Roofer salary in California
Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
Roofers in California earn a median of $63,600 a year, or $30.58 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $89,010. California ranks 7th of 51 states and DC for roofer pay, at 15% more than the U.S. median of $55,440.
- Entry-level starting pay (estimate)
- $23.38/hr
- Jobs in California
- 21,190
- After cost of living
- $57,440
- Median hourly pay
- $30.58/hr
- vs U.S. median
- +15%
- Rank among states
- 7th of 51
Entry-level to top roofer pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $48,620–$59,420$23.38–$28.57/hr | |
| Experienced roofer | $63,600$30.58/hr | |
| Top earners | $75,450–$89,010$36.27–$42.79/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
Pay over time
The median roofer wage in California rose 4.2%, from $61,020 in May 2021 to $63,600 in May 2025. Prices rose 19.4% over the same period, so after inflation it fell 12.7%.
| Year | Median a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,020 | $29.34/hr |
| May 2022 | $62,000 | $29.81/hr |
| May 2023 | $63,290 | $30.43/hr |
| May 2024 | $63,040 | $30.31/hr |
| May 2025 | $63,600 | $30.58/hr |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, each May release; inflation from the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, May of each year). BLS cautions against reading much into year-to-year changes, so we compare the first and last years. How we compare years
How California compares
- Roofers are more concentrated in California than nationally: 1.2 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.3 times the U.S. share.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $89,010, is 1.8 times the 10th-percentile wage, $48,620: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Pay by metro area
Rural California
- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region$63,340
- Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region$62,650
- North Coast Region$60,730
Other trades in California
Questions
- How much do roofers make in California?
- Roofers in California earn a median of $63,600 a year, or $30.58 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $89,010.
- How much do roofers make an hour in California?
- The median hourly wage is $30.58. The middle half earn between $28.57 and $36.27 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do entry-level roofers make in California?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $23.38 an hour ($48,620 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $28.57.
- Has roofer pay gone up in California?
- The median roofer wage in California rose 4.2%, from $61,020 in May 2021 to $63,600 in May 2025. Prices rose 19.4% over the same period, so after inflation it fell 12.7%. (BLS wage data and Consumer Price Index.)
- Where in California do roofers earn the most?
- Among California metro areas, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara has the highest median at $76,650 a year, and Visalia the lowest at $59,160.
- Do roofers in California earn more than the national average?
- The California median of $63,600 is 15% more than the U.S. median of $55,440. Prices in California run 11% above the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $57,440 would nationally.
About this data
Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 47-2181 (Roofers), area code 06. BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed roofers and business owners aren't included. The cost-of-living figure divides the median by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (110.7, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures