Summary
Denver’s roofing market in 2026 shows wide source-to-source variance: Salary.com pegs the average roofer at $38,306/year, ZipRecruiter’s Denver "roofing" market estimate (a broader category) at $81,633/year, and its roofer-specific listings at $41,700-$66,903. The Colorado state average per ZipRecruiter is $54,828/year, which is used as the anchor figure here since it best represents typical residential/commercial roofer pay in the Denver metro. Compared with the BLS national roofer median of $50,970, Denver roofers earn about 8% above the national median.
Salary Overview
Compared to National Average: Approximately 8% above the BLS national roofer median of $50,970, using the Colorado state ZipRecruiter roofer average of $54,828 as the anchor.
Comparable Metro Area Salary Analysis
Denver appears below the strongest Colorado roofing pay pockets such as Boulder, which Salary.com says is the highest-paying city in Colorado for commercial roofing, but above many lower-paying markets. For a broader regional comparison, Colorado-wide roofer wages are $55,800 median and Denver’s benchmarked roofer pay is lower than that state median, while nearby Colorado nonmetropolitan roofing pay remains in the low-$50Ks.
Factors Influencing Local Salary
- Hail-prone Front Range climate and severe weather cycles
- Commercial vs. residential specialization
- Union apprenticeship and benefit packages
- Experience level and certifications (e.g., safety, manufacturer training)
- Cost of living and Denver housing costs
- Local permit/compliance and prevailing-wage requirements
Salary by Career Stage
Apprentice: about $21.48-$22.05/hr plus $5.79-$5.98/hr benefits through Roofers Local 58 signatory contractors
Entry-level / helper: roughly $17-$20/hr nationally, often near the low end of Denver listings
Journeyman / mid-level: about $24-$30/hr nationally; Denver market averages are around $34.85/hr on Indeed and $41,700-$57,600 annually in ZipRecruiter’s Denver range
Experienced commercial roofer / foreman: about $75,000-$90,000+ in stronger union or commercial paths; Denver commercial roofing pay in Colorado averages about $63,189/year with a 75th percentile near $72,192 and 90th percentile near $80,390
Top-end / commercial specialist: Denver commercial roles can reach about $110,091 average in some listings, and ZipRecruiter shows top earners around $66,903 for general roofer roles while commercial/specialized roles may exceed that
Job Outlook and Market Trends
Roofing demand in Denver should remain solid because the trade is tied to storm repair, replacement cycles, and ongoing housing/commercial maintenance in a hail-heavy market. Nationally, roofers are projected to grow 6% through 2034, faster than average, with about 12,700 annual openings driven largely by replacement demand and retirements. In Colorado, apprenticeship and workforce pipelines remain active, and specialized skills in safety, single-ply systems (TPO/PVC/EPDM), and hail-resistant assemblies are especially valuable.
Guidance for Professionals and Employers
For field-service owners: Denver roofing labor is strong enough to support premium pricing, but margins depend on whether you sell residential tear-offs or commercial/spec work. Benchmark your billable rates above raw wages by covering payroll burden, workers’ comp, vehicles, downtime, warranty reserve, and storm-season scheduling risk; Denver roofing labor rates are cited around $75-$110 per square on Colorado Front Range jobs and about $78/hour in some Denver pricing guides. To stay competitive, emphasize union-style benefits, paid training, OSHA/safety certification, and clear wage progression; local union contractors advertise healthcare, retirement, apprenticeship training, and prevailing-wage access.
Job seekers should compare total compensation, not just hourly wage, and pursue commercial roofing, manufacturer training, and safety credentials to move into higher-paying work.
Cost of Living Context
Denver’s pay needs to be read against a relatively high cost of living. MIT’s 2026 living wage estimate for Denver County is $26.63/hr for a single adult with no children, while Denver’s 1-bedroom rent is about $2,124/month and total single-person monthly expenses are about $3,178. That means a roofer earning near entry or low-mid market wages may be financially stretched, while higher commercial, union, or foreman wages are more appropriate for maintaining purchasing power in the metro.
Popular Benefits Offered
- Starting apprentice wage plus hourly benefits contributions
- Healthcare coverage
- Retirement contributions / pension
- 401(k) or annuity support
- Paid OSHA and skills training
- Prevailing-wage project eligibility
- Per diem for traveling commercial crews
- Company-paid life insurance and PTO in some non-union listings
