Roofing Statistics (2026): Industry Size, Costs, Jobs and Safety

Originally published March 19, 2020. Updated November 5, 2026.

Roofing is a $100 billion industry with fewer claims, higher tickets and the same old labor problem. Storm years still swing everything, but the average job keeps getting bigger.

Here are the roofing statistics that matter in 2026, each linked to its source, plus what we would do with them if we ran your roofing company’s marketing.

Updated November 2026. New numbers up top. Older stats live in the historical section below, unchanged, so existing links and citations still work.

2026 roofing statistics: the key numbers

Roofing industry size

• $103.6 billion is the size of the US roofing contractor industry in 2026, down 1.3% from 2025 after growing 4.9% a year from 2021. (IBISWorld, 2026)
• 47.5 was the reroofing customer inquiries index in Q3 2025 (below 50 means fewer inquiries), down from 58.7 in Q2. (NRCA and coalition Market Index Survey, Q3 2025)
• 30% vs 34% of contractors saw customer inquiries go up vs down compared to the year before. Contracts split 32% up, 32% down. (NRCA coalition survey, Q3 2025)
• 35% of roofing firms had one to two months of backlog in October 2025. 27% had none. (NRCA coalition survey, 2025)

Roof replacement costs and storms

• $17,631 was the average residential roof replacement claim in 2025, about 33% above the 2021 to 2024 average. (Verisk, May 2026)
• $4,699 was the average roof repair claim, up about 25%. (Verisk, 2026)
• ~20% fewer roof claims were filed in 2025, yet costs per claim kept rising. (Verisk, 2026)
• 16 states had severe hail (1 inch or larger) hit more than 20% of roofs in 2025, up from 12 states in 2024. (Verisk, 2026)
• $23 billion was the total residential roof replacement cost value in 2025, down from a $24.4 billion 2021 to 2024 average. (Verisk, 2026)

Roofing jobs and pay

• 166,900 people work as roofers in the US. (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025 data)
• $55,440 is the median annual pay for roofers ($26.65 an hour). (BLS, 2025)
• 5% job growth is projected for roofers from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, adding about 8,800 jobs. (BLS)
• 12,000 roofer openings are expected each year, mostly to replace workers who leave. (BLS)

Roofing safety

• 48.7 fatal injuries per 100,000 full time roofers in 2024, the third highest rate of any occupation. (BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024)
• 104 roofers died on the job in 2024. (BLS CFOI, 2024)

How homeowners find and choose a roofer

• 97% of consumers read reviews before choosing a local business, and 31% will only use one rated 4.5 stars or higher. (BrightLocal LCRS, 2026)
• 73% of local searches start on a phone, and 75% of people choose a business in under 30 minutes. (BrightLocal, 2026)
• 45% use ChatGPT or other AI tools for local recommendations, up from 6%. (BrightLocal LCRS, 2026)

What these numbers mean for roofing companies

We run marketing for roofers, and we own a roofing company ourselves. Here is how we read this:

• Bigger tickets, fewer claims. The average job is worth more, but storm volume is less predictable. Retail replacement marketing matters more than chasing every hail event.
• Inquiries softened. When fewer homeowners call, the roofer who shows up first and answers fastest takes a bigger share. Map pack, reviews and speed to lead.
• Labor is the ceiling. 12,000 openings a year in a dangerous trade. Recruiting content and a strong employer brand are part of growth now.
• Reviews close the deal. A $17,000 purchase gets researched. Recent reviews with real job photos are what tip it.

Roofing is still a great business. It just rewards the companies that treat marketing and operations like a system, not a storm season.

Historical roofing statistics (original edition)

Everything below is from the earlier edition of this page, kept as is because many sites link to these numbers. Some figures are several years old, so check the original source date before citing.

Roofing systems are very intricate and have a lot of moving pieces with many different factors to consider such as materials, technology, project estimation, and proper training. But even with all these factors to consider, it seems that there are good times ahead for the roofing industry.

There is an expected growth of over 4% yearly in the roofing industry and is expected to reach $19.9 billion by 2021.

There is also a lot of interest in incorporating new technology such as drones, robots, and AI for things like completing estimates and could be a big part of the roofing industry in the future.

If you are running a roofing business, it is important that you are on top of what is happening within the industry so you can stay on top of your game.

Check out these 34 roofing statistics that everyone running a roofing business needs to see.

Roofing Industry in the Coming Years

1.) The roofing industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. [marketresearch.com]

2.) The roofing industry is expected to reach $19.9 billion in 2021. [marketresearch.com]

3.) Over 65% of respondents reported growth in both sales and revenue in 2018, and over half expected continued growth. [Kingdom Roofing]

4.) 78% of roofing professionals believe the growth of commercial roofing sales will continue to increase into 2021. [Kingdom Roofing]

5.) Both single-ply and metal roofing have increased in sales over the last 12 months, and are expected to continue increasing. [Kingdom Roofing]

6.) 68% of industry professionals that responded are expecting solar-related sales to remain consistent, with only 25 percent expecting the green option to experience significant growth. Nearly the exact same percentages were reported for garden roofing options as well. [Kingdom Roofing]

7.) Polymer/synthetics, slate, concrete tile, and wood shakes are all between 14-19% of those expecting future growth. [Kingdom Roofing]

8.) 65% of respondents said they’re looking into augmented and virtual reality programs to add to their business. 67% are researching robots. 57% are looking into 3-D printing, and 55% said artificial intelligence and predictive analytics could be a part of their business in the future. [Kingdom Roofing]

Roofing Industry Markets

9.) Roof replacements dominate the market in North America and is over 90 percent of the market in both volume (94%) and value (91%) as existing buildings continue to age and the need to replace roofs continues to grow [bcc research]

10.) The largest product segment in the roofing industry is BUR (built up roofs) and is valued at $700 million. [bcc research]

11.) The six largest product segments in the roofing industry represent over 65% of the category value and 70% of the volume. [bcc research]

12.) 88% of respondents said their company sold single-ply roofing. 82% sold commercial metal roofing, and 67% were in roof coatings. [Kingdom Roofing]

13.) Single-ply roofing is responsible for over 40% of the overall sales revenue annually, while metal and coatings combined represent about 25% of sales. [Kingdom Roofing]

14.) 67% of respondents expected consistent revenue from sales in steep slope asphalt shingles, compared to the 60% stating the same through metal roofing. [Kingdom Roofing]

15.) The largest workforce group in roofing industry is in the construction and extraction occupations. [CSCE]

16.) Between the years 2015 and 2020, the market size of the roofing contractors industry has grown an average of 2.7%. [IBIS]

17.) The Roofing Contractors industry in the US is the 18th ranked Construction industry by market size and the 221st largest in the US. [IBIS]

Roofing Industry Employment

18.) About 80% of roofing professionals have experienced a 10% increase in labor costs over the last 2 years. [Kingdom Roofing]

19.) About 70% employed full-time employees to complete the majority of their projects, while about 20% hired subcontractors on a regular basis. [Kingdom Roofing]

20.) 78% of respondents indicated that employee referrals were the best way to find needed workers. 63% looked to family and friends for potential employees. 49% use online job postings and 43% use social media platforms. [Kingdom Roofing]

21.) The CSCE analysis shows that there are 17,730 roofing contracting establishments in the United States with an average of 9.8 employees per establishment. [CSCE]

22.) The average hourly wage of roofers’ is $20.57 with a yearly average of $42,780. [CSCE]

23.) According to the 2019 US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 197,390 roofing contractors employed. [CSCE]

24.) Distribution of the Roofing Workforce – 55% Roofers 4.9% Helpers 3.9% Construction Laborers 3.7% Sheet Metal Workers 1.4% Carpenters. [CSCE]

25.) US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the employment rate in the roofing industry would grow by 11% by 2026. [CSCE]

Roofing Industry Demographics

26.) Employees Size of Establishments 64% 1-4 Employees 17% 5-9 Employees 11% 10-19 Employees 8% 20-49 Employees 2% 50-99 Employees .6% 100-249 Employees .1% 250-499 Employees .002% 500 or More Employees. [CSCE]

27.) The median age of roofers is 37.5, while 28 percent of the roofers are above the age of 45. [CSCE]

28.) Age of Employees – 2.7% 16-19 Years 11.4% 20-24 Years 27.7% 25-34 Years 29.5% 35-44 Years 20% 45-54 Years 6.3% 55-64 Years 2.3% 65 or Older [CSCE]

29.) About 50% of employees are between the ages of 35 and 54 and less than 15% of all employees are 24 or youger. [CSCE]

30.) The states highest in roofing employment are Florida with 17,860 workers and California with 16,720 workers. [CSCE]

Other Roofing Industry Statistics

31.) Mobile and wearable communication devices are being used by 29% of respondents and is likely to increase greatly. Cloud services are being used by 22% of companies, and 18% are utilizing drones. [Kingdom Roofing]

32.) Estimation software is currently used by 57% of roofing professionals, with 43% are utilizing aerial measurement. [Kingdom Roofing]

33.) 57% of commercial roofing contractors believe that national training and certification programs will help benefit the industry. [Kingdom Roofing]

34.) The market size of the Roofing Contractors industry in the US increased faster than the Construction sector overall. [IBIS]

Thanks for reading!

Green roof statistics

These figures come from our older green roofs guide, which now lives on this page. Green roofs grow a planted layer over a waterproof membrane, and they remain a small niche for residential roofers in North America.

• Green roof temperatures are 30-40° cooler than a traditional roof.
• They can reduce the average temperature of a city by up to 5°.
• They can reduce the energy use of a building by 0.7% (in Kansas).
• Green roofs caught 78% of rainwater, preventing it from overflowing into the sewer system.
• The global green roof market was forecast to reach about USD 4.2 billion by 2027.

How to cite this page

Hook Agency, “Roofing Statistics (2026),” hookagency.com/blog/roofing-statistics/, updated November 2026. For any single number, please cite the original source linked next to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the roofing industry in 2026?

The US roofing contractor industry is worth about $103.6 billion in 2026, according to IBISWorld.

How much does a roof replacement cost in 2026?

The average residential roof replacement insurance claim was $17,631 in 2025, about 33% above the 2021 to 2024 average (Verisk). Retail jobs vary widely by size, material and region.

How much do roofers make?

The median pay for roofers was $55,440 a year, or $26.65 an hour, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Is roofing a dangerous job?

Yes. Roofers had 48.7 fatal injuries per 100,000 full time workers in 2024, the third highest rate of any occupation.

Is the roofing industry growing?

Roofer jobs are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035. Industry revenue dipped 1.3% in 2026 after five years of roughly 4.9% annual growth.