How much do roofers make in Washington in 2026?

Roofers in Washington state earn a median wage of $60,640 per year, which works out to roughly $29.15 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits at the midpoint — half of Washington roofers earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working a lower-volume market, expect pay closer to the 25th percentile at $52,310 a year ($25.15/hr). Experienced hands on busy commercial and residential crews push toward the 75th percentile at $79,470 a year ($38.21/hr). These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The gap between the bottom quartile and the top quartile is significant — $27,160 a year separates a $25.15/hr roofer from a $38.21/hr roofer. That spread reflects real differences in experience, specialty, and the type of work being done. Flat commercial roofing — TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen — tends to pay better than straight residential shingle work because the skill set is more specialized and the liability on large commercial projects is higher. Steep-slope residential work is the most common entry point into the trade, but it's also where wages tend to stay lower longer.

Washington's climate plays a direct role in roofing demand and, by extension, wages. The wet west side of the Cascades — Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellingham — generates constant repair and replacement work driven by moss, moisture, and aging roofs. The drier east side — Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima — sees strong new construction activity and storm-damage repair. Roofers who are willing to work across both regions, or who follow commercial construction projects, are in the best position to hit the upper end of the pay scale.

Overtime and seasonal stacking are real income multipliers in this trade. Washington's roofing season runs hard from spring through fall, and crews that push through long summer days can log 50- to 60-hour weeks. At $29.15/hr straight time, overtime hours at 1.5x come to roughly $43.73/hr — those hours add up fast on a busy season.

Specialty certifications also shift the pay needle. Manufacturer certifications from brands like GAF, CertainTeed, or Firestone expand the jobs a crew can bid and often come with higher-margin work. Roofers who can install and service low-slope systems alongside steep-slope work are more valuable to contractors who want to avoid subcontracting specialty jobs out.

Apprentices entering through a formal program typically start below the 25th percentile but move up on a step schedule tied to hours worked. A four-year apprenticeship in Washington will generally bring a roofer from a starting wage in the low-to-mid $20s per hour up to journeyman scale by graduation, putting them near or above the median. Journeymen who move into lead or foreman roles — managing a crew, ordering materials, running job logistics — are the workers most likely to reach and exceed the 75th percentile.

There is no union scale data available for roofers in Washington at this time. Workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement may see different wage structures, benefit packages, and paid time off provisions than what the BLS figures capture, so it's worth checking directly with local union halls if that path interests you.

The BLS OEWS data reflects wages as reported by employers across all sectors and does not include the full value of benefits, per diem, or tool allowances that some contractors provide. When comparing job offers, factor in those extras — a $28/hr job with employer-paid health insurance and a retirement match can be worth more total compensation than a $31/hr job with nothing on top.