Skilled Wages

Roofer salary in North Carolina

Median $23.56 an hour for 3,060 roofers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.56/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$49,010/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.67 – $29.1410th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,060Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Roofer pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $17.67 · 25th $21.61 · median $23.56 · 75th $27.18 · 90th $29.14North Carolina$23.56$17.67$29.14United States: 10th $18.01 · 25th $22.24 · median $26.65 · 75th $31.44 · 90th $39.29United States$26.65
Hourly wage percentiles for roofers: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 30th of 51 states for median roofer pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.98). 3,060 roofers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.67 – $21.61$36,760 – $44,960roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.61 – $27.18$44,960 – $56,530the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.18 – $29.14$56,530 – $60,600the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Roofer pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrRaleigh: $24.39Raleigh$24.39Asheville: $23.89Asheville$23.89Winston-Salem: $23.69Winston-Salem$23.69Greensboro: $23.61Greensboro$23.61Wilmington: $23.43Wilmington$23.43Charlotte: $23.28Charlotte$23.28Greenville: $23.00Greenville$23.00Jacksonville: $22.85Jacksonville$22.85Hickory: $22.51Hickory$22.51Virginia Beach: $22.34Virginia Beach$22.34Rocky Mount: $19.28Rocky Mount$19.28
Median hourly wage for roofers by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Raleigh$18.50$24.39$24.84$29.125804% above
Asheville$16.93$23.89$24.76$29.411101% above
Winston-Salem$18.45$23.69$25.75$29.381901% above
Greensboro$18.50$23.61$25.41$29.27230about the same as
Wilmington$15.52$23.43$24.30$29.011701% below
Charlotte$19.18$23.28$23.93$29.671,1301% below
Greenville$18.26$23.00$26.02$28.46302% below
Jacksonville$15.95$22.85$24.81$25.37403% below
Hickory$15.00$22.51$25.44$27.84804% below
Virginia Beach$18.76$22.34$22.82$28.133505% below
Rocky Mount$14.46$19.28$21.91$25.004018% below

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

Roofer wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30200020052010201520202025$26.65United States$23.56North Carolina
Median hourly wage for roofers, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$9.98$19.29$12.943,490
2000$10.60$19.82$13.953,120
2001$11.30$20.54$14.163,120
2002$11.48$20.54$14.512,930
2003$11.46$20.05$14.432,760
2004$12.07$20.57$14.833,120
2005$11.92$19.65$15.013,170
2006$12.70$20.28$15.513,330
2007$13.15$20.42$15.983,400
2008$14.03$20.98$16.173,220
2009$13.93$20.90$16.332,640
2010$13.71$20.24$16.452,590
2011$13.93$19.94$16.962,810
2012$14.20$19.91$16.973,000
2013$14.44$19.96$17.082,700
2014$14.62$19.88$17.192,370
2015$14.59$19.82$17.652,450
2016$16.02$21.49$18.152,460
2017$16.15$21.21$18.742,430
2018$16.97$21.76$19.222,960
2019$17.36$21.86$20.243,000
2020$18.47$22.98$20.952,770
2021$18.27$21.71$22.652,250
2022$20.74$22.82$23.042,660
2023$22.46$23.73$24.052,910
2024$23.12$23.73$24.513,340
2025$23.56$23.56$26.653,060

In today's dollars, the median roofer wage in North Carolina changed by +18.9% over the last ten years of data and by +7.8% since 2019.

Are there more roofer jobs in North Carolina?

+2.0%Jobs since 20193,000 then, 3,060 in 2025
+24.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 35th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of roofers counted in North Carolina has changed by -12.3%, against +17.5% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +2.0%.

Roofers in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages406080100120140200020052010201520202025118United States88North Carolina
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
19993,490100100
20003,1208999
20013,12089102
20022,93084102
20032,76079103
20043,12089104
20053,17091104
20063,33095108
20073,40097107
20083,22092104
20092,6407694
20102,5907486
20112,8108083
20123,0008685
20132,7007786
20142,3706890
20152,4507095
20162,46070101
20172,43070105
20182,96085112
20193,00086112
20202,77079112
20212,25064113
20222,66076114
20232,91083117
20243,34096119
20253,06088118

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for roofers in North Carolina

+6.5%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
320Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,120Jobs in 20244,380 projected for 2034
+5.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of roofers in the state to change by +6.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,120 to 4,380, with about 320 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +5.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,060 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for roofers in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay roofers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.35). 54 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $14.35). The market median for the state is $23.56.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $22.64 (survey)Alexander: $22.64 (survey)Alleghany: $14.35 (survey)Anson: $13.31 (survey)Ashe: $14.35 (survey)Avery: $14.35 (survey)Beaufort: $14.35 (survey)Bertie: $14.35 (survey)Bladen: $14.35 (survey)Brunswick: $22.64 (survey)Buncombe: $22.64 (survey)Burke: $22.64 (survey)Cabarrus: $22.64 (survey)Caldwell: $22.64 (survey)Camden: $14.35 (survey)Carteret: $14.35 (survey)Caswell: $14.35 (survey)Catawba: $22.64 (survey)Chatham: $22.64 (survey)Cherokee: $14.35 (survey)Chowan: $14.35 (survey)Clay: $14.35 (survey)Cleveland: $14.35 (survey)Columbus: $14.35 (survey)Craven: $22.64 (survey)Cumberland: $22.64 (survey)Currituck: $22.64 (survey)Dare: $14.35 (survey)Davidson: $22.64 (survey)Davie: $22.64 (survey)Duplin: $14.35 (survey)Durham: $22.64 (survey)Edgecombe: $22.64 (survey)Forsyth: $22.64 (survey)Franklin: $22.64 (survey)Gaston: $22.64 (survey)Gates: $22.64 (survey)Graham: $14.35 (survey)Granville: $14.35 (survey)Greene: $12.32 (survey)Guilford: $22.64 (survey)Halifax: $14.35 (survey)Harnett: $14.35 (survey)Haywood: $22.64 (survey)Henderson: $22.64 (survey)Hertford: $14.35 (survey)Hoke: $22.64 (survey)Hyde: $14.35 (survey)Iredell: $22.64 (survey)Jackson: $14.35 (survey)Johnston: $22.64 (survey)Jones: $22.64 (survey)Lee: $14.35 (survey)Lenoir: $14.35 (survey)Lincoln: $22.64 (survey)McDowell: $14.35 (survey)Macon: $14.35 (survey)Madison: $22.64 (survey)Martin: $14.35 (survey)Mecklenburg: $22.64 (survey)Mitchell: $14.35 (survey)Montgomery: $14.35 (survey)Moore: $14.35 (survey)Nash: $22.64 (survey)New Hanover: $22.64 (survey)Northampton: $14.35 (survey)Onslow: $22.64 (survey)Orange: $22.64 (survey)Pamlico: $22.64 (survey)Pasquotank: $14.35 (survey)Pender: $22.64 (survey)Perquimans: $14.35 (survey)Person: $22.64 (survey)Pitt: $22.64 (survey)Polk: $14.35 (survey)Randolph: $22.64 (survey)Richmond: $14.35 (survey)Robeson: $14.35 (survey)Rockingham: $22.64 (survey)Rowan: $22.64 (survey)Rutherford: $14.35 (survey)Sampson: $14.35 (survey)Scotland: $14.35 (survey)Stanly: $14.35 (survey)Stokes: $22.64 (survey)Surry: $14.35 (survey)Swain: $14.35 (survey)Transylvania: $14.35 (survey)Tyrrell: $14.35 (survey)Union: $22.64 (survey)Vance: $14.35 (survey)Wake: $22.64 (survey)Warren: $14.35 (survey)Washington: $14.35 (survey)Watauga: $14.35 (survey)Wayne: $22.64 (survey)Wilkes: $14.35 (survey)Wilson: $14.35 (survey)Yadkin: $22.64 (survey)Yancey: $14.35 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$14.35survey 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 (survey)$18$20$22$24$26/hrEdgecombe (Rocky Mount): market median $19.28, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap +$3.36Edgecombe (Rocky Mount)+$3.36Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $22.34, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap +$0.30Currituck (Virginia Beach)+$0.30Alexander (Hickory): market median $22.51, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap +$0.13Alexander (Hickory)+$0.13Onslow (Jacksonville): market median $22.85, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$0.21Onslow (Jacksonville)−$0.21Pitt (Greenville): market median $23.00, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$0.36Pitt (Greenville)−$0.36Cabarrus (Charlotte): market median $23.28, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$0.64Cabarrus (Charlotte)−$0.64Brunswick (Wilmington): market median $23.43, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$0.79Brunswick (Wilmington)−$0.79Alamance (North Carolina): market median $23.56, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$0.92Alamance (North Carolina)−$0.92Guilford (Greensboro): market median $23.61, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$0.97Guilford (Greensboro)−$0.97Davidson (Winston-Salem): market median $23.69, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$1.05Davidson (Winston-Salem)−$1.05Buncombe (Asheville): market median $23.89, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$1.25Buncombe (Asheville)−$1.25Franklin (Raleigh): market median $24.39, prevailing (survey) $22.64, gap −$1.75Franklin (Raleigh)−$1.75
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for roofers, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamanceSurvey SUNC2018-013 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260013
AlexanderSurvey SUNC2018-025 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260014
BrunswickSurvey SUNC2018-015 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260015
BuncombeSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260016
BurkeSurvey SUNC2018-025 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260014
CabarrusSurvey SUNC2018-017 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260017
CaldwellSurvey SUNC2018-025 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260014
CatawbaSurvey SUNC2018-002 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260002
ChathamSurvey SUNC2018-013 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260013
CravenSurvey SUNC2018-018 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260018
CumberlandSurvey SUNC2018-019 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260122
CurrituckSurvey SUNC2018-020 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260123
DavidsonSurvey SUNC2018-021 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260124
DavieSurvey SUNC2018-021 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260124
DurhamSurvey SUNC2018-003 2023-08-08$18.26$4.38$22.64NC20260003

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

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Roofer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do roofers make in North Carolina?

The median roofer in North Carolina earned $23.56 an hour ($49,010 a year) in May 2025, 12% below the national median of $26.65. The middle half earn $21.61–$27.18; the top 10% earn more than $29.14.

Where does North Carolina rank for roofer pay?

North Carolina ranks 30th of 51 states for roofer pay, with a median of $23.56 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union roofer rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a roofer classification for most North Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many roofers work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 3,060 roofers in North Carolina in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.71; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is roofer work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of roofers in North Carolina went from 2,450 in 2015 to 3,060 in 2025, +24.9%, and +2.0% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +6.5% growth for roofers between 2024 and 2034, from 4,120 to 4,380 jobs.

How many roofer openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 320 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, North Carolina 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: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.