Best institutions to study Roofer
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare, install, and maintain exterior roofing materials and roofs.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 42 Roofer students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0410, a specialization of Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04), and leads most directly to the Roofers occupation (BLS SOC 47-2181).
About Roofer programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare, install, and maintain exterior roofing materials and roofs. Includes instruction in building materials, flashing, lag bolts, site safety, equipment operation and maintenance, layering, site preparation, basic internal structural design, finishing, waterproofing, and applicable codes and standards.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Roofer program, part of the Building/Construction Finishing field, equips individuals with the technical knowledge and skills necessary to prepare, install, and maintain various roofing materials. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in construction trades, specifically focusing on roofing techniques and safety practices.
Students in the Roofer program will gain essential skills in areas such as building materials, site safety, equipment operation, and waterproofing. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication, preparing graduates for real-world roofing challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Roofer graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year30 graduates / yr · 2 institutions71%
- Award of less than 12 weeks8 graduates / yr · 1 institution19%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.5%
Graduates over time
Roofer completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 117 |
| 2013 | 129 |
| 2014 | 134 |
| 2015 | 138 |
| 2016 | 145 |
| 2017 | 58 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 42 |
Top 3 institutions for Roofer, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centralia College Centralia, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 21 | 42% | — |
| 2 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 43% | — |
| 3 | Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek, FLPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 4 | 65% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Roofer graduates come from. Each state links to all Building/Construction Finishing programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 2 | 38 | Centralia College21 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 4 | Atlantic Technical College4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2181, Roofers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Roofer program can pursue careers as roofers, with a promising job outlook featuring a growth rate of 5.9% and approximately 12,700 annual openings. The median wage for roofers is $50,970, and typically, no formal educational credential is required to enter this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 46.0410
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Roofersprimary SOC 47-2181 | $55,440 | +5.9% Faster than average | ~12,700 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC 47-1011 | $79,920 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~74,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Solar Photovoltaic Installers SOC 47-2231 | $53,140 | +42.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Roofer programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Building/Construction Finishing specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04).
- Building/CIP 46.0401
Property Maintenance 2,461 graduates / yr97 institutions - Building Construction Technology/CIP 46.0415
Technician 2,137 graduates / yr127 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0412
Construction Site Management/ Manager 1,748 graduates / yr73 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0499
Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection 638 graduates / yr36 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0403
Home/ Construction Inspection/ Inspector 334 graduates / yr31 institutions - Drywall Installation/CIP 46.0404
Drywaller partial data254 graduates / yr3 institutions - Concrete Finishing/CIP 46.0402
Concrete Finisher partial data79 graduates / yr6 institutions - InsulatorCIP 46.0414limited data35 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile WorkerCIP 46.0413limited data30 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Painting/CIP 46.0408
Painter and Wall Coverer partial data29 graduates / yr4 institutions - GlazierCIP 46.0406limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Metal Building Assembly/CIP 46.0411
Assembler limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an Award of less than 12 weeks.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, mathematics, and effective communication.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a roofer, or potentially as a first-line supervisor of construction trades.
What is the job outlook for roofers?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.9% and about 12,700 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Roofer?+
Roofer is CIP 46.0410 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare, install, and maintain exterior roofing materials and roofs. Includes instruction in building materials, flashing, lag bolts, site safety, equipment operation and maintenance, layering, site preparation, basic internal structural design, finishing, waterproofing, and applicable codes and standards.
How many institutions offer Roofer programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Roofer graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 42 credentials in the year. That is 0.5% of all Building/Construction Finishing graduates.
How much do Roofer graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Roofers occupation, which Roofer most directly leads to, pays a median of $55,440 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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