What is the best state for roofers?

After cost of living, Illinois: the median of $77,900 a year buys about what $77,930 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays roofers the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Illinois has the highest median, $77,900. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 51.

What is the worst state for roofers after cost of living?

Florida, where the median of $47,590 buys about what $46,020 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for roofers

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Illinois is the best-paying state for roofers: its median of $77,900 a year buys what $77,930 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting.

Roofer pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Illinois$77,900 median · prices 100.0	$77,930	$77,900	100.0
2	Minnesota$74,490 median · prices 98.6	$75,530	$74,490	98.6
3	New Jersey$76,600 median · prices 108.8	$70,400	$76,600	108.8
4	Massachusetts$72,750 median · prices 105.8	$68,790	$72,750	105.8
5	North Dakota$59,740 median · prices 89.0	$67,150	$59,740	89.0
6	Alaska$66,750 median · prices 102.4	$65,210	$66,750	102.4
7	Wisconsin$59,370 median · prices 94.1	$63,100	$59,370	94.1
8	Montana$59,030 median · prices 94.6	$62,370	$59,030	94.6
9	Indiana$57,980 median · prices 93.3	$62,120	$57,980	93.3
10	Michigan$59,530 median · prices 96.2	$61,870	$59,530	96.2
11	New York$66,020 median · prices 107.9	$61,170	$66,020	107.9
12	Idaho$57,790 median · prices 95.5	$60,520	$57,790	95.5
13	Vermont$59,040 median · prices 98.0	$60,270	$59,040	98.0
14	Rhode Island$61,630 median · prices 102.3	$60,260	$61,630	102.3
15	Connecticut$62,070 median · prices 103.6	$59,910	$62,070	103.6
16	Delaware$59,440 median · prices 99.8	$59,550	$59,440	99.8
17	California$63,600 median · prices 110.7	$57,440	$63,600	110.7
18	New Hampshire$59,830 median · prices 104.2	$57,440	$59,830	104.2
19	Maryland$60,090 median · prices 105.0	$57,250	$60,090	105.0
20	West Virginia$51,170 median · prices 89.5	$57,180	$51,170	89.5
21	Pennsylvania$55,710 median · prices 97.6	$57,100	$55,710	97.6
22	Oregon$58,970 median · prices 103.4	$57,050	$58,970	103.4
23	Washington$60,640 median · prices 107.0	$56,670	$60,640	107.0
24	District of Columbia$61,750 median · prices 109.9	$56,190	$61,750	109.9
25	Iowa$48,660 median · prices 87.8	$55,450	$48,660	87.8
26	Louisiana$48,760 median · prices 88.2	$55,280	$48,760	88.2
27	Arkansas$47,470 median · prices 86.9	$54,600	$47,470	86.9
28	Hawaii$59,580 median · prices 110.0	$54,190	$59,580	110.0
29	South Dakota$47,710 median · prices 88.6	$53,860	$47,710	88.6
30	Missouri$48,570 median · prices 90.8	$53,480	$48,570	90.8
31	Ohio$49,390 median · prices 92.8	$53,240	$49,390	92.8
32	Kansas$47,190 median · prices 90.1	$52,390	$47,190	90.1
33	Kentucky$46,940 median · prices 90.2	$52,060	$46,940	90.2
34	North Carolina$49,010 median · prices 94.3	$51,960	$49,010	94.3
35	Mississippi$44,940 median · prices 87.0	$51,680	$44,940	87.0
36	Maine$50,120 median · prices 97.0	$51,640	$50,120	97.0
37	Nebraska$46,460 median · prices 90.1	$51,560	$46,460	90.1
38	Alabama$45,670 median · prices 88.8	$51,420	$45,670	88.8
39	Nevada$51,090 median · prices 100.0	$51,100	$51,090	100.0
40	Colorado$51,750 median · prices 103.1	$50,220	$51,750	103.1
41	Oklahoma$43,680 median · prices 87.8	$49,730	$43,680	87.8
42	Tennessee$45,690 median · prices 91.9	$49,730	$45,690	91.9
43	Wyoming$45,650 median · prices 92.7	$49,250	$45,650	92.7
44	Utah$48,680 median · prices 98.9	$49,240	$48,680	98.9
45	New Mexico$45,300 median · prices 92.2	$49,130	$45,300	92.2
46	South Carolina$45,760 median · prices 93.7	$48,810	$45,760	93.7
47	Georgia$46,940 median · prices 96.3	$48,750	$46,940	96.3
48	Virginia$48,420 median · prices 101.1	$47,890	$48,420	101.1
49	Texas$46,030 median · prices 97.1	$47,430	$46,030	97.1
50	Arizona$47,340 median · prices 100.7	$47,020	$47,340	100.7
51	Florida$47,590 median · prices 103.4	$46,020	$47,590	103.4

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full roofer pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for roofers.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for roofers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2181) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed roofers. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for roofers?: After cost of living, Illinois: the median of $77,900 a year buys about what $77,930 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays roofers the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Illinois has the highest median, $77,900. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 51.
What is the worst state for roofers after cost of living?: Florida, where the median of $47,590 buys about what $46,020 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.