Summary
Seattle roofers earn a strong premium versus the U.S. average, with recent BLS data showing a median annual wage of $62,110 and a 10th-percentile wage of $48,410; the 90th percentile reaches $104,000. Seattle’s wage level is also above comparable major markets such as Los Angeles and Chicago, reflecting the region’s high construction demand and tighter labor supply.
Salary Overview
Compared to National Average: About 22% above the U.S. median for roofers ($50,970).
Comparable Metro Area Salary Analysis
Comparable to Chicago ($69,570, BLS metro) and Washington D.C. ($62,400, BLS metro); above Los Angeles ($64,600, BLS LA-Long Beach-Anaheim). Slightly below San Jose ($75,570) and San Francisco ($74,020); comparable to New York City ($74,470). Seattle outpaces the BLS national roofer median of $50,970 by roughly 40%.
Factors Influencing Local Salary
- Union wage scales and prevailing wage rules
- Experience level and role progression (apprentice → journey worker → lead/foreman)
- Specialization in flat roofs, low-slope systems, metal roofing, and manufacturer certifications
- Seattle metro demand from dense construction, commercial work, and weather-driven repair cycles
- High local cost of living and housing costs
Salary by Career Stage
Apprentice: $24.48 wage + $14.15 benefits = $38.63 total package (Local 54)
Journey Worker: $44.50 wage + $16.45 benefits = $60.95 total package (Local 54)
Seattle market average: about $24–$34/hr depending on source and method, with a market midpoint around $29.86/hr in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Lead Roofer: $49K–$77K/yr
Journeyman Roofer: $58K–$83K/yr
Job Outlook and Market Trends
Washington roofers are in a Bright Outlook occupation, with 5,500 workers and 1,026 openings per year statewide. Seattle-area wages are above the state average, and local demand is reinforced by ongoing commercial, institutional, and weather-related roofing work. In-demand skills include commercial flat-roof systems, TPO/PVC/EPDM, metal roofing, waterproofing, and manufacturer certifications.
Guidance for Professionals and Employers
For job seekers: target union apprenticeship or training-agent pathways, and highlight flat-roof, waterproofing, and manufacturer certifications to improve pay leverage.
For employers: benchmark offers against the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue wage band and union package, and use signing bonuses, benefits, paid training, or take-home vehicle perks to stay competitive. If you price service work from these wage levels, build in Seattle overhead and expect to charge materially above national-market labor rates to protect margins.
Cost of Living Context
Seattle is a high-cost market: one source pegs the city at 75% above the national average with median rent around $1,998 and median home value around $912,100, while another reports cost of living 44.5% above the national average and housing 110% above the U.S. average. That means a Seattle roofer wage that looks strong on paper may buy less than a lower nominal wage in a cheaper city, especially after rent, transportation, and housing costs.
Popular Benefits Offered
- Health, pension, and vacation contributions in union packages
- Training/apprenticeship access and paid classroom instruction
- Benefits packages bundled with hourly wages
- Signing/launch support for apprentices and training agents
- Manufacturer certifications and warranty-backed workmanship positioning
- Paid or subsidized certifications and safety training
