Roofers in the Kalamazoo area earn a median of $59,280 a year, 18% above the typical U.S. metro. That ranks #80 of 265 metros nationwide.
Within driving distance, the same work pays more in South Bend, but less in Elkhart.
It's one of 10 Michigan metros with published pay for this trade; see roofer pay in Michigan.
What this means Our calculation
Pay for roofers here is above average compared with other U.S. metros, and in the top 20% once local prices are factored in. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than in most metros (4.6%) and the population is growing slowly (+0.8% since 2020). On your own, you'd join about 132 one-person foundation, framing & exterior work businesses averaging $71,591 in revenue, and you'd need to bill roughly $74/hour to match the median salary (at our default assumptions).
A summary of the numbers on this page; nothing here is estimated beyond them.
Kalamazoo scorecard for roofers Our calculation
Grades compare Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo area went from $37,510 in 2020 to $59,280 in 2025, up 58.0%. Prices rose 25% over the same period, so after inflation that's +26.0% — a real raise.
BLS OEWS, May 2020–May 2025; inflation: CPI-U (May to May). Year-to-year changes can include survey noise.
Compared with nearby metros
What the pay is really worth in Kalamazoo Our calculation
Prices in Kalamazoo run 5% below the U.S. average. Adjusted for that, a median paycheck here buys what $62,505 would in a typical place, ranking #50 of 263 on real pay.
Two different views, don't combine them. 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 Michigan Official source
The main state licensing office in Michigan is the LARA Bureau of Construction Codes. It can point you to the right license for roofers.
Official Michigan 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 MI metros for roofers
| Metro | Median | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlintMICHIGAN · MI | $70,760 | $76,058 | 120 |
| DetroitMICHIGAN · MI | $63,390 | $63,202 | 1,450 |
| Ann ArborMICHIGAN · MI | $61,730 | $61,192 | 80 |
| KalamazooMICHIGAN · MI | $59,280 | $62,505 | 110 |
| JacksonMICHIGAN · MI | $58,320 | $63,544 | 80 |
| SaginawMICHIGAN · MI | $57,300 | $63,043 | 50 |
| Traverse CityMICHIGAN · MI | $50,720 | $54,320 | 60 |
| LansingMICHIGAN · MI | $50,440 | $53,100 | 90 |
| Grand RapidsMICHIGAN · MI | $49,630 | $51,944 | 380 |
| Bay CityMICHIGAN · MI | $48,000 | $52,219 | 50 |
See every metro in Michigan.
How much work is there? Government data
Local job market
The Kalamazoo area's unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2025 (all workers, not just roofers), above the typical U.S. metro's 4.1%. It was 4.7% in 2021.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual averages 2021–2025 (2025 preliminary).
Getting to work
The average commute in the Kalamazoo area is 21 minutes each way, shorter than the typical metro (24 min). 7% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 77% drive alone, 1% take transit and 10% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Population
The Kalamazoo area's population grew 0.8% from 2020 to 2025 (261,780 → 263,795), ranking #263 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +1,713) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
Homes in Kalamazoo
The Kalamazoo area has about 115,768 homes. 57% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 8% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 65% of households own their home, and the median home value is $260,600.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
New construction
New-home permits in Kalamazoo are up 16% from 2021 to 2025 (419 → 487).
In 2025 the Kalamazoo area approved permits for 487 new homes (479 single-family), or 1.9 per 1,000 residents, ranking #301 of 393 metros, a slower building market than most.
Competition
In 2024 the area had 132 one-person businesses (no employees) in foundation, framing & exterior work, averaging $71,591 a year in revenue before expenses.
They compete with 49 foundation, framing & exterior work companies that have employees (about 502 workers in total). 47% of those companies have fewer than 5 employees.
Employee vs. working for yourself Your scenario
A model, not a market rate. It shows the minimum you'd need to bill to match a $59,280 employee salary once you cover what an employer normally pays for. Change any number.
Minimum billing rate
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 Kalamazoo with another city →
About this data
- Pay: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2025, local to this metro.
- Pay over time: BLS OEWS May 2020–2025, local; inflation from the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
- Real pay: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, local.
- Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027, local (county rents weighted by population).
- Job outlook, education, training: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national.
- Duties: O*NET 31.0, national.
- Safety: BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 2023–2024, national.
- New construction: Census Building Permits, 2021–2025, local.
- Housing: Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year, local (age of homes, ownership, home values).
- Population: Census Bureau population estimates, 2020–2025, local.
- Commute: Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year, local, all workers.
- Unemployment: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025 annual averages, local, all workers (2025 preliminary).
- Competition: Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024 and County Business Patterns 2023, local, reported by industry, so related trades can share one figure.
- Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Grades rank this metro against all others for the same trade.