does a small business hire roofers, and is FirstHR a fit?
Yes, small roofing contractors are exactly who hires roofers, which makes this a strong fit for a tool like FirstHR. The large majority of roofers work directly for roofing contractors, and the contractor base is overwhelmingly small: the large majority of construction companies employ fewer than ten people, and most roofing firms run with a small crew and no HR department. Roofing also has high turnover and steady demand, with roughly twelve thousand seven hundred openings projected each year, so a small contractor writes roofer job descriptions repeatedly, not once. That recurring, compliance-heavy, high-turnover hire is where FirstHR fits: an onboarding wizard and task workflows to run a consistent pre-hire checklist (drug test, background check, I-9, safety orientation), a safety training module for OSHA fall-protection onboarding, e-signature for offers and safety acknowledgments, and document management to store OSHA training records, certifications, licensing, and workers' comp documents. FirstHR does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with a payroll provider, and applicant tracking is coming soon.
How do I write a roofer job description?
Start by choosing the version that fits the hire: a general roofer for most needs, or a residential, commercial, laborer, or foreman version. Pick the matching template, then write an honest position summary and list the real responsibilities across tear-off and prep, installation, repair and maintenance, and safety, calibrated to steep-slope or low-slope work. Spell out the qualifications: the experience level you need (a laborer needs none, a foreman several years), the physical ability to work at height and lift, and a driver's license where you travel between sites. The most important differentiator is the safety and compliance section: name OSHA fall protection at six feet, the low-slope versus steep-slope distinction, and the skylight rule, since this is the substance of safe roofing and what the template farms skip. Check your state's licensing rules and state any required license. Classify the role as non-exempt and hourly, since roofing is blue-collar work, and describe the physical requirements honestly as essential functions with reasonable-accommodation language. Set an hourly wage benchmarked to your region. The templates on this page give you a ready structure for each version with the OSHA, FLSA, and licensing pieces built in.
How much does a roofer make?
A roofer earns a median of about $50,970 a year, according to federal wage data for May 2024, with the lowest tenth earning less than about $37,060 and the highest tenth more than about $80,780. By percentile, the 25th is around $45,300 and the 75th around $64,010, so there is meaningful range driven by experience, region, and specialty. Pay varies by setting and skill: experienced commercial membrane roofers and foremen tend to earn toward the higher end, while entry-level laborers start lower. Because the role is non-exempt, you pay an hourly wage plus overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, so describe the pay as an hourly rate. Roofing also tends to be seasonal in many regions, which affects annual earnings. For a posting, benchmark to your region and the specific role rather than the national median, since local labor markets and specialty vary a lot, and include a good-faith hourly range where your state requires pay transparency. National compensation surveys are the right reference for region-specific and specialty detail.
What happens after I hire a roofer?
Run a structured onboarding, and because roofing is high-risk and high-turnover, make it repeatable and put safety at the center. Start with the employment basics: get the offer or employment agreement signed with the hourly rate and non-exempt status, complete Form I-9 within the first days, and gather tax forms. Then handle the roofing-specific items, ideally as a standard pre-hire checklist: run any drug screening and background check, confirm a driver's license if the role requires one, set up workers' compensation coverage, and complete safety orientation including OSHA fall-protection training before the new hire goes on a roof. Collect signed safety acknowledgments, issue and record PPE, and store OSHA training records, certifications, and any licensing documents centrally so you can show them if needed. Then orient the roofer to the crew, the equipment, the fall-protection setup, and the kinds of jobs they will work. A documented, repeatable onboarding process matters here because the same steps repeat with every crew hire, and the safety paperwork has to be right. FirstHR supports it directly with an onboarding wizard and task workflows, a safety training module, e-signature for offers and safety acknowledgments, document management for training and compliance records, and a simple HRIS as the company grows. FirstHR does not run payroll or administer benefits, and applicant tracking is coming soon.
