Roofers in the Merced area earn a median of $60,800 a year, 21% above the typical U.S. metro. That ranks #60 of 265 U.S. metros nationwide.
Within driving distance, the same work pays more in Modesto and San Jose.
It's one of 22 California metros with published pay for this trade; see statewide roofer pay.
What this means Our calculation
Pay for roofers here is above average compared with other U.S. metros, and also above average once local prices are factored in. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than in most metros (10.2%) and the population is growing faster than most (+5.1% since 2020). On your own, you'd join about 125 one-person foundation, framing & exterior work businesses averaging $62,664 in revenue, and you'd need to bill roughly $76/hour to match the median salary (at our default assumptions).
Merced scorecard for roofers Our calculation
Grades compare Merced with every other U.S. metro for this trade (A = top 20%).
Pay Government data
Pay range
Shaded: the middle half of workers. Grey line: typical U.S. metro ($50,140).
Pay over time
The median pay for roofers in the Merced area went from $56,150 in 2020 to $60,800 in 2025, up 8.3%. Prices rose 25% over the same period, so after inflation that's -13.6% — a real pay cut.
BLS OEWS, May 2020–May 2025; inflation: CPI-U (May to May). Year-to-year changes can include survey noise.
Compared with nearby metros
Check your pay here
Enter a rate to see where it falls among roofers in Merced.
What the pay is really worth in Merced Our calculation
Prices in the Merced area run 2% below the U.S. average. Adjusted for that, a median paycheck here buys what $61,867 would in a typical place, ranking #57 of 263 on real pay.
Real pay or rent burden?
Real pay already accounts for housing, because the price index includes rent. Rent burden shows what share of pay a typical 1-bedroom takes. Use either one, not both together.
What roofers do
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.
Most important day-to-day tasks
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- 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.
- Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.
- Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
- Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
Outlook & getting started
Nationally, roofer jobs are projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 12,000 openings a year. About 20% are self-employed.
What the work is like Government data
How often roofers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensing in California Official source
The main state licensing office in California is the Contractors State License Board. Licenses all trades by classification (e.g. C-10 electrical; C-36 plumbing). It can point you to the right license for roofers.
Official California licensing site ↗
Requirements for roofers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
On-the-job safety Government data
Nationally, roofers have 162 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.9× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is falls, slips and trips.
BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 2023–2024 (national, cases with days away from work).
Highest-paying CA metros for roofers
| Metro | Median | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San JoseCALIFORNIA · CA | $76,650 | $69,415 | 1,660 |
| San FranciscoCALIFORNIA · CA | $74,340 | $64,301 | 2,610 |
| Santa RosaCALIFORNIA · CA | $64,020 | $59,397 | 430 |
| Los AngelesCALIFORNIA · CA | $63,560 | $55,967 | 5,480 |
| SacramentoCALIFORNIA · CA | $63,320 | $59,361 | 1,800 |
| San Luis ObispoCALIFORNIA · CA | $63,030 | $58,041 | 190 |
| ModestoCALIFORNIA · CA | $62,940 | $60,456 | 290 |
| OxnardCALIFORNIA · CA | $62,840 | $56,851 | 430 |
| FresnoCALIFORNIA · CA | $62,400 | $61,082 | 640 |
| San DiegoCALIFORNIA · CA | $62,180 | $55,574 | 1,830 |
See every metro in California.
How much work is there? Government data
Local job market
The Merced area's unemployment rate was 10.2% in 2025 (all workers, not just roofers), above the typical U.S. metro's 4.1%. It was 10.3% in 2021.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual averages 2021–2025 (2025 preliminary).
Getting to work
The average commute in the Merced area is 32 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 25% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 74% drive alone, 1% take transit and 6% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Population
The Merced area's population grew 5.1% from 2020 to 2025 (282,895 → 297,260), ranking #97 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +6,472) account for part of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
Homes in Merced
The Merced area has about 92,947 homes. 38% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 10% were built in 2010 or later. 55% of households own their home, and the median home value is $397,800.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
New construction
New-home permits in Merced are down 23% from 2021 to 2025 (1,017 → 780).
In 2025 the Merced area approved permits for 780 new homes (697 single-family), or 2.7 per 1,000 residents, ranking #244 of 393 metros.
Competition
In 2024 the area had 125 one-person businesses (no employees) in foundation, framing & exterior work, averaging $62,664 a year in revenue before expenses. See how Merced compares among the best cities to start a roofer business.
They compete with 61 foundation, framing & exterior work companies that have employees (about 933 workers in total). 61% of those companies have fewer than 5 employees.
Licensed contractors
The Merced area has 24 active C-39 Roofing contractor licenses, about 0.8 per 10,000 residents (#23 of 25 California metros, where #1 is the most crowded). That's the competition you'd face bidding your own jobs.
California Contractors State License Board, License Master file, October 2026. Counted by the county in each license's address.
Working outdoors in Merced Government data
In an average year, Merced has 100 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 23 at 100°F or more, 28 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 27 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 94°F and winter nights 37°F. That matters for roofers: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Merced Muni Airport, CA station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Employee vs. working for yourself Your scenario
A model, not a market rate. It shows the break-even rate to match a $60,800 employee salary once you cover what an employer normally pays for (including the employer half of Social Security and Medicare, 7.65%), then adds your profit margin. Change any number.
Break-even rate
With your profit margin
How this calculator works. Billable hours are hours you can charge a customer. Driving, quoting, paperwork and slow weeks aren't billable, which is why 1,400 is a common starting point versus 2,080 paid hours as an employee.
Get roofer pricing & estimate templates →Compare Merced with another city →
Keep exploring
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ToolBest cities for roofersRank every metro on pay, buying power, rent and jobs.Is a job offer here any good?
ToolCheck an offer in MercedSee where it falls among local roofers, after the commute.Could you afford to live here?
ToolMerced budgetMonthly take-home, HUD rent and local prices on this pay.About this data
Local to the Merced metro: pay (BLS, May 2025) and pay over time (2020–2025, CPI-adjusted), prices (BEA, 2024), rent (HUD, FY2027), new construction, housing, population and commuting (Census), unemployment (BLS) and business counts (Census, by industry). National: job outlook and training (BLS projections), injury rates (BLS) and duties (O*NET). Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions; grades rank Merced against every other metro for roofers. Every source, year and formula is on our data page.