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Roofing / Siding Worker

Quick Facts

Median Salary$51,980
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth+20.28%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment

What They Do

A Roofing or Siding Worker installs roofs on houses and buildings using asphalt shingles, metal or other roofing material.


Core Tasks:

  • Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
  • Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
  • Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs.
  • Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
  • Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.
  • Install partially overlapping layers of material over roof insulation surfaces, using chalk lines, gauges on shingling hatchets, or lines on shingles.
  • Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.
  • Apply plastic coatings, membranes, fiberglass, or felt over sloped roofs before applying shingles.
  • Install, repair, or replace single-ply roofing systems, using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric, or other asphaltic compositions.
  • Cover roofs or exterior walls of structures with slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, gravel, gypsum, or related materials, using brushes, knives, punches, hammers, or other tools.
  • Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces.
  • Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials.
  • Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.
  • Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.
  • Apply alternate layers of hot asphalt or tar and roofing paper to roofs.
  • Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
  • Smooth rough spots to prepare surfaces for waterproofing, using hammers, chisels, or rubbing bricks.
  • Glaze top layers to make a smooth finish or embed gravel in the bitumen for rough surfaces.
  • Mop or pour hot asphalt or tar onto roof bases.
  • Install attic ventilation systems, such as turbine vents, gable or ridge vents, or conventional or solar-powered exhaust fans.
  • Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms.
  • Install skylights on roofs to increase natural light inside structures or to reduce energy costs.

What to expect as a Roofing / Siding Worker

1Earn a High school or GED Diploma

11% of people achieve this level of education.

2Gain skills and experience

See Roofing / Siding Worker related courses on Tallo

3Land a job

2166 openings for Roofing / Siding Workers

Career Progression

in United States (Nation)

The career progression is an interactive way to explore careers related to Roofing / Siding Worker. Click on each career to see its associated salary, job availability, skills, and more.