Career Atlas

Roofers

Roofers cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.

  • This role centers on cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures..
  • The work relies on active listening and critical thinking among the skills shown below.
  • Common backgrounds include high school or ged and a range of related job titles.

Quick facts

Top skillActive ListeningHighest importance score at 3.12
Most common educationHigh school or GEDReported by 48.9% of workers
Typical experienceNone requiredReported by 38.5% of workers
Job title variations39 titlesCommon titles found in source data

What this career is really about

Roofers cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures. The role turns occupational data into practical guidance for people exploring this path.

Day-to-day success depends on skills such as active listening and critical thinking. These abilities support the communication, problem-solving, and coordination that the work requires.

Education paths vary, but high school or ged is the most commonly reported background. Related work experience also plays a role, with many workers bringing relevant practice before stepping into this position.

This career suits people who want a structured role with clear skill and education signals drawn from real workforce data.

Common job titles

Roofers may appear under many titles. The names below come directly from the source dataset and reflect different employer naming conventions for similar responsibilities.

  • Aluminum Shingle Roofer
  • Asbestos Shingle Roofer
  • Commercial Roofer
  • Commercial Roofing Tech (Commercial Roofing Technician)
  • Composition Roofer
  • Cool Roofing Installer
  • Gravel Roofer
  • Gutter Installer
  • Gypsum Roofer
  • Hot Tar Roofer
  • Industrial Roofer
  • Installer
  • Journeyman Roofer
  • Metal Roofer
  • Metal Roofing Mechanic
  • Metal Worker
  • Residential Roofer
  • Roof Mechanic
  • Roof Service Technician
  • Roof Tile Layer
  • Roofer
  • Roofer Applicator
  • Roofing Applicator
  • Roofing Consultant
  • Roofing Contractor
  • Roofing Installer
  • Roofing Layer
  • Roofing Specialist
  • Roofing Technician
  • Sheet Metal Roofer
  • Shingler
  • Shingles Roofer
  • Slate Roofer
  • Slater
  • Tar Roofer
  • Terra Cotta Roofer
  • Tile Roofer
  • Tin Roofer
  • Wood Shingle Roofer

Skills that carry the work

The skill pattern shows active listening as the leading requirement, followed by critical thinking and speaking. These strengths shape how workers perform the core duties described above.

Active Listening
3.12
Critical Thinking
3.12
Speaking
3
Monitoring
3
Reading Comprehension
2.75
Writing
2

Scores shown on a 0–5 scale using the importance value from the provided skills table.

Education

The education distribution is varied. High school or GED is the single largest group at 48.9%. Other credentials are also represented, indicating multiple possible paths into this career.

High school or GED48.9%
Less Than High School26.14%
Post-secondary certificate10.83%
Some college7.53%
Professional Degree2.42%
Doctoral degree2.08%
Post-Doctoral Training2.08%
High school or GED is most common

About 48.9% of workers in this role report high school or ged as their highest level of education.

Several educational routes appear

Other reported backgrounds include less than high school and post-secondary certificate, showing flexibility in preparation.

Reported backgrounds, not requirements

These figures describe the education workers have reported, not a mandatory checklist for entering the role.

Experience

Experience levels vary. The largest group reports none required, followed by 1–2 years. This suggests that many people enter the role after building relevant experience.

None required38.5%
1–2 years19.72%
More than 10 years13.15%
6–12 months10.39%
4–6 years8.18%
2–4 years5.3%
6–8 years3.06%
Up to 1 month1.7%

A realistic way into this career

There is no single path into this role. Many people build related skills and experience first, then move into positions with greater responsibility. The steps below are a common pattern.

Build foundational skills

Start in roles that develop active listening and critical thinking. These abilities form the base for the day-to-day work described in the source data.

Gain related experience

Work in adjacent positions where you can apply those skills in real situations. This builds judgment, confidence, and the practical knowledge employers look for.

Move into the target role

With relevant experience and the right credentials, step into a roofers position and take on the full scope of responsibilities.

Good fit signals

Comfort with structured tasks

You work best when there are clear processes, goals, and measurable outcomes to track.

Strong communication habits

You can apply skills like active listening and critical thinking to coordinate with others and keep work moving.

Willingness to keep learning

You are open to building experience and education over time rather than expecting an instant entry path.