Prevailing Wage for Roofers
Prevailing wage for Roofers, the DOL occupational classification covering Commercial Roofers, Residential Roofers, and Industrial Roofers, is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels. The floor shifts substantially depending on the worksite city, so a sponsored position in New England pays far more than the same role in Puerto Rico.
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Level 1 covers entry-level roofers with limited hands-on experience who work under close supervision on routine tasks such as applying standard shingles or basic membrane systems. Employers typically file here for apprentice-track hires transitioning from trade school or a short-term apprenticeship program.
Level 2 applies to qualified roofers who work independently on most standard installations, including asphalt, wood, and metal systems, with only general supervision. This is the most common filing level for Roofers, reflecting the journey-level standard most employers recruit against.
Level 3 covers experienced roofers who handle complex or specialized work, such as slate, spray-applied coatings, or large commercial membranes, and may provide guidance to junior crew members. Employers filing here typically require several years of demonstrated field experience across multiple roofing systems.
Level 4 reflects fully competent roofers in lead or senior roles who exercise independent judgment on complex projects, oversee crews, troubleshoot system failures, and may coordinate with general contractors. These filings are less common and usually require extensive multi-system expertise and documented supervisory experience.
Prevailing Wage for Roofers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Roofers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your roofing system matches the level
Employers filing LCAs for roofers often default to Level 2, but specialists in slate, spray coatings, or standing-seam metal systems may qualify for Level 3. Verify that the filed level reflects the actual system complexity in your job description, not just the generic roofing title.
Watch the worksite city on your LCA
Roofing wages vary more by geography than many trades. A Roof Mechanic role in Worcester or San Jose carries a wage floor roughly double the floor for the same SOC in Puerto Rico. The prevailing wage is tied to the actual worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters.
Check which employers have sponsored Roofers before
Roofing sponsorship is concentrated among large commercial contractors and specialty subcontractors rather than residential firms. Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which commercial roofing companies have actually filed for this SOC before approaching them.
Exclude overtime and per-diem from your wage comparison
Some roofing employers quote total compensation that includes jobsite per-diem allowances, tool stipends, or seasonal overtime. DOL prevailing wage compliance is based on the hourly or annual base wage only. Confirm the straight-time base rate clears the floor before evaluating the full package.
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Find Jobs for RoofersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2181.00 alongside Roofers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Commercial Roofer Prevailing Wage
Commercial Roofer Prevailing Wage
Commercial Roofer positions fall under SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Industrial Roofer Prevailing Wage
Industrial Roofer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Industrial Roofer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Metal Roofing Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Metal Roofing Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Metal Roofing Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Residential Roofer Prevailing Wage
Residential Roofer Prevailing Wage
Residential Roofer positions fall under SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Roof Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Roof Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Roof Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Roof Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Roof Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Roof Service Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Roofing Technician Prevailing Wage
Roofing Technician Prevailing Wage
Roofing Technician positions fall under SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Sheet Metal Roofer Prevailing Wage
Sheet Metal Roofer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sheet Metal Roofer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2181.00 (Roofers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Roofers?
DOL sets prevailing wages for Roofers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC processes those surveys into four wage levels tied to SOC 47-2181 for each metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 is entry-level work under close supervision; Level 2 is independent journey-level work, which is the most common filing level for this occupation; Level 3 reflects specialized or senior field experience; Level 4 covers lead or supervisory roles. Your level should match the actual duties, experience requirements, and degree of supervision described in your job offer, not simply your years on the job.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Roofer role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. High-cost metros with dense union activity and strong commercial construction demand, such as those in the Northeast, produce higher survey medians than lower-cost regions. DOL rules also require employers to use the wage for the actual worksite address listed on the LCA, so a roofer working on-site in Massachusetts triggers Massachusetts rates even if the employer is based elsewhere.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for Roofers?
USCIS and DOL require the offered wage on the LCA to meet or exceed the prevailing wage for the filed level and worksite. If the offer falls short, the LCA will not be certified by DOL, and USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other sponsored petition. The employer must either raise the offered wage to the floor or refile at the correct level before the visa petition can proceed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Roofers position in my target city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 47-2181 in any metropolitan area. Select the relevant experience level that matches your job duties and years of field experience. You can also search O*NET for the occupation profile. To find employers who have sponsored Roofers roles in specific locations, Migrate Mate lets you filter by role and location to see companies with verified sponsorship history.
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