Skilled Wages

Roofer salary in Kentucky

Median $22.57 an hour for 1,080 roofers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$22.57/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$46,940/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.38 – $31.4810th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,080Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Roofer pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrKentucky: 10th $18.38 · 25th $21.23 · median $22.57 · 75th $28.65 · 90th $31.48Kentucky$22.57$18.38$31.48United States: 10th $18.01 · 25th $22.24 · median $26.65 · 75th $31.44 · 90th $39.29United States$26.65
Hourly wage percentiles for roofers: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for median roofer pay, and 33rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.02). 1,080 roofers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.38 – $21.23$38,220 – $44,150roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.23 – $28.65$44,150 – $59,600the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.65 – $31.48$59,600 – $65,470the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Roofer pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCincinnati: $23.66Cincinnati$23.66Louisville: $23.64Louisville$23.64Huntington: $23.54Huntington$23.54Bowling Green: $23.40Bowling Green$23.40Lexington: $22.42Lexington$22.42
Median hourly wage for roofers by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$19.66$23.66$24.80$35.487705% above
Louisville$19.18$23.64$25.39$34.615505% above
Huntington$17.07$23.54$26.63$32.231104% above
Bowling Green$17.37$23.40$25.94$28.81504% above
Lexington$18.83$22.42$24.13$31.292301% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Roofer wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$26.65United States$22.57Kentucky
Median hourly wage for roofers, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.24$23.65$12.941,610
2000$13.20$24.68$13.951,460
2001$13.27$24.12$14.161,270
2002$13.64$24.41$14.511,140
2003$13.50$23.62$14.431,190
2004$13.51$23.03$14.831,310
2005$13.63$22.47$15.011,230
2006$13.83$22.09$15.511,300
2007$14.25$22.13$15.981,460
2008$14.37$21.49$16.171,340
2009$15.53$23.30$16.331,330
2010$14.91$22.01$16.451,080
2011$15.63$22.37$16.96950
2012$16.24$22.77$16.97820
2013$17.04$23.55$17.08840
2014$15.91$21.64$17.19810
2015$15.91$21.61$17.651,020
2016$16.84$22.59$18.151,010
2017$18.20$23.90$18.741,160
2018$18.95$24.30$19.221,130
2019$18.83$23.71$20.241,080
2020$18.93$23.55$20.951,030
2021$17.96$21.34$22.651,230
2022$21.88$24.07$23.041,040
2023$22.56$23.84$24.051,000
2024$22.90$23.50$24.511,080
2025$22.57$22.57$26.651,080

In today's dollars, the median roofer wage in Kentucky changed by +4.4% over the last ten years of data and by -4.8% since 2019.

Are there more roofer jobs in Kentucky?

0.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 37th of 51 states

BLS counted 1,080 roofers in Kentucky in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 13%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for roofers in Kentucky

+4.4%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
100Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,330Jobs in 20241,390 projected for 2034
+5.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of roofers in the state to change by +4.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,330 to 1,390, with about 100 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +5.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,080 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for roofers in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay roofers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 34 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $44.88 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $29.72). 86 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $29.72). The market median for the state is $22.57.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $29.72 (survey)Allen: $44.88 (union)Anderson: $29.72 (survey)Ballard: $29.72 (survey)Barren: $29.72 (survey)Bath: $29.72 (survey)Bell: $29.72 (survey)Boone: $54.32 (union)Bourbon: $54.32 (union)Boyd: $54.32 (union)Boyle: $29.72 (survey)Bracken: $54.32 (union)Breathitt: $29.72 (survey)Breckinridge: $29.72 (survey)Bullitt: $44.88 (union)Butler: $44.88 (union)Caldwell: $29.72 (survey)Calloway: $29.72 (survey)Campbell: $54.32 (union)Carlisle: $29.72 (survey)Carroll: $29.72 (survey)Carter: $29.72 (survey)Casey: $29.72 (survey)Christian: $44.88 (union)Clark: $54.32 (union)Clay: $29.72 (survey)Clinton: $29.72 (survey)Crittenden: $29.72 (survey)Cumberland: $29.72 (survey)Daviess: $44.88 (union)Edmonson: $44.88 (union)Elliott: $29.72 (survey)Estill: $29.72 (survey)Fayette: $54.32 (union)Fleming: $29.72 (survey)Floyd: $29.72 (survey)Franklin: $29.72 (survey)Fulton: $29.72 (survey)Gallatin: $54.32 (union)Garrard: $29.72 (survey)Grant: $54.32 (union)Graves: $29.72 (survey)Grayson: $29.72 (survey)Green: $29.72 (survey)Greenup: $54.32 (union)Hancock: $44.88 (union)Hardin: $25.73 (survey)Harlan: $29.72 (survey)Harrison: $29.72 (survey)Hart: $29.72 (survey)Henderson: $44.88 (union)Henry: $44.88 (union)Hickman: $29.72 (survey)Hopkins: $29.72 (survey)Jackson: $29.72 (survey)Jefferson: $44.88 (union)Jessamine: $54.32 (union)Johnson: $29.72 (survey)Kenton: $54.32 (union)Knott: $29.72 (survey)Knox: $29.72 (survey)Larue: $25.73 (survey)Laurel: $29.72 (survey)Lawrence: $29.72 (survey)Lee: $29.72 (survey)Leslie: $29.72 (survey)Letcher: $29.72 (survey)Lewis: $29.72 (survey)Lincoln: $29.72 (survey)Livingston: $29.72 (survey)Logan: $29.72 (survey)Lyon: $29.72 (survey)McCracken: $29.72 (survey)McCreary: $29.72 (survey)McLean: $44.88 (union)Madison: $29.72 (survey)Magoffin: $29.72 (survey)Marion: $29.72 (survey)Marshall: $29.72 (survey)Martin: $29.72 (survey)Mason: $29.72 (survey)Meade: $25.73 (survey)Menifee: $29.72 (survey)Mercer: $29.72 (survey)Metcalfe: $29.72 (survey)Monroe: $29.72 (survey)Montgomery: $29.72 (survey)Morgan: $29.72 (survey)Muhlenberg: $29.72 (survey)Nelson: $44.88 (union)Nicholas: $29.72 (survey)Ohio: $29.72 (survey)Oldham: $44.88 (union)Owen: $29.72 (survey)Owsley: $29.72 (survey)Pendleton: $54.32 (union)Perry: $29.72 (survey)Pike: $29.72 (survey)Powell: $29.72 (survey)Pulaski: $29.72 (survey)Robertson: $29.72 (survey)Rockcastle: $29.72 (survey)Rowan: $29.72 (survey)Russell: $29.72 (survey)Scott: $54.32 (union)Shelby: $44.88 (union)Simpson: $29.72 (survey)Spencer: $44.88 (union)Taylor: $29.72 (survey)Todd: $29.72 (survey)Trigg: $44.88 (union)Trimble: $44.88 (union)Union: $29.72 (survey)Warren: $44.88 (union)Washington: $29.72 (survey)Wayne: $29.72 (survey)Webster: $44.88 (union)Whitley: $29.72 (survey)Wolfe: $29.72 (survey)Woodford: $54.32 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$29.72$44.88survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for roofers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrBourbon (Lexington): market median $22.42, prevailing (union) $54.32, gap +$31.90Bourbon (Lexington)+$31.90Boyd (Huntington): market median $23.54, prevailing (union) $54.32, gap +$30.78Boyd (Huntington)+$30.78Boone (Cincinnati): market median $23.66, prevailing (union) $54.32, gap +$30.66Boone (Cincinnati)+$30.66Christian (Kentucky): market median $22.57, prevailing (union) $44.88, gap +$22.31Christian (Kentucky)+$22.31Allen (Bowling Green): market median $23.40, prevailing (union) $44.88, gap +$21.48Allen (Bowling Green)+$21.48Bullitt (Louisville): market median $23.64, prevailing (union) $44.88, gap +$21.24Bullitt (Louisville)+$21.24
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for roofers, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BooneUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260044
BourbonUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260100
BoydUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260101
BrackenUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260102
CampbellUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260088
ClarkUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260100
FayetteUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260090
GallatinUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260102
GrantUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260102
GreenupUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260101
JessamineUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260094
KentonUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260095
PendletonUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260102
ScottUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260100
WoodfordUnion ROOF0042-008 2025-08-01$34.38$19.94$54.32KY20260100

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Kentucky prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Roofer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do roofers make in Kentucky?

The median roofer in Kentucky earned $22.57 an hour ($46,940 a year) in May 2025, 15% below the national median of $26.65. The middle half earn $21.23–$28.65; the top 10% earn more than $31.48.

Where does Kentucky rank for roofer pay?

Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for roofer pay, with a median of $22.57 an hour, and 33rd after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union roofer rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for roofers in 34 counties, with a typical package of $44.88 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many roofers work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 1,080 roofers in Kentucky in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.62; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is roofer work growing in Kentucky?

Kentucky's labor market agency projects +4.4% growth for roofers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,330 to 1,390 jobs.

How many roofer openings a year are there in Kentucky?

Kentucky projects about 100 openings a year for roofers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 12,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky and metro areas, SOC 47-2181. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.